Gay Marriage Debate Returns To Roundhouse

SANTA FE — Dueling proposals to define marriage in New Mexico’s Constitution have hit the Roundhouse, promising new debate on a familiar subject.

A proposal introduced by Rep. Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, calls for the Constitution to be amended to allow for gay marriage, which would add New Mexico to a growing list of states that issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

“It is, I believe, simply time to acknowledge and give equality to all the families in New Mexico headed by a same-sex couple,” Egolf said Tuesday.

The measure, House Joint Resolution 3, would not require churches or other religious institutions to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies if it conflicted with their beliefs.

Meanwhile, House Republicans introduced a separate proposed amendment Tuesday — House Joint Resolution 4 — that would explicitly limit marriage to between “one man” and “one woman.”

Like all constitutional amendments, both proposals would have to be approved by both the House and Senate before they could be put to a statewide vote. The earliest such a vote could take place is probably 2014.

Rep. Tim Lewis, R-Rio Rancho, said Tuesday that he is opposed to same-sex marriage but noted a national shift on the issue.

“To me, the country is moving center-left and may be going (toward same-sex marriage), but I’m going to stick to my principles and beliefs,” said Lewis, who also said he thinks the Legislature should focus more on strengthening the state’s economy than defining marriage.

New Mexico is one of a few states that do not either allow or prohibit same-sex marriages, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Thirty-seven states — including all of New Mexico’s neighboring states — bar same-sex marriage, though some of those states allow civil unions, which provide state-level spousal benefits to same-sex couples.

Meanwhile, nine states have approved giving marriage licenses to same-sex couples, with voters in three states passing new laws or initiatives in the 2012 general election that allow for same-sex marriage, according to the NCSL.

Attempts in recent years to pass domestic partnerships legislation, which would grant those who register as partners many of the same benefits enjoyed by married couples, have failed in New Mexico amid opposition from social conservatives and the Roman Catholic Church. But Republican-led attempts to ban same-sex marriage have also been turned back.

Egolf told the Journal he believes the proposal to allow same-sex marriage would pass in New Mexico if put before voters statewide.

“This will be the law sooner than people think,” he said. “It might not be this year, but in 10 years we’ll look back and wonder why it was such a big deal.”
— This article appeared on page A3 of the Albuquerque Journal