Opponents of marriage equality in New Hampshire proposed a bill on Tuesday to repeal the state’s gay marriage law and allow voters to weigh in through a nonbinding ballot question to reinstate the 2007 civil union law, reports the Associated Press.
New Hampshire Rep. David Bates
Republican state Rep. David Bates proposal is intended to return to that law by giving same-sex couples the contractual protections of marriage and requiring them to go through divorce proceedings like heterosexual couples, but under the name “civil union,” not “marriage.”
Bates added an amendment to the original proposal to specifically state that the nearly 1,900 existing same-sex marriages would not be affected if the 2010 law is repealed.
“I don’t think what we have in place now is what the people want,” said Bates, but added that he is “ready to accept the will of the people” should voters vote to retain gay marriage later this month. A recent poll showed that 59 percent of New Hampshire voters support marriage equality.
Photo: advocate.com
