- Baptist Press - https://www.baptistpress.com -

N.H. gov. would sign civil unions bill

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CONCORD, N.H. (BP)–New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch said April 19 he would sign a proposed civil unions bill if it reaches his desk, which seems likely.

In recent weeks Lynch, a Democrat, has been mum on the bill, which would make New Hampshire the fourth state in the nation to legalize civil unions for homosexual couples. The others are Vermont, Connecticut and New Jersey. California has something similar but calls them domestic partnerships. Massachusetts remains the only state to recognize “gay marriage.”

Lynch made the public announcement in an interview with the Associated Press. The bill has passed the House and is before the Senate.

“I believe it is a matter of conscience, fairness and preventing discrimination,” Lynch told the AP.

Opponents of civil unions say the bill would legalize “gay marriage” in all but name and is only a step removed from legalizing full-fledged “gay marriage.” Although Connecticut legalized civil unions just two years ago, a legislative committee there recently passed a bill that would legalize “gay marriage.”

Civil unions grant same-sex couples all the sate legal benefits of marriage.
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Compiled by Michael Foust.

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