Gay New Mexico Action

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Action Items

This section lists areas where urgent action is needed to important issues of concern to lesbian, gay, bi and transgendered people. Call the HRA Legislative Hotline in Santa Fe for up-to-the-minute information at 505-982-7017.

What Happened in the 1998 Legislative Session

The third annual anti-marriage Constitutional Amendment [SJR-4] was killed in committee.
Gov. Johnson vetoed $750,000 in money to provide drugs and other programs to people with AIDS.
The Legislature passed, and the Governor signed a bill to criminalize homosexuality on the Internet, callling it "harmful to children." The law follows closely behind the federal "Communications Decency Act" which has already been declared unconstitutional. The ACLU has said that they will bring suit as soon as the law goes into effect.

What Happened in the 1997 Legislative Session

Bills Considered by the Legislature

A legislative summary from Todd McElroy and Bob Summersgill.

HB-470 "Hate Crimes Act" sponsored by Rep. David Pederson (D) Dist 5 (McKinley): Would have given the option to increase penalties assessed to people convicted of hate crimes. This bill has cleared the House but failed to be heard in the full senate due to a last minute filibuster by a Republican attempting to stall a prison bill. Read the Albuquerque Journal's article.
HB-506 "New Mexico Non-Discrimination Act" sponsored by Rep. Patsy Trujillo (D) Dist 45 (Santa Fe): Would have made it illegal to discriminate against anyone based on sexual orientation in employment, loan applications and some housing. The text of the bill is available. Also the New Mexico Rainbow article on HB-506 is available. This bill was tabled by the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee and was never brought back up. It never made it to the Senate.
HB-640 "Anti-Same Sex Marriage Bill" introduced by Rep. Jerry Lee Alwin (R) Dist 22 (Bernalillo): This bill was extremely discriminatory. It sought to define marriage as exclusive between a man and a woman. It is clearly aimed at denying equal protection under the law for Gays and Lesbians. This bill passed through the HOuse Public Affairs Committee but was never heard by the House Judiciary Committee. The text of the bill is available. Steven Homer's testimony before the House Committee is available. Read the text of the local newspaper articles: The Rainbow's story; The Santa Fe New Mexican's story about the bill and the story about its demise: and letters to the editor. The Christian Coalition is trying organize its members in New Mexico. The New Mexico Rainbow's same sex marriage article is available as well. Visit the national Freedom To Marry web site! Martha's portrait of a marriage lists her thoughts on marriage. Read the Rainbow's article on the same sex wedding ceremony. The White House General Office of Accounting issued a report on the 1,049 federal laws which provide benefits to married couples. Read the Washington Blade article on the report.
SRJ-8 "Anti-Same Sex Marriage" introduced by Sen. Rod Adair (R) (Roswell): SJR-8 was a resolution which attempted to amend the state constitution to prohibit same sex marriages. If it had passed the legislature it would have gone before the voters in a state wide election. This memorial died in committee before reching the full senate. Read the text of the resolution and an action letter. Read Todd's action letter.
SRJ-10 "State Referenda" introduced by Sen. Rod Adair (R) (Roswell): SJR-10 would allow New Mexico to become a Referenda State. This would mean that New Mexico would have divisive, expensive state wide referenda battles such as Colorado's anti-gay unconstitutional Amendment 2 fight, or California's anti-immigrant Proposition 187! Read Martha Trolin's action letter.

Action Links

Informational tools in contacting and advocating state law makers and officials.

Gay New Mexico Law Review: Review the current New Mexico state laws of concern to GLBT folks.
HRA Legislative Hotline - 505-982-7017: Call for updates on events and contact information for the state legislature.
Online Elected Official Directory: Look up legislative email, address and phone, as well as committee assignments directory.
New Mexico Governor's Home page: Visit this web site for a copy on the New Mexico Constitution.
Secretary of State: Review election results. Stop by her office for free copies of the State Constitution and Roster of congressional, state, legislative, district and county offices (a government phone and address book).
New Mexico Legislature Home page: Read the text of bills submitted to the Legislature. Follow the latest news and see who is on which committee.
New Mexico Legislature Bill Locator: Locate where a bill submitted to the Legislature is in committee.
New Mexico State Library: Visit this site to locate those hard to find documents. The Library has copies of all New Mexico State Statutes including those pertaining to marriage. They are located in the State Library Building on Don Gaspar just across from the Roundhouse. Statute books are on the third floor in the Southwest Collection in red binders.
State of New Mexico Government Information (ISD): Basic state information.
New Mexico State Agency Phone List Index: Contact information for State agencies.