New Mexico state Rep. Brian Egolf, a
Democrat from Santa Fe, has introduced a resolution which would let
the voters decide on gay marriage.
“It's time to recognize all the
families in New Mexico who are headed by same-sex couples,” Egolf
is quoted as saying by Roundhouse
Roundup:The Blog.
While both chambers of the New Mexico
Legislature are controlled by Democrats, past efforts to pass a bill
seeking to recognize gay and lesbian couples with domestic
partnerships have failed.
House Joint Resolution 3 states: “The
issuance of a marriage license shall not be denied on the basis that
the sex of both applicants is the same. No church or religious
institution shall be required to perform a marriage ceremony or
recognize a marriage for religious purposes that conflicts with the
church's or religious institution's beliefs.”
Former Democratic Governor Bill
Richardson championed passage of the domestic partnership bill.
However, current Republican Governor Susana Martinez has said she
would not sign such legislation, calling it “unnecessary and
ill-advised.”
“[M]ost of the rights can be attained
through contracts and by power of attorney,” she said.
New Mexico voters have yet to weigh in
on the issue of marriage equality. According
to a 2011 Public Policy Polling survey, a plurality of voters
(45%) in the state say gay nuptials should be legal, and a majority
(67%) back either marriage or civil unions for gay couples.