Gay activists push more for marriage

WASHINGTON, May 31 (UPI) -- A growing number of states are passing civil union and domestic partnership laws, but many gay activists persist in pushing for legalized same-sex marriage.

The New Hampshire legislature recently approved civil unions even though few gays supported the measure, Stateline.org reported. A proposed bill legalizing gay marriages died, while Gov. John Lynch is expected to sign the civil union bill.

Five states have sanctioned domestic partnerships, while Vermont, Connecticut and New Jersey have civil unions. Massachusetts is the only state where gay marriage is legal.

Politicians, whatever their sexual orientation, tend to take a more pragmatic approach to the issue, Stateline.org said.

"I'm not bothered by the semantics of marriage vs. civil unions," said Rep. Jim Splaine, a gay Democrat who sponsored the New Hampshire civil union bill. "Was a marriage bill feasible this year? No. Did we pass essentially the same thing? Yes."

New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer recently became the first U.S. governor to sponsor a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage.