Aqua
01-02-2008, 05:10 PM
(SF)
New Hampshire Follows 3 Other States
CONCORD, N.H. -- Dozens of gay and lesbian couples celebrated the arrival of civil unions in New Hampshire in the early moments of New Year's Day Tuesday, bundling up against below-freezing temperatures for a group ceremony as soon as the unions became legal after midnight.
Organizers said they checked in 37 couples for the outdoor ceremony on the plaza of the New Hampshire Statehouse -- the building where the law was voted in and signed in 2007.
"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.
Click here to find out more!
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," Portsmouth state Rep. Jim Splaine, a sponsor of the civl 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 -- voted in 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 in everything but name. New Hampshire is the fourth state in the nation to allow civil unions and the first to do so without a court decision or the threat of one.
"We are a citizen legislature and we legislated this into being," said state Rep. Gail Morrison, a Sanbornton Democrat and co-organizer of the event who got a civil union Tuesday with her longtime partner.
John Davey and Mark Brodeur brought gold wedding bands to exchange during their ceremony, and had friends on cell phone speed dials to call as soon as it was official. Together 10 years since meeting online, Davey, 34, and Brodeur, 48, held a commitment ceremony with friends several years ago but were the first couple to seek a civil unions 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."
Anti-gay onlookers at the gathering kept their presence largely to themselves. There were no visible protesters, 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 separate New Year's celebration lit up the sky.
Jen Major, one of the organizers, walking through with partner Kelley Morris, wore a red heart pendant around her neck and a Barack Obama button on her coat to show her pick for the New Hampshire primary one week away.
Obama's rival Hillary Rodham Clinton released a statement after midnight praising New Hampshire's civil unions. "New Hampshire continues to lead the country in preserving the rights and freedom of all of its citizens," Clinton said.
State Rep. Mo Baxley, executive director of the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition, wore a John Edwards button on her jacket. "It's important to celebrate the little steps on the way," said Baxley, who supports full marriage for gay couples.
New Hampshire follows Vermont, Connecticut and New Jersey in allowing civil unions. Massachusetts is the only state that allows marriage. New Hampshire record keepers estimate as many as 3,500 to 4,000 civil unions will be performed this first year.
New Hampshire Follows 3 Other States
CONCORD, N.H. -- Dozens of gay and lesbian couples celebrated the arrival of civil unions in New Hampshire in the early moments of New Year's Day Tuesday, bundling up against below-freezing temperatures for a group ceremony as soon as the unions became legal after midnight.
Organizers said they checked in 37 couples for the outdoor ceremony on the plaza of the New Hampshire Statehouse -- the building where the law was voted in and signed in 2007.
"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.
Click here to find out more!
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," Portsmouth state Rep. Jim Splaine, a sponsor of the civl 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 -- voted in 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 in everything but name. New Hampshire is the fourth state in the nation to allow civil unions and the first to do so without a court decision or the threat of one.
"We are a citizen legislature and we legislated this into being," said state Rep. Gail Morrison, a Sanbornton Democrat and co-organizer of the event who got a civil union Tuesday with her longtime partner.
John Davey and Mark Brodeur brought gold wedding bands to exchange during their ceremony, and had friends on cell phone speed dials to call as soon as it was official. Together 10 years since meeting online, Davey, 34, and Brodeur, 48, held a commitment ceremony with friends several years ago but were the first couple to seek a civil unions 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."
Anti-gay onlookers at the gathering kept their presence largely to themselves. There were no visible protesters, 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 separate New Year's celebration lit up the sky.
Jen Major, one of the organizers, walking through with partner Kelley Morris, wore a red heart pendant around her neck and a Barack Obama button on her coat to show her pick for the New Hampshire primary one week away.
Obama's rival Hillary Rodham Clinton released a statement after midnight praising New Hampshire's civil unions. "New Hampshire continues to lead the country in preserving the rights and freedom of all of its citizens," Clinton said.
State Rep. Mo Baxley, executive director of the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition, wore a John Edwards button on her jacket. "It's important to celebrate the little steps on the way," said Baxley, who supports full marriage for gay couples.
New Hampshire follows Vermont, Connecticut and New Jersey in allowing civil unions. Massachusetts is the only state that allows marriage. New Hampshire record keepers estimate as many as 3,500 to 4,000 civil unions will be performed this first year.