Comments on: ABQ mayoral race: When pressed, Mayor Martin Chavez expresses support for gay marriage

By: richardsteinbeck

richardsteinbeck — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:32:42 +0000

The mayor says he has been endorsed by Equality New Mexico? Why have I not heard of this yet. This is just another one of his lies, and no one will call him on any of them. So ironic that during the debates, he tells Berry and Romero to be honest, yet he is the most dishonest of them all.

By: richardsteinbeck

richardsteinbeck — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:32:42 +0000

By: richardsteinbeck

richardsteinbeck — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:32:42 +0000

By: richardsteinbeck

richardsteinbeck — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:32:42 +0000

By: mary ellen

mary ellen — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:42:46 +0000

Marjorie, a sincere thank you for raising this issue at the debate. It is extremely important to me right now and it is about civil rights. I am tired of saying the pledge of allegance and at the end where we say “with liberty and justice for all” I say except for gays. We all have to talk about it. Make it be as normal as being left handed. Mr Romero….how do you feel about left handed people? Mayor Chavez how do you feel about left handed people?? The answer for this question should be whattttt???? There is no problem for me with left handed people! Same answer should be about gays. No hemming and hawing. No thinking for an instant about the political fall out. Just say the word GAY! GAY GAY GAY!

By: CornetMustich

CornetMustich — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:52:20 +0000

It's time.
Joe Mustich, Justice of the Peace,
Washington, Connecticut, USA,
This summer couples are coming to CT to wed from all around the country, and in many cases they are bringing their families and friends along to celebrate with them. Congrats to all.

By: barbwire

barbwire — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:25:51 +0000

What gay couples (and their families) are missing are the myriad of legal protections and tax benefits straight married couples take for granted. Even legal marriages between same sex couples in states that allow them aren't recognized by the federal government and thus those couples miss out on federal benefits like Social Security survivor and dependent benefits that other citizens receive. Legal analysts have determined there are more than 1000 benefits provided by civil marriage.

A few years back, the Sandoval County clerk started issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples saying the language on the application didn't disallow that. Then Attorney General Patricia Madrid put a quick stop to that saying NM law didn't permit it.

Your suggestion that gay couples lie or pretend to be the opposite sex is disturbing. Same-sex couples deserve the same rights as other citizens and shouldn't have to resort to subterfuge to obtain them. Legal recognition won't stop all the bigots. Laws never can. But it can provide legal protections only available to heterosexual couples now.

Here's summary of some the benefits denied to same-sex partners in the US:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rights_and_respons...

By: derekbill

derekbill — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:12:23 +0000

Perhaps I'm missing the point here, but what's to prevent gay people from getting married? The marriage license application asks for the names of the Bride and Groom, but doesn't really define those terms. I suppose the real test comes when, to complete the application process, the couple has to go in to the Clerk's office... so the real question is... Does the Clerk check your pants for proof of gender, or what? Do they do any more inquiry regarding gender than they do regarding whether or not you're not committing bigamy?

I realize this sounds kind of flip, but seriously... what's to prevent two people of same sex from getting a marriage license, having a ceremony, and then being married?

Or for two people who never got married to say they were anyway? How often does anyone have to show their wedding license? In these days of the internet, most business is not conducted face-to-face anyway. And names are decreasingly gender-specific. So, let me ask you this: When was the last time a motel turned away two people of the same (or opposite) sex because they weren't married, or for any other reason?

It may interest some of you to know that there have been decrees of divorce issued to same-sex couples in the State of New Mexico. Many if not most divorces take place without a hearing and the judges almost always sign decrees without the parties anywhere near the courthouse.

And if I'm wrong about any of this, I would really like to better educate myself.

By: barbwire

barbwire — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:36:25 +0000

It's good that Richard Romero is saying publicly that he supports marriage equality. When he spoke at our DFA-DFNM Meetup several months ago, he didn't answer a question posed by an attendee on the issue. Instead he said something to the effect that it didn't matter because mayors don't deal with that issue. Many were disappointed in that answer.

There has long been strong support for Mayor Chavez in the LGBT community here because he has long been a friend and supporter of LGBT rights.