New Mexico Unites for Marriage launches to secure marriage in NM

November 07, 2013

Today, New Mexico Unites for Marriage launched its new campaign to secure and protect the freedom to marry for all loving and committed couples in New Mexico. The campaign, which launched with a press conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico this afternoon, will work to grow support for marriage for same-sex couples across the state. It will also work against any legislative attempts to deny or strip away the freedom to marry, if necessary. 

New Mexico Unites is comprised of a broad and diverse coalition of state and national organizations, faith congregations and leaders, business and civic leaders and everyday New Mexicans. Freedom to Marry is proud to serve as a leading and founding member of New Mexico Unites alongside partners the ACLU of New Mexico, Equality New Mexico, ProgressNow New Mexico, America Votes, Freedom to Marry, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Center for Lesbian Rights and Our America Initiative.

The coalition is being co-chaired by Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham and former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson. Grisham discussed why she is supporting New Mexico Unites today. She said:

We know that however the court decides this fundamental question of fairness for all New Mexicans, there are some who will seek to stop the freedom to marry. This campaign is dedicated to both broadening support and stopping any effort to take that basic freedom away from loving, committed couples.

Gary Johnson added:

We know that the majority of New Mexicans support the freedom to marry and a favorable decision by the court. Anything short of full marriage equality is discrimination. In New Mexico, we treat everyone as we would like to be treated ourselves and that includes the freedom to marry.

Freedom to Marry's Director of Public Education Thalia Zepatos and our Web & Graphic Designer Christian Oliveira (below, with Gov. Johnson) were on the ground this afternoon for the launch event!

Don't miss the great new website for New Mexico Unites for Marriage - and take the time to read the stories of loving same-sex couples and their families. 

And follow the campaign on Facebook!

This fall, eight New Mexico counties extended the freedom to marry to same-sex couples: Bernalillo County, Santa Fe County, Taos County, Doña Ana County, San Miguel County, Los Alamos County, Grant County, and Valencia County. Some counties began issuing marriage licences after being ordered by district courts, and in others, county clerks followed the lead of these rulings and acted independently. The decisions ordering the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples are based on the gender-neutral language in the state's marriage law.

Over 1,500 same-sex couples have already tied the knot in the state. And on October 23, the NM Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case. The Court is expected to issue a ruling on the freedom to marry soon. 

New Mexico Unites for Marriage will shore up support for marriage across the state and encourage all New Mexicans to stand up in support of all loving, committed couples and their families.