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| Obama now for gay marriage |
From the Santa Fe New Mexican - Reactions in New Mexico to President Barack Obama's announcement Wednesday fell along partisan lines, but both sides agree that a gay-marriage law isn't likely to become a reality in the immediate future. How Obama's stand might affect the upcoming presidential election, which many expect to be dominated by economic factors, is difficult to predict. Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, who in 2009 sponsored a bill to legalize civil unions -- which was voted down on the New Mexico Senate floor -- called same-sex marriage "the civil-rights issue of our time." But Wirth said accomplishing that by legislation is unlikely in the short run unless Gov. Susana Martinez changes her position. Martinez has repeatedly said she opposes gay marriage and would veto a civil-union bill like Wirth's, which would give same-sex couples many, but not all, of the same rights as heterosexual married couples. The prospect of the governor changing her mind doesn't seem likely. A spokesman for Martinez said Wednesday, "The governor has been very clear about where she stands on this issue." Other New Mexico Democrats said they agree with Obama on the issue. "Marriage equality is a matter of civil rights and treating all people who are in loving and committed relationships fairly," said U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., in a statement Wednesday. "To be clear, this will not force churches to change their practices or beliefs but reaffirms the American constitutional principle that everyone deserves equal protection of the law." State Democratic Party Chairman Javier Gonzales said, "This is an historic announcement, but it's based on a simple value that is part of the culture of New Mexico: Treat others the way you'd want to be treated. I just wish Republicans would realize they are behind the times and out of step with those basic New Mexican values." State GOP Chairman Monty Newman said in a statement, "The culmination of President Obama's 'evolution' on the issue of gay marriage is another political pander from our country's campaigner-in-chief. In keeping with the Republican Party of New Mexico's platform, we support maintaining marriage between one man and one woman and oppose attempts to change that definition." The state Republican Party platform states, "We support strengthening the family and preserving the sanctity of marriage. We support a constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between one man and one woman." Since 2005, the state Democratic platform has been in favor of allowing homosexual couples to marry. Across the country, opponents of gay marriage have been successful in passing ballot initiatives to constitutionally prohibit same-sex marriage. The most recent example is North Carolina, where on Tuesday voters overwhelmingly passed such a constitutional amendment. read more
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