CONCORD, N.H. — A renewed battle over gay marriage could emerge in New Hampshire if residents press legislators to put a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot next fall.
At a press conference yesterday, state Rep. David Bates, R-Windham, rallied support for a plan to have the state amend its constitution to recognize marriage as a union between a man and a woman. He said it was up to residents to convince lawmakers to put the question to a vote.
"Ironically, the very people we have elected to represent us are the only obstacles that stand in the way of the people having a chance to vote on the amendment," Bates said.
The plan calls for town meeting votes to convince legislators to propose a state constitutional amendment on the Nov. 2 ballot defining marriage as the traditional man/woman union.
New Hampshire became the fifth state to legalize gay marriage Friday.
A key supporter of that legislation, approved last year, is state Rep. Anthony DiFruscia, also of Windham and a Republican.
He called Bates' effort, a statewide marriage petition initiative, "somewhat of a sham."
DiFruscia said elected officials spoke last year on the question of gay marriage: "People of the same sex have the same rights."
To revive the gay marriage question takes away from pressing issues, he said.
DiFruscia said the effort amounted to political posturing, and the question will not get on the ballot.
Approval is required from three-fifths of the Senate and the House to place a constitutional amendment before voters. Then, two-thirds of the voters would have to support a change to the constitution.
Supporters of the constitutional amendment at yesterday's press conference included Jeff Spanos, a pastor at Windham Bible Chapel.
Spanos led the citizens petition drive in Windham, receiving the necessary 25 signatures to place an item on the warrant.
The town meeting vote is nonbinding.
Spanos said residents should be given a chance to vote on the question.
Shawn Foster, another Windham resident and a signer of the local citizens petition, concurred.
"I want to be able to vote for it," he said. "I think our government is based on people."
Bates, flanked by dozens of supporters in the Legislative Office Building's lobby, said a consensus from the public should convince lawmakers to vote for putting the marriage question on the fall ballot.
Bates said there are people in 60 percent of the state's towns who have completed or are working on citizens petitions. Citizens petitions may be filed with communities through Jan. 12. Monday, residents filed petitions in Pelham and Windham.
The petition reads: "Resolved: The citizens of New Hampshire should be allowed to vote on an amendment to the New Hampshire Constitution that defines marriage."
Come Nov. 2, the public will have its say — one way or the other, Bates said.
"Either the Legislature will pass this constitutional amendment on to the voters to decide, or those same voters will likely decide they should not vote for anyone who does not believe they have the right to vote," Bates said.
Some supporters of the new law observed yesterday's press conference.
State Rep. Jim Splaine, D-Portsmouth, said he welcomed discussion of the question. He said he thinks people will come down on the side of equality.
"I can't imagine people voting to take rights away from their neighbors," he said.
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