CONCORD, N.H.—As dozens of gay and lesbian couples celebrated the arrival of civil unions in New Hampshire at midnight last night, a member of The Christian Civic League of Maine handed out pamphlets denouncing homosexuality.
Thirty-seven couples checked in for a group civil union ceremony at the New Hampshire Statehouse shortly after midnight, when civil unions became legal in New Hampshire.
Anti-gay onlookers at the gathering kept their presence largely to themselves. Michael Hein of The Christian Civic League of Maine drove 180 miles from Augusta, Maine, so he could -- in his words -- "report to the people of Maine that this is going on next door."
In 2006, Hein shot video of the 20th annual Southern Maine gay pride parade in Portland so he could post footage on his group's Web site.
