GO NEW HAMPSHIRE! Being really proud to be from New Hampshire is something that most feel all the time, but now every single one of us has the most amazing reason to be proud to have any sort of allegiance to this great state.
On Thursday, New Hampshire will become the fourth state to allow gay and lesbian couples to have civil unions. Governor John Lynch, who was in full support of the idea and has said that if it was voted in favor of that he would have no problem signing it, signed the legislation.
CBSnews.com stated, “This legislation is a matter of conscience, fairness and of preventing discrimination,” said governor’s spokesman Colin Manning. “It is in keeping with New Hampshire’s proud tradition of preventing discrimination.”
With the signing of this legislation, New Hampshire joins New Jersey, Connecticut and Vermont as states that all offer civil unions to gay and lesbian couples. CBSnews.com also reported that there is no push to have the legislation overturned, which means that it will take effect without any of the drama that other states have seen.
So another step in the right direction has been taken, and a major positive move in the continued fight for gay and lesbian rights. This legislation was helped along, no doubt, by the actions of ALSO, the gay-straight alliance at Plymouth State. Before the voting took place, ALSO members personally delivered over 400 postcards signed by Plymouth State students, faculty and staff stating their support for legislation that would allow gay and lesbian couples to have rights to a civil union.
Chris Covill, a Plymouth State senior, said, “Well, I think that it’s absolutely amazing that the civil union has been passed. That is just absolutely fantastic. As far as where it should go from here, I feel that if a civil union holds any less rights than a marriage, then I think that it should change until both have the same. I just hope that it leads to a general equality for everyone.”
Plymouth State has a recent history of getting involved in politics. The “Rock the Vote” initiative by Student Senate registered a huge number of Plymouth State students to vote in the elections, PSU alum Katie Saraiva played an integral part in helping to move Michelle’s Law through Concord, and now Plymouth State students have taken an active role in the latest legislation brought through.
Go New Hampshire, but just as importantly, go Plymouth State students for getting involved and taking the initiative to make sure that the things they feel strongly about get heard by the people who have the power to affect change. So many people say that college students are apathetic and do not care about anything but themselves, but involvement in legislation like this proves to the older generation that we do care and we do want to affect change in areas that we feel are important.
So get out there and make your message known! If you feel strongly about something, keep getting out there making others aware of your thoughts and feelings. We have proven that we have the power to change things in our favor, and it is up to us that is stays that way.
– The Clock Staff