Same-sex couples won the right to marry in New Hampshire today when the state legislature approved a compromise bill that has the support of the state’s governor.  New Hampshire becomes the sixth state where same-sex couples can legally marry, and the third state to achieve that legislatively.

A marriage equality bill passed both houses earlier but Gov. John Lynch said he’d sign the bill only if it was amended to include stronger language assuring exemptions for religious organizations.  Today’s bill included that language.

Victory Fund President and CEO Chuck Wolfe hailed the state’s openly gay legislators, whose personal stories helped persuade their colleagues to vote for the measure.  ”Being there matters.  Being open and honest matters.  Being out has the power to change hearts and minds, and today’s victory is proof of that.  I want to thank New Hampshire’s out state lawmakers, New Hampshire Freedom to Marry, the Human Rights Campaign and all whose hard work helped make this possible,” Wolfe said.

New Hampshire’s openly gay lawmakers are Rep. Ed Butler, Rep. David Pierce, and Rep. Jim Splaine.