New Year, New Same-Sex Unions

Dozens Of Gay, Lesbian Couples Legalize Partnerships Under New N.H. Law

(CBS)  Dozens of gay and lesbian couples entered into civil unions in New Hampshire in the early moments of New Year's Day as a new state law legalized the partnerships after midnight.

Organizers said they checked in 37 couples for an outdoor ceremony on the plaza of the New Hampshire Statehouse - the building where the law was adopted and signed in 2007. Participants bundled up against below-freezing temperatures.

"We've been together 20 years; we've been waiting for this moment for 20 years; finally the state will recognize us as we are," said Julie Bernier, who posed for photos on the Statehouse steps with partner Joan Andresen before the ceremony. Bernier and Andresen, who both work at Plymouth State University, never sought a commitment ceremony or other symbolic recognition of their relationship before Tuesday.

"I didn't believe in doing it until it meant something," Bernier said.

As ceremonies go, the outdoors event that began at 11 p.m. Monday was equal parts political rally, party and personal triumph.

"We really didn't believe that we'd be able to see this accomplished within one year but it has happened," state Rep. Jim Splaine, a sponsor of the civil unions bill, told the cheering crowd of about 200. "One thing we have to keep in mind is that there is much more to do. We have to continue the journey to make sure that we have marriage equality, full marriage equality - with the word marriage - soon."

New Hampshire's civil unions law - enacted by the Democrat-dominated Legislature early last year and signed by Democratic Gov. John Lynch in May, gives same sex couples the same rights, responsibilities and obligations of marriage without calling the union a marriage. New Hampshire is the fourth state in the nation to allow civil unions.

"We are a citizen legislature and we legislated this into being," said state Rep. Gail Morrison, a Democrat and co-organizer of the event who entered into a civil union with her longtime partner.

John Davey and Mark Brodeur brought gold wedding bands to exchange during their ceremony. Together 10 years since meeting online, Davey, 34, and Brodeur, 48, held a commitment ceremony with friends several years ago, but became the first couple to seek a civil union license in their hometown of Stratham when they became available last month.

"That was just for to say that we loved each other, that we're committed," Davey said of the commitment ceremony. "This is to show the world this is who we are, this is finally recognized in New Hampshire."

There were no protesters at the Statehouse, though one man, Michael Hein, said he drove 180 miles from Augusta, Maine, so he could "report to the people of Maine that this is going on next door." Hein also passed out statements from his group, The Christian Civil League of Maine, which denounces homosexuality.

"Without our vigilance in Maine, (civil unions are) something that could occur as soon as next year," Hein said.

After making brief group vows together, couples walked through an archway decorated with rainbow ribbons and a "just married" banner to meet officiants for individual ceremonies. As they walked through, fireworks from the city's New Year's celebration lit up the sky.

New Hampshire follows Vermont, Connecticut and New Jersey in allowing civil unions. Massachusetts is the only state that allows marriage. New Hampshire estimates that as many as 3,500 to 4,000 civil unions will be performed this first year.

[sgtrds]

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If anyone wants to drop a line to an atheistic evolutionist. LOL

[sgtrds]

SgtRDS: I figured Ricky was just speaking from personal experience. We evolved; he didn''''t. ;-)

Posted by Hominatrix53 at 04:58 PM : Jan 03, 2008

LOL! He always has struck me as being a little "closer to the trees" then most people.

Darwinian evolution is a fallacy and always will be.

Posted by singinrick at 10:48 AM : Jan 03, 2008

This statement alone shows that you can not argue with this person, because they do not have the intellectual capability of critical thought. If they did they''''d know what most of the rest of the world already knows. Creationism is a religious myth and evolution is a scientific reality.


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SgtRDS: I figured Ricky was just speaking from personal experience. We evolved; he didn''t. ;-)

[sgtrds]

There are no eye-witness accoun6ts of the existence of Jesus except by his "followers", except for one rumor mentioned by the historian Josephus. Also even if you could prove that he existed, it''''s certainly not close to proving he was anything other the a desert snake oil salesman. A "Flying Spaghetti Monster" himself.


In fact let me expand in this a bit. There are no accounts (other then what was written by his "followers many years after his supposed existence) that he even existed at all. There are no records of his birth or life or trial or execution from any Roman or Jewish source and both groups kept excellent records. there is one mention of a rumor by one Roman historian and even that is written as that, a rumor.

[sgtrds]

I don''''t know how you plan on refuting all of these reputable studies I have placed on here Randy....but you''''re going to believe the way you want anyhow, so it doesn''''t really matter.

Here''''s the link:

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/200
4/apr/040428c.html

Posted by singinrick at 12:58 AM : Jan 03, 2008

Lifesite! ROTFLMFAO!!!!!!

Why not just quote Jerry Falwell as a source!! LOLOLOLOLOL!!!

[sgtrds]

-There''''s plenty of proof of Jesus Christ, beginning with the best evidence of all: EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNTS.

There are no eye-witness accounts of a "flying spaghetti monster". LOL! :)

Posted by singinrick at 12:46 AM : Jan 03, 2008

There are no eye-witness accoun6ts of the existence of Jesus except by his "followers", except for one rumor mentioned by the historian Josephus. Also even if you could prove that he existed, it''s certainly not close to proving he was anything other the a desert snake oil salesman. A "Flying Spaghetti Monster" himself.

[sgtrds]

-And it doesn''''t give them the right to push their agenda into public schools and television either does it Randy?

And thanks for the kind remark at the end of your statement.

Good night Randy

Posted by singinrick at 12:59 AM : Jan 03, 2008

There agenda of wanting their basic civil rights? Why yes it does give them the right to ask for the same rights you have.

And you''re welcome for the comment ricky. Believe me it was heartfelt.

