New Hampshire

A Christian legal firm filed suit Wednesday on behalf of two Christian men who were arrested for witnessing on the streets.

Mark Frost and Jayson Gardner were charged last year under a N.H. law against "unreasonable or loud" noise. Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund argue the men's free speech rights were denied.

"Christians shouldn’t be arrested for expressing their beliefs. Arresting someone simply because he chooses to exercise his First Amendment rights in a public place is unconstitutional," said ADF Senior Counsel Joseph Infranco, in a statement. more >>

New Hampshire became the sixth state to legalize same-sex marriage on Wednesday.

Gov. John Lynch signed the bill, approving revisions that better protect religious institutions and their employees against lawsuits if they refuse to perform same-sex marriages.

The measure was passed by the Senate and House earlier today. more >>

The New Hampshire House of Representatives narrowly rejected changes on Wednesday to a same-sex bill that would protect churches opposed to marrying gays and lesbians.

Gov. John Lynch had said last week he would sign the measure if language was added to provide "the strongest and clearest protections for religious institutions and associations, and for the individuals working with such institutions."

Although legislative leaders were expected to adopt the changes and make New Hampshire the sixth state to legalize same-sex marriage, the House voted 188 to 186 against the revisions. more >>

New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch has until next Tuesday to decide the fate of a gay marriage bill that was sent to his desk after final legislature approval was given on Wednesday.

Lynch has not indicated his next move on the same-sex marriage legislation but has said that he believes the word "marriage" should be reserved for the union between a man and a woman.

The Democratic governor can either sign the bill, issue a veto or let it become law without signing it. more >>

The New Hampshire House voted on Thursday to send a same-sex marriage bill to the Senate.

In a 186-179 vote, the state House passed a measure that would allow gay and lesbian couples to marry. Gov. John Lynch would not say whether he will veto the legislation, but has stated that he opposes gay marriage.

New Hampshire legalized civil unions in 2007, giving same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples in marriages. more >>