The sponsor of New Hampshire’s gay-marriage bill, Jim Splaine (D-Portsmouth), walks off the House floor after an amended version of his bill was voted down 186-188 in the state House in Concord, N. H., May 20. The bill, which had been sent back to the legislature after Gov. John Lynch threatened a veto if it did not provide more protections for churches that oppose same-sex marriage, is currently in conference committee while the House and Senate try to reach an acceptable compromise. Prior to the House vote, the Senate passed the revised bill 14-10 last Wednesday. If the two houses reach a compromise, New Hampshire will join five other states in providing marriage equality, including Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont and Maine. AP Photo: Jim Cole