Gay marriage heat on NH Gov. Lynch

Posted on May 5, 2009
Filed Under Uncategorized

PORTSMOUTH — Proponents and opponents of New Hampshire’s gay marriage bill have been out in force, taking to the airways, telephone lines and streets with the goal of persuading Gov. John Lynch to act on their point of view.

The House is expected this week to vote on a reconciliation of its version and the Senate version of the gay marriage bill, which was passed last week. But both sides said they expect no surprises in the House, leaving Lynch — who has said he opposes gay marriage — at the center of their efforts.

New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition sent volunteers out this past weekend to most of the major cities in the state, including Portsmouth, to gather signatures on a pro-marriage petition. Meanwhile, the National Organization for Marriage funded a $50,000 radio and television campaign aimed at persuading Lynch to remain strong to his commitments.

Mo Baxley, executive director of New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition, said volunteers with petitions fanned out Saturday and Sunday to Concord, Portsmouth, Keene, Plymouth and Manchester. In Portsmouth, volunteers were in Market Square and will remain there during the lunch hour this week. On Sunday, they were in front of South Church, the Unitarian church, gathering signatures from congregants.

The petition urges “the state of New Hampshire to allow same-sex couples to share fully in the rights, responsibilities and commitment of civil marriage.”

Baxley said the group gathered about 1,500 signatures over the weekend, which will be sent to Lynch after the House vote Wednesday, and Lynch will receive additional petitions “in waves” as they come in. Moreover, she said, supporters are also inundating the governor’s phone lines, making upward of 300 calls a day since the legislation passed the Senate.

See Gay marriage heat on Lynch
Seacoastonline.com – Portsmouth,NH,USA