Email
At a surprisingly emotional press conference today, Santa Fe Mayor David Coss and City Councilor Patti Bushee announced the introduction of a resolution that encourages the state’s county clerks to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
The resolution is accompanied by a legal opinion from the Santa Fe City Attorney’s Office declaring that same sex marriage is already legal in New Mexico.
City Attorney Geno Zamora argues that New Mexico doesn’t specifically prohibit same-sex marriage and that the state’s definition of marriage is gender-neutral and doesn’t actually define the institution as being between a man and a woman.
“Therefore, same-sex couples are capable of contracting within the law and capable of marrying in the State of New Mexico,” a city news release stated.
Santa Fe’s proclamations come a day after a Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that 58 percent of Americans believe it should be legal for gay and lesbian couples to get married. In New Mexico, efforts to advance same-sex marriage died in the recently concluded legislative session.
While the city’s measure doesn’t actually carry any real legal weight in the gay marriage fight, the press conference clearly meant a lot to some, including some of the dozen or so gay city employees in attendance. Bushee, who is openly gay, spent most of the press conference holding hands with her partner.
I’ll have more details later. For now, here’s a copy of the memo and resolution.
Reprint story -- Email the reporter at khay@abqjournal.com. Call the reporter at 505-992-6290
