Op/Ed: Marriage Equality the 'New Hampshire Way'

Dear State Representative,

I was the primary sponsor of House Bill 436, the 2009 legislation that created civil marriage equality. I had also been primary sponsor of HB 437 in 2007, which established Civil Unions. After two years of that being in effect, it was clear that Civil Unions did not provide equality under the law, thus my introduction of marriage.

There is a myth about how civil marriage equality was adopted by New Hampshire. No out-of-state organization, individual, or special interest asked me to introduce the bill – nor of Civil Unions two years earlier. No political party or group in our state asked me to do so. I did it for my constituents who had seen discrimination, and wanted to end it.

We adopted civil marriage equality the "New Hampshire Way," with thousands of our citizens showing their faces and telling their stories at public hearings, and speaking with or writing to their legislators and their governor, asking for equality. We should be proud of that.

When we passed HB 436 in the spring of 2009, we laid a good foundation. We adopted civil marriage the right way, writing legislation that allowed for religious protections while at the same time providing the liberty of New Hampshire citizens – our neighbors, friends, co-workers, and family members – to be able to marry and share their love and caring with the person most important to them in their lives.

That’s a wonderful thing to celebrate, and we should be proud that our state is among the first standing up for individual liberty. Every week since civil marriage for same-gender couples became effective on January 1, 2010, there have been more and more ceremonies.

According to the N.H. Division of Vital Records, as of this week there are 1,906 same-gender marriages. That's something to celebrate in this wonderful place that we call "home."

Economically, marriage equality has greatly benefited New Hampshire. Even though rights and equality should not be dependent on economics, the fact is that at $45.00 per marriage license, those 1,906 same-gender marriages have brought in $85,770.00 to cities and towns. Plus millions spent in our state for celebrations due to those weddings. That is good for our New Hampshire Advantage, just as equality is a good message about our “Live Free Or Die” ideal.

Throughout my legislative years, I considered my primary job as being a cheerleader for our citizens. I tried to do no harm, and voted and spoke up for issues that I thought would help people. Marriage equality helps people, and does no harm for anyone. I never question anyone’s faith or religion. But religious beliefs should never stand in the way of treating one another equally. Our religious faith should guide our own lives, not the lives of others.

In New Hampshire, we have never taken rights away from our citizens, nor have we ever put those rights to a vote. Nothing on this planet is more important than the way we treat one another, and we should never play politics with that. I hope that the Legislature where I spent 30 years as a House and Senate member, of the state where I was born and in which I plan to be buried, will do the right thing and say "no" to repeal of civil marriage equality.

So as primary sponsor of the legislation you are being asked to repeal, I ask that you not do so. If, by chance or by politics marriage equality is repealed, that cause will continue. That’s part of the American spirit. Fighting for fairness is a core American value and those who want equality will not fade away.

Americans – both straight and gay – have fought wars on the right side of the human heart, and in our nation we always eventually come down on the side of treating one another with fairness, equality, and dignity. And very special to New Hampshire’s history through the centuries has been the fight against discrimination. On this issue, I urge you to be on the right side of history. Marriage equality fulfills the ideals of a state and a nation that believes in “with liberty and justice for all.”

Those are important words. With liberty. And justice. For all. None of us should rest until we have helped reach that dream, and made those words real.

Respectfully,

Jim Splaine
Former House/Senate Member, Portsmouth