Originally Posted By hopemax New Hampshire's revised bill was passed by the Senate this morning, House this afternoon and signed by the Governor. "Today we're standing up for the liberties of same-sex couples by making clear they will receive the same rights, responsibilities and respect under New Hampshire law," Lynch said this afternoon before signing the bill at about 5:20 p.m. "It is my hope and my belief that New Hampshire will once again come together to embrace tolerance and respect and to stand against discrimination." <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/06/nh_legislature.html" target="_blank">http://www.boston.com/news/loc...ure.html</a>
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt According The Associated Press, "Lynch [the governor of NH] demanded — and got — language protecting the rights of religious opponents of gay marriage before signing the bills". I don't think he would have signed otherwise. Congrats to NH.
Originally Posted By DAR It's New Hampshire this is not in least bit surprising. In fact I'm surprised they weren't first.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Awesome. In New York, it's a possibility. The Assembly (lower house) is no problem, and the Governor has said he'll sign it. The Senate is the hold up. There's a small Democratic majority, which means it can finally be considered (the previous Rep. majority leader would not even let it come up), but there are some Democrats opposed... and some Republicans in favor. It's very close, and the new majority leader says he won't let it be voted on unless he's sure of passage. New York is still a very influential state, and it would be a huge blow for equality if this happens.
Originally Posted By Mr X Very cool. Wake me when we get to 30 and the SCOTUS has no choice but to intervene. ***It's New Hampshire this is not in least bit surprising. In fact I'm surprised they weren't first*** Have you ever BEEN to NH DAR? I lived there. It's not what you think it is, I think.
Originally Posted By Mr F yup, prop 8 SURE DID stop gay marriage from being legalized in other states alright. Stupid bigots. ...We're still waiting on Rhode Island and New York
Originally Posted By DAR <<Have you ever BEEN to NH DAR? I lived there. It's not what you think it is, I think.>> No I've never been to New Hampshah. So it's not tons of granola eating birkenstock wearing hippies? I mean I can go to Madison WI for that.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 That's more Vermont. NH is generally regarded as the most conservative of the New England states, but (typical of New England) with a stubborn insistence on individual liberties. No real surprise marriage equality came here first.
Originally Posted By alexbook I'm curious if anybody knows the IRS's position on gay married couples. Can they file joint Federal returns or not?
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I don't think so, even those who live in MA, IA, etc. That will be challenged eventually.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << I'm curious if anybody knows the IRS's position on gay married couples. Can they file joint Federal returns or not? >> They cannot.
Originally Posted By utahjosh For the record, I never thought Prop 8 in CA would stop gay marriage from making more advances. I've always thought it would eventually become a federal matter making polygamous and gay marriage both legal across the country. But I still oppose federally - and state sanctioned gay marriages.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << I've always thought it would eventually become a federal matter making polygamous and gay marriage both legal across the country. >> Interesting how you lump polygamy and gay marriage together in the same sentence even though there is no major effort underway to legalize polygamy, the gay activists in favor of gay marriage are not working to endorse polygamy, and there is no language in any gay marriage legislation that supports polygamy. Yet, in typcial right-wing propoganda fashion, you lump the two together as though they are one in the same. I could care less if you oppose gay marriage, but at least address the issue in a manner that represents reality and not the hyperbole of the far-right.
Originally Posted By utahjosh Call it whatever you want, Sport Goofy, but it's true. Give me one good reason polygamy should remain against the law while gay marriage is legalized.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <Call it whatever you want, Sport Goofy, but it's true.> No, it is not true. Know of any states that have legalized polygamy lately? Know of any movement to do so? <Give me one good reason polygamy should remain against the law while gay marriage is legalized. > Because sexual orientation is intrinsic to the individual, and polygamy is not; it is merely a social arrangement that societies either allow or don't, but a straight man with five wives or a straight man with one wife is still a straight man. THAT's what's intrinsic, not how many wives the law allows him to have. And being gay is intrinsic too. There.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***I've never been to New Hampshah. So it's not tons of granola eating birkenstock wearing hippies? I mean I can go to Madison WI for that. *** Heck no. You're either thinking of Vermont (Brattleboro area), or Western Mass (Amherst/Northhampton area). New Hampshire may be surrounded, but they are FAR, FAR different. Redneck central. Big time. People up there get angry about being forced to celebrate Martin Luther King day. Seriously. Lovely mountains though. Great skiing. If you ever go there, let me know. My Dad owns a lodge and all my friends stay for free. For you, DAR, it's $200 a night though. j/k
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Give me one good reason polygamy should remain against the law while gay marriage is legalized.*** Logistics. A same sex couple doesn't affect the system of benefits already in place whatsoever. Divorce proceedings, too, can go forward in a normal fashion. Not so with polygamy. In a divorce, how the heck do you divide up the property? Can you have a "partial divorce"? etc... There's your "good reason". (it's actually a real one, in comparison to the bullcrap arguments made against gay marriage)
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder On polygamy, misguided people like Mormons think mentioning it is their "gotcha". Just shows how they truly do not understand the basic issues.
Originally Posted By BlueDevilSF Not that I think it will make any difference to certain people around here who are against same-sex marriage, but I always try to present the human face of the issue: <a href="http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/06/beyond-gay-marriage.html" target="_blank">http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped...age.html</a> With my family support, I am so grateful and lucky I don't have to live like this.
