Comments on: NH Senate takes up marriage bill

By: Victoria

Victoria — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:16:33 +0000

“Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri has said he will veto any gay marriage bill that reaches his desk. Last week Carcieri and his wife, along with representatives of conservative groups, appeared at a news conference to denounce gay marriage.”

Sure enough, another hateful Catholic.

By: LOrion

LOrion — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:18:09 +0000

So will NEW YORK: Gov. David A. Paterson on Thursday will announce plans to introduce legislation to legalize same-sex marriage, according to people with knowledge of the governor’s plans.

Mr. Paterson’s move, which he first signaled last week after Vermont became the fourth state to allow gay and lesbian couples to wed, reflects the governor’s desire to press the issue with lawmakers in Albany as other states move ahead with efforts to grant more civil rights to homosexuals.

By: drewski

drewski — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:11:33 +0000

Let Lynch veto it–and let that veto be used against him. Carcieri–given Rhode Island’s dirty politics (so dirty it gives Louisiana a run for the money) might want to think twice about his gesture. Never know when or where dirt will come out. Also, considering RI’s unemployment rate is by far the highest in the Northeast and still climbing, I’d like to know why Carcieri has time to campaign against gays instead of dealing with his state’s economic meltdown. This should be used against him too. If this is the best RI Dems can do, it’s time to go looking for old-school New England Republicans like Lincoln Chaffee.

By: equalnotspecial

equalnotspecial — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:46:06 +0000

I agree with those who believe “Marriage Equality” is what we are after. Stop using the term “gay marriage”. It sounds like special rights, not equal rights, and it is equal rights we are after.
I also agree some (many) religious groups are the main problem, but I also agree some are our most important allies, if they would only speak out more. Only religious people can convince other religious people that Jesus didn’t intend to marginalize glbt people. But no matter what one’s religious beliefs, they shouldn’t be used to discriminate using the force of law.

By: Neil

Neil — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:32:15 +0000

I wholeheartedly agree that we need to stop using the terms ’same-sex marriage’ or ‘gay marriage’. They serve only to inflame our opposition.

Marriage equality is not only more palatable to our adversaries, but far more correct as to what we are trying to achieve.

Neil

By: NH Activist

NH Activist — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:54:37 +0000

Both the Senate President Sylvia Larsen, the Senate Majority Leader, Maggie Hassan say there are more important things to discuss than same sex marriage. Gay State Party Chair Raymond Buckley is AWOL. Our purported friends seem to be deserting us.

By: Jer

Jer — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:40:51 +0000

Governor John Lynch Email Form:

http://www4.egov.nh.gov/governor/goveforms/comments.asp

By: Kert Hubin

Kert Hubin — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:20:21 +0000

What makes Gov. Lynch the arbiter of what’s “fine”? Civil unions are not the same as marriage. It’s an unintelligent comparison from any civil rights perspective. So unless we’re coming up on a gubernatorial election in NH soon… oh wait.

By: shawn

shawn — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:50:07 +0000

Thanks for that mailing list Jer. I’ll definitely be sending out a message or two. How about lynch’s e-mail? Was it in there too, or did I just not see it?

By: Pauliji

Pauliji — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:09:14 +0000

I believe the correct term is “marriage equality”, or “marriage for gay and lesbian citizens”. I know they aren’t short terms, but they are accurate, and immune to being derisively quoted if quoted in full. I agree that “gay marriage” does seem like always defining oneself by a difference as compared to some “norm” that is not supposed to be used as a benchmark when discussing equality. Marriage rights, equality and citizenship are all very secular terms also, and that’s where we need to keep this debate. Every time we get into the religion area, we’re going to lose. As a wise man once said, if you could reason with religious fundamentalists, there wouldn’t be any fundamentalists.