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The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico has filed a lawsuit aimed at forcing state officials to recognize same-sex marriage under current New Mexico law.
The group announced Thursday that the lawsuit was filed in state district court on behalf of two lesbian couples who sought marriage licenses in Bernalillo County.
The announcement comes as local and state officials argue whether current New Mexico law allows county clerks to issue same-sex marriage licenses.
Santa Fe Mayor David Coss this week publicly encouraged county clerks to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples and said current law allows it.
But county clerks have said they won’t issue any until they get an opinion from state Attorney General Gary King.
The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico is set announce a major lawsuit on same-sex marriage in the state.
The group and the National Center for Lesbian Rights are scheduled today to gives details of the lawsuit, which the groups call “groundbreaking.”
A spokesman for the ACLU of New Mexico declined to give information about the lawsuit before the scheduled press conference. But the announcement comes as local and state officials argue whether current New Mexico law allows county clerks to issue same-sex marriage licenses.
Santa Fe Mayor David Coss this week publicly encouraged county clerks to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples and said current law allows it.
But Santa Fe County Clerk Geraldine Salazar says current state law doesn’t allow such licenses.
