Gay marriage became law in the Granite State this afternoon.
Democrat governor John Lynch signed the bill into law today following votes passing the measure in the State Senate and Legislature earlier in the day. The law goes into effect on January 1, 2010.
I have friends who are excited over this development. They feel that they finally have attained the same rights that every other New Hampshirite has.
I also have friends who are upset at this bill being signed into law. They feel that this new law takes something away from the institution of marriage--something that they feel is a religious institution.
While I understand that those people think passing this law is wrong, I have to respectfully disagree with them.
Is marriage a religious institution? It is, but not exclusively.
Regardless of what anyone or any religion thinks it is, marriage is a legal arrangement and one that can only happen with the permission of the State. You are simply not allowed to get married without meeting specific legal requirements and obtaining a marriage license from the Government.
You're also not allowed to dissolve that marriage without the intervention of the State. Typically, you have to hire a lawyer and go to a court proceeding to end a marriage.
...and it's all because of Government. The moment they inserted themselves in this process and began regulating and taxing (via licensing fees) the event of marriage, they created a disparity in our society that would someday have to be dealt with. In New Hampshire, now is apparently the time.
I've heard some of the arguments from the opponents--that this now opens the door for marriage between family members, marriage between adults and underage children or even polygamy. That notion is absurd.
Many people use that argument because they paint homosexuality as aberrant behavior that leads to some of those other things--and we know that's just not the case.
Polygamy is a crime.
Marrying your sibling or cousin is a crime.
Relations with underage children is a crime.
Homosexuality is not. It's that simple.
Government created this problem and, ultimately, government has to rectify it. New Hampshire is the sixth state to try and tackle this issue. Are there other ways to solve this problem? Sure. For now, though, this is the one New Hampshire has chosen and it's the right decision at the right time.
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