N.H. governor to sign civil unions bill

From MSNBC.com:

CONCORD, N.H. - Gov. John Lynch told The Associated Press on Thursday he will sign legislation establishing civil unions in New Hampshire.

New Hampshire thus will become the fourth state to adopt civil unions and the first to do so without first having a court fight over denying gays the right to marry.

'I believe it is a matter of conscience, fairness and preventing discrimination,' Lynch said in an interview.

Connecticut became the first state to legislate civil unions without court intervention two years ago. A lawsuit challenging Connecticut's marriage law was pending, but legislators said they were not influenced by it.