In a horrific show of force, and a major blow the the National Organization for Marriage, the New Hampshire House of Representatives killed two measures that would have overturned the state’s new gay marriage law.  The House voted 210-109 to kill HB 1590. The bill would have simply repealed the same-sex “marriage” law that passed in June and came into effect January 1 of this year.

But it wasn’t over, the House then shot down CACR 28, a proposed constitutional amendment that would have given New Hampshire citizens the opportunity to approve or reject same-sex “marriage” on the November ballot. The amendment stated: “The State shall only recognize as marriage, whether in name or effect, the union of one man and one woman.”

New Hampshire Governor John Lynch signed a same-sex marriage bill into law early June despite his opposition to gay marriage.

Marriage between gay couples is legal in five states so far. Massachusetts and Connecticut were the first ones to pass legislation, while Iowa, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire all enacted similar measures this year. Maine, however, overturned its law in a November referendum. (previous story)

The District of Columbia earlier this month passed its own bill, which takes effect after a required 30-day review by the U.S. Congress.

Around the same time in the state of New York, senators voted to defeat a similar bill despite the full support of Governor David Paterson. (previous story)

Laws permitting gay marriage was also defeated this year in New Jersey in January.  New Jersey lawmakers blamed the entire Democratic Party for weakness and lack of leadership. (previous story)