New Hampshire Legalizes Gay Marriage

The Granite State’s Republican governor opposes gay marriage, but he cut a deal with the Legislature and signed off on three bills that made New Hampshire the sixth state (wishy-washy California not among them) to grant same-sex couples their marital rights. Six down, 44 to go.

Gov. John Lynch got legislators to write in exemptions for religious groups. Essentially, gays can get married as long as churches are not forced to officiate.

The winning vote came at the last possible moment in the legislative calendar.

The other five states to recognize gay marriage are Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont and Iowa. Plus Canada, if you’re feeling cheeky.

AP via Google:

Gov. John Lynch was surrounded by cheering supporters of the move as he signed the three bills about an hour after the key vote on the legislation in the House.

The law will take effect in January, exactly two years after the state legalized civil unions. New Hampshire joins Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont and Iowa in recognizing same-sex marriages, though opponents hope to overturn Maine’s law with a public vote.

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AP photo / Jim Cole

The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, right, the U.S. Episcopal Church’s first openly gay bishop, shakes hands with Mo Baxley in the gallery of Representatives Hall in the New Hampshire statehouse in Concord after lawmakers voted in favor of same-sex marriage.