Judge orders clerk in New Mexico’s largest county to issue gay marriage licenses

[joeybee12]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — An Albuquerque judge on Monday ordered the clerk of New Mexico’s most populous county to join two other counties in the state in issuing marriage licenses for gay and lesbian couples.

State District Judge Alan Malott ruled that New Mexico’s constitution prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

The decision came in a case involving a lesbian couple who sought an emergency ruling because one of them is dying and they wanted to make certain the state would recognize their marriage, which happened last week in Santa Fe.

The Bernalillo County clerk’s office in Albuquerque plans to start issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/nm-county-has-licenses-for-same-sex-marriages-printed-in-case-theres-a-court-order/2013/08/26/9bff9ace-0e67-11e3-a2b3-5e107edf9897_story.html

[hrmjustin]

1. Great news!

[MineralMan]

2. It sounds like NM is going to be the next state on the list.

Last edited Tue Aug 27, 2013, 12:59 PM - Edit history (1)

Their Constitution makes it clear that there can be no discrimination based on sexual orientation. A couple of judges have agreed that marriage licenses must be issued. If enough people get married during this period, it's going to be very hard to withdraw from that position.

The Governor of NM (not MN as I originally wrote...) says that he's not going to fight this, so it's pretty much a done deal, I think.

[joeybee12]

3. Thank God the Minnesota Governor won't fight it...

Actually, your point is well-taken...doesn't seem to be lots of people up in arms over this...will probably become the next state for marriage equality, and do so fairly easily and quietly.

[MineralMan]

4. Ha! NM, MN...You can't spell Moron without them.

I'll go edit!

[MineralMan]

5. There are some Republicans who are suing over this,

but the tide has turned, and the courts will pay attention to the SCOTUS ruling as they make decisions from now on.

I think a lot of states are going to just let it happen without too much protest.

[joeybee12]

6. I love the woman in the article complaining that her rights had been violated...

Because she'll have to watch two women showing affection! The horrors!

[MineralMan]

7. I know...Geez...

I hate family reunions, too. All those cousins hugging and kissing each other and showing affection. There should be a ban on family reunions, so people wouldn't have to be confronted with such blatant PDAs.

And get off my lawn, too, you kids!

[dsteve01]

8. Albuquerque Dude Here

Pretty cool stuff. Maybe I'll stop by the courthouse tomorrow and watch the chaos unfold.