[sgtrds]

Darwinian evolution is a fallacy and always will be.

Posted by singinrick at 10:48 AM : Jan 03, 2008

This statement alone shows that you can not argue with this person, because they do not have the intellectual capability of critical thought. If they did they''d know what most of the rest of the world already knows. Creationism is a religious myth and evolution is a scientific reality.

Welcome to the Ku Klux Klan!

Bringing a Message of Hope and Deliverance to White Christian America! A Message of Love NOT Hate!

http://www.kkk.com

They read the same bible you do, singinrick.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. - Mark 16:17-18, King James Bible.

Read your bible, singinrick. Some people read this and believe it tells them to handle dangerous snakes. Tell me why they''re wrong.

If you can provide a soure to refute the CLAIMS MADE BY the POLICE, you know the COPS, then please do so, but do not accuse it of being Christian myths when these are documented facts!

Unbelievable! You''''re defending Satanism!

Pretty sick stuff buddy! Pretty sick stuff.


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Posted by singinrick: sigh. I DID provide a link to the source I cited. Please read it.

and why do you keep referring to me as a "buddy" after I''ve told you I''m a woman? Is that the Christian way?

I''ll defend the right of anyone to practice their religion..even you. What are you doing in this country if you don''t believe in freedom of religion?

singinrick: You wouldn''t know a credible source if it bit you on the leg. You have every right to believe whatever you want, but you do not have the right to impose your RELIGION in our laws. And in the interersts of time, I''ll say it once again in case you forgot. Atheism is not a religion, and homosexuality is not a religion. Speaking out is not the same as legislating laws. Speak out all you want, but keep your RELIGION out of our LAWS.

singinrick : I was raised as a Presbyterian, I taught vacation bible school, my mother was a sunday school teacher, I was in the church choir, and I was the church secretary. I know what a real christian is, and over the last few decades, I''ve seen the christian faith turn into something ugly. I don''t need a book to tell me right from wrong. The bible has been used by bigots across the centuries to enslave, murder, and oppress. You are no different than your predecessors. You hate Satanists, yet you have no idea what they actually do. The "Satan" they refer to is not the same supernatural being christians call Satan, but that doesn''t matter to you, you just want to hate them.

singinrick: And all christians dance with rattlesnakes, when they''''re not burning crosses and wearing bedsheets.
Posted by Hominatrix53

-No CHRISTIANS do such things.

Your problem is you look at a Christian from a Worldview, and not a Biblical view.

If you would actually pick up a Bible and read the gospels for once, you would see that we''''re not told as Christians to do such wicked things you have mentioned.

But you''''re not interested in truth, only propoganda and the worldview of things.

There''''s a reason why the Bible tells us Christians that we are not to conform to the ways of the world.
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singinrick: What gives you the right to say who is a christian and who isn''t? I know plenty of Christians that would say YOU''RE not a true christian. You sure are full of yourself.

sapiens.

singinrick: my grand-aunt and her partner were together for 60 years. You don''t know what you''re talking about, and your sources are biased. You don''t know the difference between private property and public, you don''t know the difference between "speaking out" and passing laws. You can''t answer a simple question in support of your position without invoking a book. People can say anything in a book, rick. Writing something down doesn''t make it the truth. good grief, H. sapines evolved with a brain, why don''t you use yours?

personnel, and others. In the early 1980''s, Kenneth V. Lanning of the FBI''s Behavioral Science Unit in Quantico, VA started to follow the escalating reports of Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA). He became convinced that SRA was non-existent (or almost so), largely because of the lack of hard evidence that any crimes had actually occurred. A second indicator was that a conspiracy of the magnitude necessary to support large scale SRA could not remain secret for long. He documented his conclusions in a report in 1992 titled "Investigator''s Guide to Allegations of ''Ritual'' Child Abuse. By the middle of the 1990s, most of law enforcement had become very skeptical of the existence of SRA. Only a few -- commonly called "cult cops" -- remain as true SRA believers today."
http://www.religioustolerance.org/sat_hate.htm

"Satanism and the Police:
A series of Satanic Panics swept North America in the 1980s and 1990s. Satanists were accused of kidnapping, killing, and even eating infants and children. Estimates of 50,000 ritual murders per year were common. Many in law enforcement were initially convinced that a secret, underground, multi-generational, international cult of Satanists were perpetrating horrendous crime on an enormous scale; they were literally getting away with mass murder. Some police officers became alarmed. They devoted enormous effort in an unsuccessful effort to track down those believed to be responsible. They were unsuccessful because the crimes never happened. Satanic ritual abuse "experts" began giving seminars to social workers, law enforcement
(cont)

singinrick: And all christians dance with rattlesnakes, when they''''''''re not burning crosses and wearing bedsheets.
Posted by Hominatrix53

-Don''''t know what planet you''''re living on, but this doesn''''t occur in the Christian community I know.

But I know your methods, you''''re all mad that I''''ve pointed out some facts about satanism, so your method of refuting them is to attack Christianity with lies instead.

Same old same old, different day of the week.


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singinrick : I was using an extreme example of people that call themselves christians, just as you''re doing with people that pretend to be satanists. One of my classes this spring is Paganism and Witchcraft in North America. Satanists do not practice human sacrifice, that is a myth, and one that is being perpetuated out of ignorance primarily by christians.

ROTFLMFAO!!!!!! That website has less credibility then Karl Rove!!!! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!
Posted by SgtRDS

-Gee, I almost forgot. The only websites that are credible are the ones that SgtRDS deems credible.

Only what you determine is credible stands.

This is a typical attitude of atheists who are afraid of truth.


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singinrick: A credible source is one you could cite in a college paper. You''re using snake oil sales sites to support your distraction.

So answer my question, do you think the first sentence of the first amendment should be ignored?