Just days after the state legislature passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, Governor John Lynch (D) put the bill into effect by putting his signature on the document, making New Hampshire the sixth US state to make legal matrimony available to gay and lesbian couples.

Five other states have also legalized gay marriage, four of which are- like New Hampshire- located in New England: Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, and Iowa. California recognized gay marriage in a court decision last year, only to be turned by the Proposition 8 effort to modify the state constiution.

Governor Lynch- one of the most popular nationwide- pledged to sign the bill only if he felt it gave adequate assurances to the religious and secular communities that oopposed thr move.

Lynch's remarks: "[I heard] compelling arguments that a separate system is not an equal system. Today, we are standing up for the liberties of same-sex couples by making clear that they will receive the same rights, responsibilities — and respect — under New Hampshire law," said Lynch after signing the bill.

The bill passed in the Senate with 14 in favor and 10 against. The state's House voted hours later in favor of the bill, 198 in favor and 176 against. An earlier version of the bill failed to pass the House because it did not clarify enough rights to religious institutions. Organizations will not be required to perform same-sex marriages. The bill also does not require members of the clergy to perform the marriages.

"Each religious organization, association, or society has exclusive control over its own religious doctrine, policy, teachings and beliefs regarding who may marry within their faith," says the bill.

The law will take effect beginning on January 1, 2010. The law also states that any couples in a same-sex civil union may convert their union to a marriage beginning on that date and will automatically be considered married as of 2011.

Content Courtesy of Wikinews