Your fears are unfounded. Be not afraid.

New Hampshire has already enacted civil unions, something that Bishop Gene Robinson and his partner celebrated last June. Now the state legislature is considering same-sex marriage. As part of the hearings Robinson went before the state Judiciary Committee and made his eloquent case for gay marriage. The whole testimony is worth a read (he says it well), though here are some of his points:

When civil unions were enacted we were told to fear the result -- gays would destroy marriage. The fears have shown to be unfounded.

Will this change the definition of marriage? Yes. But marriage hasn't had one constant definition through history.

This bill is not a threat to any religion. We confuse the issue when we ask clergy to act as agents of the state to officiate at weddings. But divorce doesn't happen at a church. No church will be required to conduct weddings of which it doesn't approve. In the same way that religion is not controlled by the state, the church should not control civil acts.

One frequent phrase of the bible is "Be not afraid." Don't let religious opponents of equality make you afraid to do what is right.