House Judiciary Committee votes to repeal same-sex marriage

Less than two years after Legislature adopted same-sex marriage, the House Judiciary Committee voted 11-6 to overturn the law.

Under House Bill 437, introduced by Windham Republican Rep. David Bates, existing same-sex marriages would be grandfathered in and subsequent "civil unions" would be permitted. The repeal will now be voted on by the entire House in 2012. 

According to an article in the Eagle-Tribune, Gov. John Lynch vowed to veto any repeal of same-sex marriage.

Bates told the Eagle-Tribune, "We're taking steps to remedy all the poor policy decisions" of the previous Legislature, made before Republicans took control of both houses.  

The proposed civil unions law would be open to any two adults. But it does not prevent discrimination against same-sex couples in employment, housing and public accommodations based on religious or moral beliefs.

More than 1,500 same-sex couples have married under the current law.