"The proper question is: What logical or legally defensible reason is there to exclude anyone?"

Bates explained to the Union-Leader that incest laws would not be violated by allowing siblings to enter into civil unions. “There is no reason for us to speculate on the sexual nature of that relationship,” he said.

“It is too soon to know how everyone will vote,” Bates said about an override vote, “but I’ll be working on it to find out.”