 Brown refers to the currently legalized same @-@ sex marriage in New Hampshire as a settled issue , which he does not wish to change . Brown has said he personally believes marriage is between a man and a woman , but would still oppose a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage . He is in favor of civil unions . He opposes ending the Defense of Marriage Act , but otherwise favors leaving the issue to the states to decide . After initially claiming neutrality on " don 't ask , don 't tell " , the ban on openly gay military personnel , he joined a handful of Republicans who broke with their party to repeal the ban in December 2010 . 
