NOM Patching Calls From Marriage Equality Opponents Directly to New Hampshire Senators

The New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition reports that Maggie Gallagher's National Organization for Marriage (NOM) has been able to pay for a "‘patch through calls’. This is a computer generated phone bank that enables them to get every person who opposes equality in our state, all 26% of the population patched through to their senator. This gives Senators the impression that all their constituents oppose marriage equality.”

How effective is this? Pretty effective given that Democrat Senator Deborah Reynolds cast the deciding 3-2 vote that recommended the gay marriage bill not go to the full Senate. Why would she do this? Her response: New Hampshire is "not ready."

Really? Because from what I'm hearing, 55% of New Hampshire voters are ready, (or higher) stating clearly that they support marriage for gays and lesbians.

Let's just hope the whole New Hampshire Senate doesn't fall for this trick. But we'll know today since they're voting on the marriage equality bill today.

Another great source of information for New Hampshire's fight for equality is Blue Hampshire.

Stay Tuned!

H/T The New Civil Rights Movement

New Hampshire to Vote on Marriage Equality Tomorrow

Last week, New Hampshire's Senate Judiciary Committee voted to reject marriage equality bill HB436 3-2.

Tomorrow, the bill will hit the senate floor for a full vote. According to Blue Hampshire, it's not looking too good. The image below is the Senate Whip Count provided by Blue Hampshire:




According to Reuters, it will only take 13 nea votes to kill the bill, and Senate Minority Leader Peter Bragdon said he expects all 10 Republican senators to oppose it with Democrat support mixed.

Contact information for the senators can be found here. If you live in New Hampshire, urge your senator to vote for the bill.

Also, Blue Hampshire reports that Sen. Gilmour said she is in favor of marriage equality, but still had to read through e-mails from the voters in her towns before making a final decision.

"I think there is some very strong support for equality in marriage", Gilmour said. "Many of us see this as a civil rights issue."

Contact: Senator Gilmour: 271-3569, e-mail: Gilmour@leg.state.nh.us (add your home address to show you live in the state)

But on the brighter side, a poll released today by New Hampshire Freedom to Marry shows that a majority of New Hampshire voters support marriage for gays and lesbians. 55% were in support while 39% were opposed. 491 voters were polled from April 13-22.

New Hampshire has a live and let live attitude. These strong numbers in support of marriage equality are not surprising. A majority of New Hampshire voters have supported marriage equality since polling on the subject began in 2003. We hope that New Hampshire can soon join our neighbors in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont, and enact marriage equality," said Mo Baxley, Executive Director of New Hampshire Freedom To Marry.

Stay tuned for NH Senate vote tomorrow!

ACTION NEEDED: New Hampshire Gearing Up for Its Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Dean Barker posted on Pam's House Blend, reminding everyone that HB346, New Hampshire's same-sex marriage bill that passed the state House by seven votes, is now headed to the Senate very soon.

He wrote:

"A couple of key points:

* It is my belief, and that of some others, that our Democratic governor [John Lynch], while voicing a muted, personal opposition to marriage equality, does not have the political space to veto this if it passes the state senate.

* Right now, we have a 14-9 Democratic majority in the senate.

* We also have a special election for the 24th seat coming up in just a cople of weeks. The Democrat in the race, Bud Martin, has announced that he supports marriage equality! If he wins prior to a vote, he could very well be the clincher.

See Queers United post on helping Bud Martin get elected.

In order to help New Hampshire pass the bill, Barker lists some ACTIONS:

1) Contact the state senate, especially if you are a Granite Stater, with your support of HB436. Be polite, please - they are likely getting deluged right now on this on both sides.

2) Give if you can to Democrat Bud Martin's special election state senate campaign, who supports HB436.

3) Spread the word to anyone you know in New Hamphshire who can attend the public hearing this Wednesday.

Barker also contributes to Blue Hampshire, NH's progressive political blog, on which he has an ongoing series titled Face of Marriage Equality, a must see. Spread the word.