The New Hampshire house will consider marriage equality legislation today, after the senate approved the measure last Thursday. Marriage equality legislation passed the house in March by a vote of 186-179, but the full chamber must now consider whether to concur with the amended legislation that passed the senate by a vote of 13 to 11.
The amendments to the marriage equality legislation recognize the distinction between civil and religious marriage, and allow couples applying for a marriage license to continue to select the terms “husband” and “wife,” in addition to the new gender-neutral term, “spouse.”
Observers expect the house to approve the amended legislation and send it to Governor John Lynch. It is not yet clear whether Lynch, a Democrat, will sign or veto the legislation.
Governor Lynch has said that he believes marriage is a union between a man and a woman, and that civil unions are sufficient to provide the same rights to same-sex couples. Since the marriage equality legislation passed the senate, his office has been flooded with messages from both sides on the issue.
Results of a poll released last week by New Hampshire Freedom to Marry show that 55 percent of state residents support marriage equality.
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