News & Politics - New year, new unions for gay couples

migamoo · 01-01-2008, 01:00 PM

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New year, new unions for gay couples - Yahoo! News

CONCORD, N.H. - Dozens of gay and lesbian couples entered into civil unions in New Hampshire in the early moments of New Year's Day as a new state law legalized the partnerships after midnight.

Organizers said they checked in 37 couples for an outdoor ceremony on the plaza of the New Hampshire Statehouse — the building where the law was adopted and signed in 2007. Participants bundled up against below-freezing temperatures.

"We've been together 20 years; we've been waiting for this moment for 20 years; finally the state will recognize us as we are," said Julie Bernier, who posed for photos on the Statehouse steps with partner Joan Andresen before the ceremony. Bernier and Andresen, who both work at Plymouth State University, never sought a commitment ceremony or other symbolic recognition of their relationship before Tuesday.

"I didn't believe in doing it until it meant something," Bernier said.

As ceremonies go, the outdoors event that began at 11 p.m. Monday was equal parts political rally, party and personal triumph.

"We really didn't believe that we'd be able to see this accomplished within one year but it has happened," state Rep. Jim Splaine, a sponsor of the civil unions bill, told the cheering crowd of about 200. "One thing we have to keep in mind is that there is much more to do. We have to continue the journey to make sure that we have marriage equality, full marriage equality — with the word marriage — soon."

New Hampshire's civil unions law — enacted by the Democrat-dominated Legislature early last year and signed by Democratic Gov. John Lynch in May, gives same sex couples the same rights, responsibilities and obligations of marriage without calling the union a marriage. New Hampshire is the fourth state in the nation to allow civil unions.

"We are a citizen legislature and we legislated this into being," said state Rep. Gail Morrison, a Democrat and co-organizer of the event who entered into a civil union with her longtime partner.

John Davey and Mark Brodeur brought gold wedding bands to exchange during their ceremony. Together 10 years since meeting online, Davey, 34, and Brodeur, 48, held a commitment ceremony with friends several years ago, but became the first couple to seek a civil union license in their hometown of Stratham when they became available last month.

"That was just for to say that we loved each other, that we're committed," Davey said of the commitment ceremony. "This is to show the world this is who we are, this is finally recognized in New Hampshire."

There were no protesters at the Statehouse, though one man, Michael Hein, said he drove 180 miles from Augusta, Maine, so he could "report to the people of Maine that this is going on next door." Hein also passed out statements from his group, The Christian Civic League of Maine, which denounces homosexuality.

"Without our vigilance in Maine, (civil unions are) something that could occur as soon as next year," Hein said.

After making brief group vows together, couples walked through an archway decorated with rainbow ribbons and a "just married" banner to meet officiants for individual ceremonies. As they walked through, fireworks from the city's New Year's celebration lit up the sky.

New Hampshire follows Vermont, Connecticut and New Jersey in allowing civil unions. Massachusetts is the only state that allows marriage. New Hampshire estimates that as many as 3,500 to 4,000 civil unions will be performed this first year.

I say good to the people of NH who made this legal. While I'm sure there are people who'd like more than just a civil union, it's definitely a step in the right direction.

**sunnykerr** · 01-01-2008, 07:18 PM

It should be a right for gay people everywhere. "Separate but equal" has been tried before. It does not work. I don't care if civil unions carry equal rights as marriage, which I don't believe they do anyway. No one's a second citizen in their land. Everyone should have the right to get married if that is what they want.

**TheAngel** · 01-02-2008, 09:28 AM

I agree. They should be allowed to get married. In the US there's around a 50% divorce rate anyway. It's not like there's some holy bond. People that aren't Christian are allowed to get married so there goes that argument as well. Who cares if it's a man and a woman, a man and a man, or a woman and a woman. As humans, they should be entitled to the same rights.

***Lethe's Bramble*** · 01-02-2008, 05:40 PM

We can get married here in Belgium.

migamoo · 01-03-2008, 03:51 PM

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Originally Posted by TheAngel (View Post)

People that aren't Christian are allowed to get married so there goes that argument as well.

I think some people use the "religion card" a lot because they really don't want to feel bad about denying other people rights. It's not about being a Christian, but also Jews and Muslims believe essentially the same when it comes to homosexuality. I think if people can fall back on their religion, it makes them feel better about themselves. That, and it gives them another excuse to not have to think of a valid argument as to why two people cannot marry.

