New Mexico domestic partnership bill stalls in state senate
February 27, 2009
DISAPPOINTMENT: The New Mexico Senate voted 25-17 yesterday against legislation to allow gay, lesbian, or heterosexual couples to form legally recognized domestic partnerships. New Mexico’s legislature has considered similar legislation in each of the last two years, and the bill has, in the past, come within a single vote of passing. Here's the unofficial list of senators who voted against the measure yesterday: Adair (R), Asbill (R), Beffort (R), Boitano (R), Campos (D), Cisneros (D),Cravens (R), Duran (R), Harden (R), Ingle (R), Jennings (D), Kernan (R), Leavell (R), Lovejoy (D), Martinez, R. (D), Munoz (D), Neville (R), Payne (R), Pinto (D), Rue (R), Ryan (R), Sanchez, B. (D), Sharer (R), Smith (D), Ulibarri (D). Joe Solmonese issued this statement after the vote:
This is obviously very disappointing news, and I share the sadness of everyone in New Mexico who hoped this vote would go differently and the state would take a step toward recognizing equality for all New Mexicans. Today’s vote helps no one in the state of New Mexico. It protects no one’s marriage. It grants dignity to no couple’s relationship. It does nothing to ensure that all families receive the equal rights and responsibilities they deserve. But no one is giving up. It has been a long, hard struggle for couples and families in New Mexico who simply want equal rights, and this effort continues, as it does across the nation.
HRC's Western Regional Field Director Tony Wagner and field organizer Terry McGuire worked on the ground in New Mexico for more than a month with the ACLU, Equality New Mexico, HRC members and other activists to organize grassroots support for the domestic partner bill. Marybeth Lennox, another field organizer, has been in the field since August. Their work included organizing door to door canvassing and phone banks to voters urging them to contact their senators.
