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Gay marriage foes rally at State House
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CONCORD — More than 200 people gathered at the steps of the State House on Tuesday to show their support for traditional marriage and the effort to repeal the state's gay marriage law.
The rally was organized by Rep. David Bates, R-Windham, who is the main sponsor of the repeal bill, HB 437, and has led the fight against the law since it was signed into law in 2009.
A focal point of Bates' speech concerned Standing Up for New Hampshire Families, the recently formed group that is fighting the repeal effort and bills itself as a bipartisan coalition of 300 community leaders.
Bates said he timed the rally to coincide with one planned by Standing Up for New Hampshire Families. “It's a rather misleading title for an out-of-state organization of homosexual activists,” he said.
“We're here to stand up for New Hampshire families who understand what marriage really is — the union of one man and one woman.”
Cheers came from the inter-generational crowd, which included many children, some holding signs reading “True Marriage equals one man, one woman.”
Among the featured guests at the rally was House Speaker William O'Brien, R-Mont Vernon, a key backer of the repeal effort.
“There are those who say it takes a village to raise a child — it doesn't. It takes a mother and a father,” he said. “This is the right debate, this is the right time, the time to return to the idea of traditional marriage.”
No vote has been scheduled on the repeal bill, but it is expected to come up this legislative session. Gov. John Lynch has indicated that he will veto the bill if it passes.
Other speakers at the rally included Ovide Lamontagne, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, and Baptist pastor Robert Emrich, who led a successful fight in Maine to get voters to reject its gay marriage law.
“They want New England to be their beachhead,” he said, referring to supporters of same-sex marriage. “They've almost done that, but we're not ready to give up yet.”
The rally was interrupted at one point by a heckler who shouted, “Why do you hate me and my family?”
Members of Standing Up for New Hampshire Families assembled in a small group to the side of the rally. Among the guests were several religious leaders, including Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson.
“I'm surprised how small the crowd is,” Robinson said. “I think it's consistent with what New Hampshire people think about marriage equality. They're supportive of it.”
Members of Standing Up for New Hampshire Families point to polls that have consistently showed a majority of New Hampshire residents support keeping the law in place.
Craig Stowell, the Republican chair for Standing Up for New Hampshire Families, said supporting the law was consistent with his party's principles.
“Government does not extend into the personal lives of individuals. That's something that drew me to the party,” he said.
Tyler Deaton, a spokesman for the group and the secretary of the New Hampshire Young Republicans, also pointed to the gathering's modest size, noting that is was far smaller than the rally supporters of the gay marriage law held last February, which he said numbered more than 1,000.
As for any plans to hold another rally, Deaton said: “We have a sophisticated operation to reach the 400 members of the House. I don't think they've figured how to vote yet.”Court overturns Calif. gay marriage ban, appeal planned
The rally was organized by Rep. David Bates, R-Windham, who is the main sponsor of the repeal bill, HB 437, and has led the fight against the law since it was signed into law in 2009.
A focal point of Bates' speech concerned Standing Up for New Hampshire Families, the recently formed group that is fighting the repeal effort and bills itself as a bipartisan coalition of 300 community leaders.
Bates said he timed the rally to coincide with one planned by Standing Up for New Hampshire Families. “It's a rather misleading title for an out-of-state organization of homosexual activists,” he said.
“We're here to stand up for New Hampshire families who understand what marriage really is — the union of one man and one woman.”
Cheers came from the inter-generational crowd, which included many children, some holding signs reading “True Marriage equals one man, one woman.”
Among the featured guests at the rally was House Speaker William O'Brien, R-Mont Vernon, a key backer of the repeal effort.
“There are those who say it takes a village to raise a child — it doesn't. It takes a mother and a father,” he said. “This is the right debate, this is the right time, the time to return to the idea of traditional marriage.”
No vote has been scheduled on the repeal bill, but it is expected to come up this legislative session. Gov. John Lynch has indicated that he will veto the bill if it passes.
Other speakers at the rally included Ovide Lamontagne, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, and Baptist pastor Robert Emrich, who led a successful fight in Maine to get voters to reject its gay marriage law.
“They want New England to be their beachhead,” he said, referring to supporters of same-sex marriage. “They've almost done that, but we're not ready to give up yet.”
The rally was interrupted at one point by a heckler who shouted, “Why do you hate me and my family?”
Members of Standing Up for New Hampshire Families assembled in a small group to the side of the rally. Among the guests were several religious leaders, including Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson.
“I'm surprised how small the crowd is,” Robinson said. “I think it's consistent with what New Hampshire people think about marriage equality. They're supportive of it.”
Members of Standing Up for New Hampshire Families point to polls that have consistently showed a majority of New Hampshire residents support keeping the law in place.
Craig Stowell, the Republican chair for Standing Up for New Hampshire Families, said supporting the law was consistent with his party's principles.
“Government does not extend into the personal lives of individuals. That's something that drew me to the party,” he said.
Tyler Deaton, a spokesman for the group and the secretary of the New Hampshire Young Republicans, also pointed to the gathering's modest size, noting that is was far smaller than the rally supporters of the gay marriage law held last February, which he said numbered more than 1,000.
As for any plans to hold another rally, Deaton said: “We have a sophisticated operation to reach the 400 members of the House. I don't think they've figured how to vote yet.”