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July 25, 2008 9:48:57 PM CDT

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NH Rings in Civil Unions With New Year

Posted Jan 1, 08 2:55 PM CST in Arts & Living,  US 

(Newser) – At midnight, New Hampshire became the fourth state to allow same-sex civil unions, and more than 40 couples came from across the state to ring in 2008 with vows under the State House arch, the Concord Monitor reports. Planned as a small ceremony for about 20 couples, the event drew almost 200 revelers and a single well-behaved protester.

More ceremonies are taking place throughout the state today. New Hampshire was the first state to legalize unions without the threat of a lawsuit, and one state rep said he hopes the images from the ceremony will encourage other gay couples to tie the knot. “They are going to realize it’s okay to be gay, and that the state says it’s okay to be gay,” he said.

Source Concord (NH) Monitor

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Couples Gretchen Grappone, left, and Rose Wiant, second from left, both of Concord, N.H., and Wendy Waterstrat, center right, and Holly Henshaw, right, both of Brookline, N.H., hold hands during ceremonies...   (Associated Press)
Wendy Waterstrat, center left, and Holly Henshaw, center right, both of Brookline, N.H., kiss as they are joined in civil union during a ceremony in front of the Statehouse, in Concord, N.H., early Tuesday,...   (Associated Press)
Gov. John Lynch signs a bill Thursday May 31, 2007 at the Statehouse in Concord, N.H., that will legalize civil unions for gay couples in New Hampshire beginning Jan. 1, 2008. The law gives same-sex...   (Associated Press)
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