EDITORIAL: Fairer In New Hampshire

Jun 01, 06:47 AM

Current Headlines: By The Hartford Courant, Conn.

Jun. 1--New Hampshire becomes the latest New England state to strike a blow against discrimination by voting to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples.

Welcome to the fold.

Civil unions are a step in the right direction. State-sanctioned marriage should be the goal. Right now, only Massachusetts allows gays to marry.

Connecticut legislators were close to making this state the first in the nation to sanction gay marriage without having the courts decide. But they dropped the important fight to convey deserved rights and help promote family stability, at least for this session. The support, sadly, just wasn't there.

What a lost opportunity. One day, reason will prevail and the practice of treating all committed couples equally will be widespread.

Connecticut could have been even more of a pioneer.

Still, same-sex couples here, in Vermont, Maine, New Jersey, California and soon Oregon and New Hampshire are entitled to the same responsibilities and privileges as married couples. Their unions will be recognized in those states that have taken the enlightened step to establish civil unions.

That's progress.

In signing the civil union law, New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch said, "I do not believe that this bill threatens marriage. I believe that this is a matter of conscience and fairness."

We second that, and hope for the next step. There is strength in numbers.

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