Jen Jaree · 01-03-2008, 07:58 PM

I live in Canada same sex-marriage is legal here. I don't know weither or not I expressed my views on same sex marriage before on this board. I have no problem at all with same-sex marriage if you love each other you have every right to get married and it is none of our business what you do in the bedroom. It's not the end of the world if two guys get married and everything else in the world will stay same, if you don't believe in same sex marriage don't do it and hetro-sexual marriages will NEVER be banned. I think it's so stupid that Bush is so focused on banning gay marriage something that doesn't effect everyday life. There are way more important problems in not just America but the world too than banning gay marriage which IMO has no harm in the world.

**sunnykerr** · 01-05-2008, 04:47 PM

Well, the thing is that same-sex marriage does affect everyday life... if you're gay. There's a slew of rights that come with being the official spouse of someone as opposed to their partner or even their civil-union person (?). Anything from rights in the case of the sudden death of a partner and who gets to make what decisions then to things as seemingly trivial as who gets to visit said partner in the hospital if they're in any kind of restricted area.

You're right, here in Canada, gay marriage is legal, so we don't have to think about that right now. Then again, it's facing a lot of opposition from a lot of corners, so we shouldn't rest on our laurels quite yet.

I suppose my main source of everlasting bewilderment is why anyone would oppose it based on the Bible and what it allegedly says. I'll admit straight-away that I haven't read the book cover to cover, but it seems to me that the Bible says a lot of things that we no longer take into account. So I don't see why we should make an exception in this matter.

mokis · 01-13-2008, 05:17 PM

In Spain gay marriages are legal too and i think it's great. Everybody has the right share their life and marry the person they love and it doesn't matter if they're man and woman, man and man or woman and woman.

Many people, in Spain, think same-sex marriage will destroy the concept of Family as we know it and as we've been taught by catholic religion. I don't think so.. the definition of a family it's not a man, a woman and some kids that live together and share blood... for me, a family it's a group of people who love and respect each other.

COOLCAT200 · 01-14-2008, 06:05 PM

I think that's great. Very good to hear.

**sunnykerr** · 01-15-2008, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mokis (View Post)

Many people, in Spain, think same-sex marriage will destroy the concept of Family as we know it and as we've been taught by catholic religion. I don't think so.. the definition of a family it's not a man, a woman and some kids that live together and share blood... for me, a family it's a group of people who love and respect each other.

I think that's true of a lot of people, and not just in Spain.

And I don't personally understand why people think gay marriage would threaten "conventional" marriage, but I've met some really smart people who seem to be utterly convinced of that. So, I suppose, it's just one of those things I don't get. Because I really don't understand it.

I also think that most people, when they think of who they see as family, will count more than just their spouse and children. And that goes for hetero couples just as much as same-sex couples. Everyone knows family isn't just your blood, otherwise adoption would be moot.

mild toxicity · 01-15-2008, 10:10 PM

Kudos to NH. Shame that as long as marriage is a states' rights issue we'll never have it here in Alabama. The far right and religious sect here has such a stronghold on politics that I can't see civil rights for gays EVER being recognized here unless the federal government forces the state to do so.

It is just so unbelievably ignorant. Close to 1,200 rights awarded to married couples here in the US are denied to homosexual couples on the sole basis of sexual orientation. The bigotry is sickening.

Jen Jaree · 01-19-2008, 05:11 PM

I heard gay's aren't allowed vote is this true

? If so they should be allowed to vote.

**TheAngel** · 01-19-2008, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jen Jaree (View Post)

I heard gay's aren't allowed vote is this true

? If so they should be allowed to vote.

Well, they can vote in the US, I don't know what country they aren't allowed to vote in because there's nothing you ever do where you declare your sexually publically unless you choose to in the US. The only officially legal things dealing with homosexuality is the "Don't ask, Don't tell" law in the military, and not being able to marry.

migamoo · 01-21-2008, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jen Jaree (View Post)

I heard gay's aren't allowed vote is this true

? If so they should be allowed to vote.

Really? That's news to me. I've been registered to vote since 2003 and have voted since then. Where did you hear this?

Jen Jaree · 01-21-2008, 10:47 AM

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Originally Posted by Fieryangel (View Post)

Really? That's news to me. I've been registered to vote since 2003 and have voted since then. Where did you hear this?

Family Guy kinda of implied and I tried looking on the internet for info but I couldn't find any.

. I am going to assume right now that gays can vote which is a good thing. My big mistake was not looking into it better


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