THE COMMISSION STUDYING HOW TO ADDRESS THE LEGAL STATUS OF HOMOSEXUAL COUPLES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE HELD A HEARING IN PORTSMOUTH WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
IN ITS FINAL REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE, THE COMMISSION COULD RECOMMEND ESTABLISHING SAME SEX MARRIAGE� OR CIVIL UNIONS� OR LEAVING THINGS AS THEY ARE.
NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC RADIO CORRESPONDENT DOUG MACPHERSON REPORTS.
ABOUT 100 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT PORTSMOUTH CITY HALL.
WHEN THEY ARRIVED THEY WERE ASKED TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS BEING FOR OR AGAINST ANY CHANGE IN HOW NEW HAMPSHIRE TREATS SAME-SEX COUPLES. THE AUDIENCE WAS FAIRLY EVENLY SPLIT.
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AND SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS THEMSELVES HAVE STRONG OPINIONS ON THE ISSUE.
REPRESENTATIVE PAUL BRASSARD IS A REPUBLICAN FROM MANCHESTER, AND A SELF-DESCRIBED CHRISTIAN. ,
HE SAYS THE MORAL ISSUE OF HOMOSEXUALITY ELIMINATES ANY TROUBLING UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WHAT THE COMMISSION OUGHT TO RECOMMEND.
TAPE BRASSARD 457 the Christian side is really against gay marriage, because the word of god condemns homosexual. So as a Christian, you almost have to go with god�s word. And if you don�t believe in god�s word, well then, somebody is going to suffer the consequences. /// what�s sin is sin. :21
FOR MOST COMMISSIONERS, HOWEVER, IT�S NOT SO EASY. ED BUTLER IS ONE OF FOUR PUBLIC MEMBERS. HE DESCRIBES HIMSELF AS A GAY MAN IN A COMMITTED LONG TERM RELATIONSHIP. BUTLER SAYS WHETHER THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE IS KEEPING AN OPEN MIND ABOUT ITS FINAL REPORT � IS A GOOD QUESTION. THE RESULTS, HE SAYS, WILL BE TELLING.
TAPE BULTER 573 I do know that there is intent an interest on the part of a number of the commissioners to really explore the issues, and to try to determine what is the best thing to do, to recommend, to the legislature. :16
SEVERAL COMMISSIONERS HAVE FOCUSED ON THE CIVIL RIGHTS IMPLICATIONS: WHAT RIGHTS DO MARRIED COUPLES ENJOY THAT SAME SEX COUPLES CANNOT? STATE SENATOR TED GATSAS IS A REPUBLICAN FROM MANCHESTER.
TAPE TED GATSAS 479 I think that when people make statements that -- as the question I just asked a second ago when people said, you know, if one of us passes away what rights do we have � it�s probably the same rights that I would have being married, if I didn�t have a will. :14
IN FACT, UNDER NEW HAMPSHIRE LAW, A SPOUSE WOULD RECEIVE AT LEAST A PORTION OF HIS WIFE�S PROPERTY � EVEN WITHOUT A WILL.
BUT NEW HAMPSHIRE ESTATE ATTORNEYS SAY SAME SEX COUPLES CAN ENJOY THE SAME INHERITANCE RIGHTS AS MARRIED COUPLES � IF THEY PLAN WELL. THE EXCEPTIONS HAVE TO DO WITH LAWS THAT GIVE AUTHORITY TO NEXT-OF-KIN. FOR EXAMPLE, A SPOUSE, A PARENT, OR A CHILD CAN DECIDE HOW A LOVED ONE�S BODY IS DISPOSED OF. A SAME-SEX PARTNER WOULD ORDINARILY HAVE NO SAY.
THERE ARE OBVIOUS IMPLICATIONS FOR BENEFITS. MORE AND MORE NEW HAMPSHIRE COMPANIES EXTEND BENEFITS TO THEIR EMPLOYEES� SAME SEX PARTNERS � BUT MANY COMPANIES DO NOT.
AND THERE ARE MEDICAL ISSUES. A SPOKESMAN FOR PORTSMOUTH REGIONAL HOSPITAL SAYS THE HOSPITAL DOESN�T RESTRICT VISITORS -- EXCEPT ACCORDING TO A PATIENT�S WISHES. BUT WITHOUT SOMETHING LIKE A DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY, A SAME SEX PARTNER CANNOT MAKE LEGAL DECISIONS REGARDING A LOVED ONE�S MEDICAL CARE.
THE CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION, REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE TONY SOLTANI OF EPSOM, SAYS HE�S BEEN SURPRISED TO LEARN HOW MANY RIGHTS SAME-SEX COUPLES DO HAVE THAT THEY DON�T KNOW ABOUT.
SOLTANI 525 and that�s perhaps our failure. We have not conveyed to them the protections new Hampshire law currently offers. We�re one of the very few states that has an anti discrimination law protecting gay and lesbians/// and we were one of the first to enact it. :14
SOLTANI SAYS MOST COMMISSION MEMBERS ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE IDEA OF WHAT, IF ANY, OF THE RIGHTS MARRIED COUPLES ENJOY SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO SAME SEX COUPLES� AND IF SO, HOW. BUT WHILE SOLTANI SAYS HE DOESN�T KNOW WHAT THE FINAL REPORT WILL LOOK LIKE, HE HAS NO DOUBT THAT ONCE IT�S DONE, HIS LEGISLATIVE COLLEAGUES WILL STUDY IT CAREFULLY.
TAPE SOLTANI 556 this commission�s report will probably be decisive in what the legislature does. :06
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE SCHEDULED IN KEENE ON JULY 25TH, AND IN NASHUA ON AUGUST 29TH. THE COMMISSION�S FINAL REPORT IS DUE DECEMBER FIRST. FOR N-H-P-R NEWS, I�M DOUG MACPHERSON, IN PORTSMOUTH.
