N.H. governor to sign bill allowing civil unions

Action will make state fourth in the nation to permit gay, lesbian unions

NBC Video: Politics

Committee prepares to judge Sotomayor
July 12: On the eve of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings, Republican senators say they’re concerned about the her ability to adjudicate fairly. NBC’s Pete Williams reports.

Concealed CIA program angers Dems

Obama to speak at NAACP anniversary

Axing furloughs may come at educational expense

McCain ‘surprised’ by Palin’s resignation

Week Ahead: Sotomayor in the hot seat

Kirk decides not to run?

Burris announces he won't run in 2010

Slideshow

The Week in Political Cartoons
Msnbc.com’s political cartoonists take a look back at the past week.

more photos

updated 11:06 a.m. ET April 19, 2007

CONCORD, N.H. - Gov. John Lynch told The Associated Press on Thursday he will sign legislation establishing civil unions in New Hampshire.

New Hampshire thus will become the fourth state to adopt civil unions and the first to do so without first having a court fight over denying gays the right to marry.

"I believe it is a matter of conscience, fairness and preventing discrimination," Lynch said in an interview.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

Although Lynch had said previously he supports expanding health benefits to same-sex partners of state workers, he had declined to take a public position on civil unions. He came under fire from both sides for not weighing in -- especially after the surprise delay last week of the Senate vote on the House-passed bill.

Some legislators had worried the Democratic governor might part company on the bill with Democrats who control the House and Senate for the first time in more than a century.

Lynch noted his support for same-sex benefits when he was a trustee in the state university system. But he has said he opposes gay marriage.

He said he announced his position on the bill after extensive discussions with lawmakers, including most of the 24 state senators.

"I wanted to see that healthy debate happen in the Statehouse," he said.

The Senate votes on the bill next week, and Lynch said he is confident it will pass. It would authorize civil unions beginning next year.

Neighboring Massachusetts, the only state that allows gays to marry, did so after a court decision mandating it. Vermont and New Jersey also responded to court orders when they legalized civil unions.

Connecticut became the first state to legislate civil unions without court intervention two years ago. A lawsuit challenging Connecticut's marriage law was pending, but legislators said they were not influenced by it.

The House passed the bill nearly 2-1 on April 4.