New Hampshire Governor Seeks Changes To Gay Marriage Bill
source: http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE54D5NM20090514
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New Hampshire's Governor John Lynch asked state lawmakers on Thursday to revise a gay marriage bill to increase legal protections for religious institutions opposed to gay marriage, and promised to sign it if the new version passes the legislature.
"If the legislature passes this language, I will sign the same-sex marriage bill into law," Lynch said, referring to additional protections for religious groups. "If the legislature doesn't pass these provisions, I will veto it."
Lynch said Vermont and Connecticut, which have legalized gay marriage, put in place stronger measures to protect religious institutions than New Hampshire's bill offered.
The governor's suggested changes would make clear that religious groups would not be required to perform gay weddings if their beliefs prohibited it, and that they would not be held liable in court for refusing such services.
The language would also make clear that social groups and other organizations affiliated with religious entities did not have to provide benefits to gay couples.
"If the legislature passes this language, I will sign the same-sex marriage bill into law," Lynch said, referring to additional protections for religious groups. "If the legislature doesn't pass these provisions, I will veto it."
Lynch said Vermont and Connecticut, which have legalized gay marriage, put in place stronger measures to protect religious institutions than New Hampshire's bill offered.
The governor's suggested changes would make clear that religious groups would not be required to perform gay weddings if their beliefs prohibited it, and that they would not be held liable in court for refusing such services.
The language would also make clear that social groups and other organizations affiliated with religious entities did not have to provide benefits to gay couples.
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