Same-Sex Marriage Clears House By 7 Votes

The debate lasted for close to three hours. And while it ranged far rhetorically, on substance it was pretty basic. Supporters argued that giving gays the right to marry was a simple question of civil rights.

"Discrimination of any kind is wrong."

"Separate can never be equal, that is fundamental American value."

Opponents, meanwhile, argued that same-sex marriage runs afoul of humankind’s most basic traditions.

"Marriage is marriage."

"Simplicity is so mind-clearing: Marriage is between two fundamentally different, complementary, harmonizing creations – between a man and a woman."

And after the floor debate was done. The house was split, about as split as you can get.

"182 having voted in the affirmative, 183 in the negative, the motion fails. (cheers) The house will be in order."

The vote was quickly followed by two others, none of which established a House position.

"I just want to lay out the parliamentary situation: There was a motion of ought to pass as amended that failed, there was motion of inexpedient to legislate that failed, there was a motion of lay on the table that failed."

Nashua Representative Cindy Rosenwald then stepped into the well and moved reconsideration, which passed by a 15 vote margin. Shortly after, same-sex marriage was adopted by 7 votes. Portsmouth Democrat Jim Splaine is one of the bill’s sponsors. He admitted things seemed touch and go for a moment, but said he never doubted same-sex marrige could win passage.

"When you have an extra 15 minute between a first vote and the second, that gives you an opportunity to look people in the eye and say I really, really really would like you to consider that this is an issue of discrimination. When you do that and you are openly gay, and you are talking about an issue that deals with discrimination, you can have people adjust their votes -and that’s a good thing, that’s what we are here to do."

Lawmakers who deeply oppose gay marriage aggre Splaine has a point. Face to face appeals do work amogn legislative colleagues. But they are also convinced that voters won’t be as sympathetic. Al Baldasaro is a Republican from Londonderry.

"I believe the people at the polls will make a difference and hold them accountable. Because a lot of people don’t speak against this, but they don’t like it. They are going to pay for that vote. I guarantee it."

And the political calculus of same-sex marriage is proving complicated. The very representative who helped recussitate the measure when it had all but expired, Nashua Democrat Cindy Rosenwald, then voted to kill it. But not, she says, out of any personal opposition.

"I actually am very supportive of gay marriage."

-So you were worried about the political implications?

"No, it isn’t even that. I think this is one of those issues where you have to say: Am I here just for myself, or am I representing my district? I'm representing my district."

The road ahead for same-sex marriage is unknown. Governor John Lynch is on record opposing same sex marriage, and Senate Republican leaders are already calling on him to veto it. Democratic Senate President Sylvia Larsen is meanwhile declining to take a position. In a written statement, Larsen touted civil unions, and stressed that the state budget and the economy must remain her chamber's main focus.