After being denied marriage licenses in Albuquerque earlier today, two same-sex couples have filed a lawsuit seeking the freedom to marry. The suit was filed in district court, but is expected to make it's way to New Mexico's Supreme court.
According to the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, New Mexico is the only state in the country that does not have a constitutional amendment or statute that recognizes or prohibits same-sex marriages.
"We are also surrounded by states, for the most part, that have written discrimination into their state constitutions," saysPeter Simonson, Executive Director for the ACLU in New Mexico. "I believe that if we achieve the freedom to marry in this state, it will send a strong message to the rest of the country that the southwest is ready to see the freedom to marry extended to all couples."
If successful, the lawsuit would make denying same-sex marriage licenses a crime in New Mexico. The U.S. Supreme Court will consider same-sex marriage issues next week, but Simonson says with so many possible outcomes at the federal level, he wants to see the issue of marriage equality secure in New Mexico.
ACLU Files Same-Sex Marriage Law Suit
