May the celebrations begin in New Hampshire! This has proven to be a proud day in that state. Gov. John Lynch just signed a law establishing civil unions for same-sex couples in New Hampshire. This means that as early as January, same-sex couples, who enter civil unions, will have the same rights as married couples. Even more - same-sex unions from other states will also be recognized if they were legal in the state where they were performed.

Gov. Lynch is labeling the measure as a matter of conscience. “How could any one of us look into the eyes of our neighbors, our friends or our loved ones if we continued to deny them these basic legal protections?” he said. He further explained that New Hampshire has “a long and proud tradition taking the lead in opposing discrimination…Today that tradition continues.” New Hampshire will be the fourth state to offer civil unions, and what makes this law unique is that it is the first one that came without a court mandate or without a threat of one.

This truly is a step that brings us closer to what it means to be American. Maybe I am mistaken, but doesn’t our American Pledge of Allegiance say, “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”? I guess this law really questions who just says the US pledge and who really means it?

The sad thing is that although we are giving Gov. Lynch so much acclaim, it reminds us of the fact that the majority of states in our nation refuse to grant this basic human right to a part of their population. There’s a saying out in the contraception field, “if you don’t believe in abortion, then don’t have one.” I think the same mentality should apply to gay marriages. If you don’t believe in the lifestyle, fine, but how about letting the people who do benefit from the same liberties that should be automatically granted just by virtue of being an American?

I must say that it is appalling to read some of the comments posted about this. I would like to take the time to respond to a few. Doug Lambert of GraniteGrok.com wrote “Governor, it's not. It’s not the "New Hampshire way" and it doesn't "strengthen families" either. It debases the culture. It erodes it.” Seems to me that marriages based on a strong foundation of commitment and love cannot be undermined by same sex marriages any more than heterosexual marriages. For those of you who believe that your marriage is threatened by this law, maybe you should be considering the possibility that your marriage may be lacking that strength and foundation necessary to cement marriages together.

So by now, you are probably wondering what all this has to do with contraception? I promise, there is a connection! Melanie (a reader) posted a comment on my site regarding the FDA approval of Lybrel and how although she likes the idea, she still wants the assurance of a period each month to know that she is not pregnant. She wrote:

“The way things are going in politics, I need to make sure that I have that reassurance because I may not have the choice any longer to choose to terminate what is happening in my own body. It seems to me that until each of these religious zealous politicians have personally adopted the millions of older (usually minority) children who are currently in foster care due to their parents not being ready to be parents, they have no right deciding that adoption is the answer for an unwanted pregnancy. Seems pretty hypocritical if you ask me…I don’t know about the rest of you, but I know where I live, I don’t exactly see people charging over one-another to adopt these children. At least this FDA approval [of Lybrel] shows that maybe the people making the rules are not total idiots.”

Edward J. Branley, of YatPundit.com, put in his blog about New Hampshire’s law, “Allowing the Godless Homos to join in civil unions! What will we tell the children!” I will tell you exactly what we will tell the children, especially the thousands of them who are currently in foster care because their parents did not use birth control, created a child that they didn’t want, and put the child in the care of the state – we can tell them, good news! There are now a whole new set of people who would be willing to take you home, love you, nurture and protect you, and give you the life that every citizen in the United States is ENTITLED to.

Thank you Gov. Lynch, you have given people back their rights to be human, and, hopefully in the process, you have opened up the doors to many bright futures for our country’s abandoned children. My thoughts echo Melody's, until you are willing to open up your home and adopt one of the countless number of orphaned children, who are you to judge whether or not they should be adopted into a same-sex household? Just some food for thought….

• Get the Facts: What They Aren't Telling You About Gay Adoption

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Same Sex Adoption Photo Courtesy of Microsoft Online.