New Hampshire lawmakers defeat marriage bills
By Ruth Schneider, 365gay.com
02.22.2010
New Hampshire legislators voted last week to kill two proposed bills that would have changed the state’s new same-sex marriage law.
The House voted 210-109 to defeat a bill calling for the repeal of same-sex marriage law. Earlier in the day, House lawmakers voted 201-135 to stop a bill that would have defined marriage as between one man and one woman.
Marriage equality opponents needed 60 percent of the votes to forward the bills to the state Senate.
Rep. Alfred Baldasaro, a Republican and sponsor of the repeal bill, told Boston.com that being gay violates natural law. He said it is a matter of choice.
“A black person cannot change the color of their skin, but a homosexual can change their sexual preference any time,” he added.
His fellow representative has other plans. Rep. Ed Butler, a Democrat, told the Web site of his plans to tie the knot.
“We have fought to be married not because we want to tear down the institution of marriage, but because we respect and honor it,” he said. “Thank you for what will be an incredibly powerful moment in our lives. Please don’t take it away.”
