[ACLU-NM] NEWS RELEASE: NM Senate Judiciary Votes on HB 9, Domestic Partnership Advocates Vow to Continue to Fight for Fairness

[Whitney Potter]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 9, 2008 

CONTACT: Whitney Potter (505) 507-9898; wpotter at aclu-nm.org <mailto:wpotter at aclu-nm.org> 

 

Domestic Partnership Advocates Vow to Continue to Fight for Fairness

 

SANTA FE-The New Mexico Senate Judiciary Committee failed to approve a bill today that would have offered unmarried couples-same- or opposite-sex-the same rights and benefits granted to married couples under state law. The Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act was tabled with a vote of 6 to 4. Similar legislation failed by just one vote in the state Senate last year. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque).

 

"Despite this disappointing outcome, we are not yet done fighting for fairness and justice for all New Mexico families," said Equality New Mexico Executive Director Alexis Blizman. "We have a passionate governor and legislature who support this bill.  With five days left in the session, win loose of draw, we will continue to fight."

 

A recent Lake Research Partners' survey of likely voters in New Mexico reveals that voters support legal recognition for unmarried couples, including gay and lesbian couples, both in terms of their own personal decision and specifically when it comes to state policy. They want their state legislators to vote in favor of domestic partnerships.  Nearly 70% of New Mexicans surveyed, including both Hispanic and Anglo voters, believe that gay and lesbian couples deserve the same legal protections as other people.

 

"This vote thwarted the will of the public," said Peter Simonson, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico. "There has been an outpouring of support for this bill and we will keep fighting until committed couples in New Mexico have the basic legal protections to foster healthy families and strong communities." 

 

The Equality New Mexico-led coalition includes the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, and the Human Rights Campaign.

 

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Equality New Mexico is an advocacy organization that uses both community outreach and the political process to promote civil rights, to end discrimination, and to further the general welfare of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities in New Mexico.

 

The mission of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico is to maintain and advance the cause of civil liberties within the state of New Mexico, with particular emphasis on the freedom of religion, speech, press, association, and assemblage, and the right to vote, due process of law and equal protection of law, and to take any legitimate action in the furtherance and defense of such purposes. These objectives shall be sought wholly without political partisanship.

 

 
Whitney Potter
Communications Manager
American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico
PO Box 566, Albuquerque, NM 87103
Tel: (505) 266-5915 ext. 1003 \ Fax:  (505) 266-5916
 
Learn more about the ACLU of New Mexico:  http://aclu-nm.org <http://aclu-nm.org/> 
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