JP Marzullo, a vice chairman of the New
Hampshire Republican Party, has come out against repeal of the
state's gay marriage law.
In an op-ed titled I Believe in God,
Liberty and My Gay Son published Tuesday in the Concord
Monitor, Marzullo called on colleagues to abandon their attempts
to repeal the law.
“I ask those who represent us in the
Legislature to think about this when they are ready to vote for the
bill repealing same-sex marriage. One out of every three teenage
suicides is related to being gay and the discrimination that they
face every day,” Marzullo wrote.
“I am a defender of the values of
families, country, freedom and liberty, but I am also the father of a
gay son who contributes not only to our country but also to our
family,” he added. “We are blessed to live in a state where we
can all be free to pursue our own happiness.”
The House is expected in January to
debate a bill that would repeal gay marriage and establish civil
unions for any two adults competent to enter into a contract –
including relatives.
Marzullo's piece was published on the
same day that New Hampshire Rep. David Bates announced
he had withdrawn his support for a bill that would constitutionally
ban gay marriage in the state.