New Hampshire State Rep. Seth Cohn has
said he does not believe gay marriage foes have sufficient support
to repeal the state's law.
Democrats legalized gay marriage in
2009. But the law has been under constant threat of repeal since
Republicans regained control of the House and Senate.
Rep. David Bates last year introduced a
bill that would make New Hampshire the first state to legislatively
overturn a gay marriage law.
Bates' bill would replace the law with
civil unions for any unmarried adults, including relatives, and would
allow anyone to refuse to recognize such unions.
But the measure has faced delays
reaching the House floor for a vote. Citing the need to deal with
“critical economic-related legislation” first, House Majority
Leader D.J. Bettencourt earlier this month pushed back a floor vote
until February.
Democratic Governor John Lynch, who
signed the gay marriage bill, has pledged to veto any attempt to
repeal the law.
On Sunday, Rep. Seth Cohn became the
first Republican to suggest that the effort to repeal marriage
equality was in real trouble.
“I know for a fact, based on people
I've talked to, that if Gov. Lynch vetoes it, that veto is not
override-able,” Cohn told the Concord
Monitor.
Other Republicans told the paper that
they were against repeal.
“I'm for liberty and freedom, leaving
people alone so long as they don't harm or defraud other people,”
said Republican Rep. Steve Winter.
An October survey found few New
Hampshire voters (27%) in favor of repeal.
Roughly 2,000 gay and lesbian couples
have married since the law took effect.