Santa Fe Mayor David Coss on Tuesday
declared that gay marriage is legal in New Mexico.
Coss and City Councilor Patti Bushee
are backing a city resolution declaring such unions legal in the
state.
“It's time to push this issue,”
Coss
said at a press conference. “I've worked on immigrant rights,
labor rights and human rights and on the rights of same-sex couples.
I've seen the struggle in the Legislature. I've seen the hopes rise
and the hopes be dashed.”
Coss added that as a parent he looks
forward to seeing his lesbian daughter marry.
“As a Dad, I'd just like to walk her
down the aisle some day and I will never get to do that if we don't
move on these issues in Santa Fe,” he said. “Santa Fe is ready.
New Mexico is ready, I know. Our country is ready to move on this.”
The resolution, expected to be
introduced at next Wednesday's city council meeting, urges county
clerks to begin issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples.
It is based partly on an opinion issued by City Attorney Geno
Zamora.
Zamora's legal memo says, “New
Mexico's statutory definition of marriage is gender-neutral. Since
New Mexico does not define marriage as between a man and a woman, and
since New Mexico does not prohibit same-sex marriage, same-sex
marriage is permitted in New Mexico.”
“It's about time someone made a legal
argument for equality in New Mexico,” said Pat Davis of ProgressNow
New Mexico. “Just this month, a Republican Senator [Rob Portman]
publicly came out for his son's right to marry, Hillary Clinton
endorsed full equality and the Supreme Court is prepared to hear
landmark arguments on DOMA and marriage. It's time New Mexico join
the ranks of the progressive states and stand up for loving,
committed couples who want nothing more than to be treated the same
as they already treat their neighbors.”