Thursday, 4:30 PM
N.H. on cusp of permitting civil unions
By Lisa Wangsness, Globe Staff
New Hampshire is poised to become the fourth state in the nation to permit civil unions, and the second state to do it voluntarily, without a court order.
Democratic Governor John Lynch said today he will sign a civil unions bill now pending before the Legislature if it reaches his desk. That is almost certain to happen -- the House passed the bill last month, and the Senate, which is dominated by Democrats who favor its passage, has scheduled a vote on the bill on Thursday.
"The governor believes ultimately what this issue about is a matter of conscience, fairness, and preventing discrimination," Colin Manning, a spokesman for Lynch, said today in a phone interview.
The legislation would permit same-sex couples to enter into civil unions and "enjoy the same rights, responsibilities and obligations as married couples." Lynch had previously come out against gay marriage.
If the New Hampshire measure becomes law, four of the six New England states would allow some form of legal union for gay couples. Vermont and Connecticut allow civil unions, and Massachusetts is the only state in the country that permits gay marriage. Gay couples from Rhode Island may also marry legally in Massachusetts, under a court decision last year.
In 2005, Connecticut became the first state to voluntarily legalize without a court order requiring the state to grant gay couples the same rights and responsibilities as married couples.
