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Washington (ECN) - Fast on the heels of Vermont and Iowa, New Hampshire appears likely to be the next state to legalize gay marriage with a crucial step accomplished this week when the State Senate expressed its approval of a bill to do just that. If the State House approves the State Senate’s changes to the bill it already passed earlier this year, and Democratic Governor John Lynch decides to sign the bill into law, New Hampshire will become only the second state to legalize gay marriage through legislative action—the first being New Hampshire's neighbor Vermont. Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa legalized marriages between same sex spouses through court decisions. California also legalized gay marriage through the courts, but this decision was overturned by a statewide ballot initiative in 2008.

The New Hampshire bill establishes a two-tier system for marriage, with “civil” and “religious” marriages available under the law. Any couple—gay or straight—is able to choose the designation they wish. Among the more serious changes made by the Senate was to allow designations of “bride” and “groom” on the wedding certificate. The House version simply designated all parties as “spouses.”

Governor Lynch has stated in the past that he believes marriage should be reserved for the union between a man and a woman. There is no word as to whether he will sign or veto the legislation, assuming it makes it through the legislature. New Hampshire already offers civil unions for same sex couples; the bill currently under consideration would rebrand these as marriages.

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