Press Releases

According to a new statewide poll released today by New Hampshire Freedom to Marry, opposition to repealing the year-old law that allows gay and lesbian couples to marry is broad and deep, with 63 percent of voters opposing attempts to overturn the law. And majorities of voters in every part of the state—including more conservative and Republican-leaning voters in Manchester, Salem, Nashua and surrounding towns—oppose overturning the law.

Concord – New Hampshire Freedom to Marry has learned the House Judiciary Committee is scheduling a public hearing on February 17, 2011 on two bills, sponsored by Reps. David Bates and Leo Pepino, that take away the freedom for gay and lesbian couples to marry. NHFTM Executive Director, Mo Baxley, issued this statement.

“The New Hampshire House of Representatives is now moving forward with a hearing to repeal marriage equality for loving, committed couples. They have decided that taking away the freedom to marry is more important right now than dealing with the state’s budget crisis and economic situation, the worst since the Great Depression. Voters overwhelmingly say their number one concern is the economy. Yet lawmakers like Reps. Bates and Pepino would rather pursue a fringe agenda that hurts New Hampshire families.”

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New Hampshire Freedom to Marry is the state’s LGBT education and advocacy organization. Since its founding in 2001, the organization has been a leader…

NH Freedom to Marry: Gay Marriage Furthest Thing on People’s Minds Right Now

Concord, NH – Today, Rep. David Bates, R-Windham, introduced a bill that would repeal marriage equality in New Hampshire. The bill would remove state recognition of marriages that have been legally recognized by the state for more than a year.

“Since when did we start taking away freedoms in New Hampshire, like the option to marry the person you have a lifelong commitment with?” asked Mo Baxley, executive director of New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition. “And why are we talking about marriage equality during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression? Gay marriage is the last thing on anyone’s mind right now.”

According to a Jan. 22 presidential straw poll conducted in Derry, NH and sponsored by ABC News and WMUR-TV, New Hampshire Republican activists say gay marriage is last on their list of priorities. One percent of those dyed-in-the-wool conservatives said gay marriage was…

NH Freedom to Marry: NOM and Cornerstone Action Well Out of Mainstream

Concord, NH — The Associated Press’ Norma Love is reporting the National Organization for Marriage “sent a direct mailer to his district in Salem saying he doesn’t support traditional family values. He said the mailer was the result of his announcement last week that the House Republican agenda did not include repealing gay marriage.” The executive director of New Hampshire Freedom to Marry, Mo Baxley, issued this statement.

“This is a clear effort by a small but well-funded extremist group to bully the GOP House Majority Leader. As any responsible leader would, Bettencourt is focused on creating jobs and economic recovery, the main reason why voters put Republicans in charge in New Hampshire. Lawmakers should be aware of the reams of evidence showing how out of the mainstream NOM and Cornerstone Action really are.”

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New Hampshire Freedom to Marry is the state’s…

Concord, NH – Following the House GOP press conference today, the executive director of New Hampshire Freedom to Marry, Mo Baxley, issued this statement:

“We are pleased again to hear the House majority leader say that gay marriage is not a priority this legislative session. Voters want their legislators to focus on the economy; they did not send people to Concord to rehash marriage equality. But we heard some wiggle room in today’s remarks, leaving the door open to bring up a repeal of marriage equality in the coming weeks. We are continuing our efforts to educate and engage all Granite Staters as planned to show that it’s not the role of government to take away rights from New Hampshire citizens and families.”

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New Hampshire Freedom to Marry is the state’s LGBT education and advocacy organization. Since its founding in 2001, the organization has been a leader in advocating equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people…