Lynch, who has previously said he does not support gay marriage, explained in a statement released Thursday that his responsibility is to "consider the issue through a broader lens" than his personal beliefs.
The New Hampshire state Senate amended an earlier version of the bill passed by the House of Representatives to include a distinction between religious and civil marriages. The Senate's changes, which were approved by the House earlier this month, stated that the law cannot force religious officials to perform same-sex marriages. The House had rejected this addition to the bill in April, but its inclusion was crucial to the bill's success in the Senate.
Lynch recommended that the legislature amend the bill to prevent any religious organization or society from being required to provide "services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods or privileges" related to the "solemnization of marriage."
The governor's recommendations do not significantly alter the bill, said Joan Ashwell, a political activist and former chair of the Strafford County Democratic Party.
"I don't think this changes anything fundamental about the bill," she said.
State Sen. Matthew Houde, D-Plainfield, said he agrees with the version of the bill Lynch proposed.
"I think that the efforts to clarify the religious freedom is terrific," he said. "I think if the bill in its final product makes people on both sides of the issue more comfortable, then I think it obviously make sense to do so."
Lynch effectively negated his original position against gay marriage, according to Kevin Smith, executive director of Cornerstone Policy Research, a think tank that advocates for "strong families, limited government and free markets," according to its web site.
"We're obviously disappointed the governor is going back on his word," Smith said.
Lynch's statement does not propose the provision of any protection for religious institutions that is not already provided by the Constitution, Smith said.
"The amendment he's proposing, those folks are already protected under the First Amendment," he said.
Lynch's recommendations also do not adequately protect individuals who are unaffiliated with religious institutions, but might be asked to be involved in a same-sex marriage ceremony against their beliefs, Smith said.
"It's the individual folks -- the business owners, the judge or justice of peace -- they're not protected," Smith said.
State Rep. Peter Batula, R-Hillsborough, said Lynch's addition is an improvement, but indicated that he will still vote against the proposed legislation, even if the governor's changes are added.
Ashwell said that New Hampshire citizens largely support same-sex marriage, according to "reputable surveys."
"I really do think people in New Hampshire are fine with it," she said.
In the recent "State of the State" poll conducted by the Rockefeller Center, 44.8 percent of respondents said they oppose same-sex marriage and 40.8 percent said they support it, with a 5 percent margin of error.
Smith said that he believes the majority of the state voted for Lynch with the understanding that Lynch would oppose legalizing same-sex marriage if the issue arose.
"I firmly believe that the majority of the citizens in the state oppose same-sex marriage," he said. "I think he's giving in to a very narrow special interest group here."
Batula expressed similar sentiments.
"I think there's widespread support for man and woman as a marriage and not as two of the same sex," he said. "I think there's a silent majority out there that hasn't been counted."
