Couples to celebrate Jan. 1 at State House

Same-sex couples plan to celebrate New Hampshire's new civil unions law by holding a group ceremony when it takes effect Jan. 1.

Organizers Gail Morrison, a Democratic state lawmaker, and Jen Major of Gilmanton announced yesterday they were organizing a group ceremony to take place just after midnight on the State House steps in Concord. Both are former board members of the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition and said they plan to join in civil unions with their partners then.

"My partner and I have been talking about wanting to do it the minute it was possible, and where else do you celebrate those state accomplishments?" said Morrison, of Sanbornton. "It's a combination of very private dedication to one another, but within the context of a historic state event, so the State House steps seemed absolutely the perfect place to be."

Morrison and Major said couples who have obtained licenses from town and city clerks can sign up for the group ceremony beginning at 11 p.m. on Dec. 31. They hope for a large turnout.

"It's the time to get together and celebrate our small victory," Major said in a phone interview.

Major said she was not worried about the possibility of protesters.

"We're familiar with those people that don't appreciate us or don't like us or feel like it's their job to judge us," she said. "I'm sure they'll be there as they have been in the past, but you can't knock committed, long-term monogamous relationships when you've got the Britney Spears (of the world) out there."

The group ceremony will be performed by the Rev. Mary Wellemeyer of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Manchester. Organizers are recruiting other officiants so couples can make individual vows if they wish. Readings and music are also being planned, they said.

The State House ceremonies are not the only unions planned for the early moments of Jan. 1. A Franconia couple, Jeff Burr and Neil Blair, plan a civil union at 12:01 a.m. Burr and Blair plan to hold their ceremony at the Notchland Inn in Hart's Location, which is run by state Rep. Ed Butler, a civil unions advocate and justice of the peace.

New Hampshire vital records officials estimate that 3,500 to 4,000 couples will get civil unions in 2008. That's roughly double the 1,704 unions performed in Vermont in 2000, the first year they were offered. The Legislature passed a civil unions bill this year allowing same-gender couples to enter civil unions and to have the same rights, responsibilities and obligations as married couples. Gov. John Lynch signed the bill in May.

By BEVERLEY WANG

The Associated Press