Lawmakers vote to allow civil unions

Lawmakers in Concord approved legislation authorizing same-sex civil unions and sent it to the governor.

The Democratic-controlled Senate voted 14-10 along party lines to give gays and lesbians nearly the same rights as married couples. The bill cleared the House of Representatives on April 4 and Democratic Gov. John Lynch said he would sign it.

The state would become the fourth to allow same-sex civil unions when the law takes effect on Jan. 1. “This legislation is a matter of conscience, fairness and of preventing discrimination,” said Colin Manning, a spokesman for Lynch.