Gay Marriage Opponents Rally In Favor Of Repeal In NH
CONCORD, NH (CBS) - Opponents of gay marriage in New Hampshire rallied in favor of a repeal Tuesday.
Rep. David Bates (R-Windham) who is sponsoring a bill to eliminate same sex marriage organized the event.
"Marriage, by its definition, is a union between a man and a woman and same sex marriage is a contradiction of terms," he told the cheering crowd.
WBZ-TV's Lauren Leamanczyk reports
The controversial measure has not been scheduled for a vote yet. But both sides are preparing for a fight.
"It absolutely has an effect on our family. I'm a biblical person and it's pretty clear that's not a lifestyle that's conducive to family values," said Maria Schweizer. She was one of a couple hundred people holding signs calling for 'true marriage' and showing a man plus a woman.
Nearby, a married gay woman shouted, 'why do you hate my family.'
"I'm shouting down hate and that's all it is is hate," she said.
Same sex marriage has been legal in New Hampshire for two years. Recent polls show a majority of citizens support leaving the law in place.
"None of the draconian things that were supposed to happen, like the end of civilization as we know it, have happened as a result of marriage equality," said Rev. Gene Robinson, an openly gay Episcopal bishop.
But Bates doesn't buy it. He urged people in the crowd to put pressure on lawmakers.
"Is this debate over?," he asked. "No!," the crowd responded.
Bates will need to convince a lot of his colleagues. Even if the repeal passes both houses, the governor has promised to veto it.
Legislative leaders say they should have enough votes to pass the bill, but they are far short of the two thirds needed to override a veto.
