New Mexico defeats double attack on marrige

By Bob Summersgill for _The New Mexico Rainbow_

Two anti-marriage proposals died in the New Mexico legislature with the end
of the 60 session at noon, Saturday, March 22, 1997.

The New Mexico legislature saw the introduction of two bills, one would
create a law banning same-sex marriage in New Mexico, and not recognizing
same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. New Mexico currently does not
recognize same-gender marriage, nor does any other state or country.
None-the-less, half of the members of the House co-sponsored the bill.

The second bill was in the form of a Joint-Resolution which, if passed,
would have placed on the ballot a Constitutional Amendment banning same
gender marriage. The resolution garnered more than half of the Senate for
support. A similar resolution was introduced in 1996, but failed to get a
hearing in any committee.

Neither bill was able to get through more than one committee before the
session ended among other unfinished business. Neither bill received a vote
from either chamber.

With a full-plate in the Senate to include issues like education spending
and prisons, Sen. Bill Davis (R-Albuquerque's Northeast Heights) led a
fillibuster in the waning hours of the Session, effectively stopping ALL
business.

The Senate did not hear the Hate Crimes Act, which had passed the House.
Consequently, it will not be sent to the Governor. Gov. Johnson had vetoed
it the bill in 1995. The Non-discrimination Act was tabled in a committee
and also failed to get a floor vote from either chamber. Other bills that
failed to move through the legislature include a clean neddle exchange
bill; a Fair Housing Act which excluded sexual orientation from protections
against housing discrimination; a bill which would have restored evolution
to the science standards for the state, and a resolution which would create
voter referendums. Colorado's anti-gay Amendment 2 was a result of a
referendum.

Since the 1998 Session is restricted in nature--only financial bills and
resolutions may be introduced--the rest of the bills may not be introduced
until 1999.

Human Rights Election Fund President, Todd Mc Elroy said in an email to
supports across the state, "I want to thank each and every one of you for
all the hard work, prayers, thoughts, and actions that made the 1997
Session a success for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender
community.  Though we passed no
beneficial legislation, we prevented hate- and fear-based bigotry from
being institutionalized by holding back two anti-marriage bills."


Bob Summersgill, publisher of the New Mexico Rainbow,
The newspaper for the Lesbian and Gay communities of New Mexico.
summers@rt66.com      http://rt66.com/summers/bob.html

"Marriage has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights
essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men."
                     --Loving v. Virginia (1967)


--
summers@rt66.com (Bob Summersgill) -- nmqn