New Mexico Judge Orders Marriage Licenses For Same-Sex Couples

[DriftingCrow]

http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/new-mexico-judge-orders-marriage-licenses-for-same-sex-coupl
Author: Chris Geidner Source: BuzzFeed

"A New Mexico judge has ordered the county clerks of Bernalillo and Sante Fe counties to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples who apply and are otherwise qualified."

"Prohibitions on same-sex couples marrying in the state "are unconstitutional and unenforceable," Judge Alan Malott ruled Monday. "

"The case was filed by the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the ACLU on Aug 21 — the same day that a third county clerk, Dona Ana County Clerk Lynn Ellins, announced that she would begin issuing such licenses on Aug. 23."

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Yay!

(though it must be noted that this is not a NM Supreme Court judge)

[aleon515]

This has been very exciting locally! (I live in Albuquerque.) My FB is about 70% this stuff now. This is a quickly moving story! but after a Clerk in the third largest county starting issuing licenses, a Clerk in Santa Fe started issuing them. Then the Judge in Bernalillo (Albuquerque is here  but  why the heck does this whole state have such challenging names!?) makes the ruling, three or four small counties which includes Taos started issuing them.

The Clerk in ABQ was all ready and had 1000 licenses printed up ahead of time.

We're all super stoked. I have a couple acquaintances doing services (ordained ministers) and a couple friends who are right now on the plane somewhere another after getting their licenses.

Of course, certain people aren't too happy and are suing. I don't know how it holds up anymore. And NM is the only state that neither allows nor forbids same sex marriage and gender of married people is not anywhere in the state constitution.


--Jay

[DriftingCrow]

Thanks for your insight Jay, I was hoping you'd post knowing you're from NM. 

[aleon515]

Thanks for your insight Jay, I was hoping you'd post knowing you're from NM. 

It's getting to be pretty much fun seeing all my happy FB friends (not all of whom are actual friends), but it's still fun.


--Jay

[TiaNadiezja]

Given the demands of the Constitution for equal protection under the law, the courts are exactly where this should be happening.  No further law ought to need to be passed, anywhere, for what the plain text of the Constitution demands.

[aleon515]

Given the demands of the Constitution for equal protection under the law, the courts are exactly where this should be happening.  No further law ought to need to be passed, anywhere, for what the plain text of the Constitution demands.

That's right, imo. The governor wants a referendum. In the LGBT community we don't want one. NO one has the right to vote on someone else's rights. It might pass in NM now, but still... It's a stalling tactic and I don't actually think this is going to lose in the higher court.

Fortunately, the State's Attorney is not going to support the governor's opinion here. And should not. There is nothing in our constitution, rather uniquely.



--Jay