On January 1, 2010, New Hampshire replaced civil unions with full same-sex marriage. The following year, all civil unions dating back to 2008, when they were legalized, were upgraded to marriage licenses. With this legislation, New Hampshire became the sixth state to legalize gay marriage. This brief timeline follows the progress of gay marriage in New Hampshire:
6/03/09: New Hampshire became the sixth U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage. The legislation includes a provision that allows churches, their employees and religious groups to decline to officiate at same-sex marriages. The law takes effect January 1, 2010.
5/21/09: The amended version of the same-sex marriage bill, allowing clergy and religious institutions to decline to perform same-sex ceremonies, a provision added by Gov. John Lynch (D), passed the Senate but failed in the House by a vote of 188 to 186. The bill was re-issued in committee.
4/29/09: The Senate voted in favor of a full same-sex measure bill 13 to 11, following a successful House vote of 186 to 179 the previous month. The bill was an amended version of previous legislation, so under law it had to be presented in front of the House again and then Gov. John Lynch (D) before it could be signed into law.
6/03/09: New Hampshire became the sixth U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage. The legislation includes a provision that allows churches, their employees and religious groups to decline to officiate at same-sex marriages. The law takes effect January 1, 2010.
5/21/09: The amended version of the same-sex marriage bill, allowing clergy and religious institutions to decline to perform same-sex ceremonies, a provision added by Gov. John Lynch (D), passed the Senate but failed in the House by a vote of 188 to 186. The bill was re-issued in committee.
4/29/09: The Senate voted in favor of a full same-sex measure bill 13 to 11, following a successful House vote of 186 to 179 the previous month. The bill was an amended version of previous legislation, so under law it had to be presented in front of the House again and then Gov. John Lynch (D) before it could be signed into law.
