New Hampshire

The New Hampshire Legislature legalized civil unions two years ago and the marriage equality law passed in June. On January 1, New Hampshire became the fifth state in the nation to recognize same-sex marriages, joining Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut and Iowa.

Several couples gathered on the State House steps to honor their relationships and the new law.

The Associated Press reports there was just one protester at the Statehouse as dozens of gay and lesbian couples entered into civil unions in New Hampshire in the early minutes of New Year's Day. A new state law legalized the partnerships after midnight.

In a related story, Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement on the new law:

A Boston mom gives it to Romney:

"I am a gay woman and I have children. Your comment that you just made, it sort of invalidates my family," said Cynthia Fish, a mother of a 6- and 8-year-old. "... I wish you could explain to me more, why if we are sending our troops over to fight for liberty and justice for all throughout this country, why not for me? Why not for my family?"

The New York Times Editorial
Published: June 7, 2007

A potentially groundbreaking legal battle over Connecticut’s exclusion of gay people from the state’s marriage law has catapulted the debate over same-sex marriage to a new level.

Gay couples in New Hampshire can start applying for many of the rights and responsibilities of marriage as early as January 2008 under a law Gov. John Lynch signed Thursday establishing civil unions.

"We in New Hampshire have had a long and proud tradition taking the lead in opposing discrimination," Lynch said. "Today that tradition continues."