As expected, New Hampshire lawmakers today passed a bill to grant same sex couples all the rights of marriage.
Governor John Lynch has promised to sign the bill, and when he does New Hampshire will become the fourth state in the country to allow gay couples to form civil unions.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Josh Rogers was at the vote and files this report.
No one who traveled to Concord to witness the vote had much doubt about the outcome. But that didn't stop them from showing up -- they began gathering at the statehouse several hours before the senate convened. And by the time the bill was taken up, dozens filled the gallery and the hall outside the senate chamber trying to hear debate best summed up on the Senate floor by Republican Jack Barnes.
"We all know what the vote's going to be when the senate president called the roll. I'd like to convince you otherwise but I can't."
Barnes was right, the vote was 14-10 with all democrats in support and all republicans against……Extra state troopers were stationed in the chamber to quell public outbursts that never quite came…..After the vote though, things did get a bit rowdy in the hall…..as those on both sides of the debate reacted and reporters gathered quotes.
"Please quiet it down. Move down to this areas if you ant to do your interviews this is a prime area."
After security moved on, Democratic lawmaker Gail Morrison was quick to flash the commitment ring she plans to wear at her union ceremony.
"We're been waiting for this for 25 years and it will move us quirte a ways forward so we can live as others live and and my partner and I have set date and we've we will have our ceremony."
Others, however, were in no mood to celebrate. High school French teacher Peter Mehegan told anybody willing to listen that gay unions just don't make sense.
"Biology doesn't permit the equation. I have a male plug here, and a male plug here I can tie the two together with duct tape but you don’t' produce light."
He and other opponents hope today's vote comes with consequences for the legislators who made civil unions law.
"I believe there is a resident out there, That will take this to court -- that believes it is wrong."
Al Baldasaro is a Republican State Rep. from Londonderry. He says most of his constituents share he view that letting gays form civil unions will hurt New Hampshire.
"Because I think it's pushing their rights on to me, pushing their choices onto my kids on the beaches. They'll all attract here to NH like a magnet. That's what will happen."
But if that does happen, democratic lawmaker Ed Butler, co-owners an inn the northern NH town of hart's location, will be ready. Butler is a justice of the peace, who says he will perform civil unions at his inn. And as his partner Les Schoof joked, if the union seekers come, they'll be more than welcome.
"At the Notchland Inn we always have champagne on ice waiting for a celebration."
And if things go according to plan, they'll be popping the first corks in January, when New Hampshire's civil unions law takes effect..
