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| US state rejects gay marriage law | US state rejects gay marriage law |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Lawmakers in New Hampshire have rejected a bill that would have granted marriage rights to gay couples. | Lawmakers in New Hampshire have rejected a bill that would have granted marriage rights to gay couples. |
| The state's Senate passed the bill, but the House of Representatives voted it down by 188 votes to 186. | The state's Senate passed the bill, but the House of Representatives voted it down by 188 votes to 186. |
| The chamber had approved an earlier version of the bill, but blocked the new version, which included legal protections for religious groups. | The chamber had approved an earlier version of the bill, but blocked the new version, which included legal protections for religious groups. |
| The state's governor, John Lynch, threatened to veto the bill if it did not include religious exemptions. | The state's governor, John Lynch, threatened to veto the bill if it did not include religious exemptions. |
| The issue is a controversial topic in the US, and many states have passed bills and constitutional amendments banning gay marriage. | |
| Five US states - Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Iowa and Maine - now allow same-sex marriage, and legislation is being considered in New York state. | |
| In New Hampshire, the bill will now go back to the state's Senate, where lawmakers will attempt to draw up a compromise. | |
| In California, the state's Supreme Court is expected to rule shortly on whether last year's vote banning gay marriage in the state was constitutional. |