nmwolfboy
01-18-2007, 08:11 AM
New Mexico is one of four states that do not restrict the definition of marriage to man & woman. Our state legislature convened for this year's session and it only took two days for someone to sponsor a DOMA. Ech.
Our state's glbt communities are well organized to respond to this, and the new DOMA resolution is expected to go the same route as those of previous years: death in committee. This year's candidate has already been scheduled for three consecutive committee reviews. None of the committees are controlled by folks with bad records on glbt issues. So, we're hopeful here.
That doesn't mean we're not lobbying the heck out our legislators this year. We've got three bills to get sponsored:
Domestic Partnership Benefits: This legislation would allow any two "non-familial" adults in a relationship to form a domestic partnership. This domestic partnership would provide the couple with all of the rights and responsibilities available to married couples on the state level.
Legislation to fix the discrepancy for state employees between married couples and domestic partners so that when a state employee retires, their domestic partner would not lose their insurance.
Insurance Legislation: This bill would require that insurance companies offer domestic partner insurance benefits if an employer wants to offer them.
Wish us luck. Pray/chant/incant for us! :pray:
Added: The rep who introduced the DOMA is from Otero county, in the south of the state. Here's a recent 'claim to fame' from Otero Co.: Book Burnings
Alamogordo briefly made international news in 2001 when Christ Community Church held a public book burning, including the books in the Harry Potter series. Other books and magazines were also burned; the congregation was told to burn anything that was getting in way of their walk with God. The people behind the burnings, Pastor Jack Brock and others, stated the belief that the books had Satanic origins and could influence children to take up witchcraft. Several hundred others protested the event.
Our state's glbt communities are well organized to respond to this, and the new DOMA resolution is expected to go the same route as those of previous years: death in committee. This year's candidate has already been scheduled for three consecutive committee reviews. None of the committees are controlled by folks with bad records on glbt issues. So, we're hopeful here.
That doesn't mean we're not lobbying the heck out our legislators this year. We've got three bills to get sponsored:
Domestic Partnership Benefits: This legislation would allow any two "non-familial" adults in a relationship to form a domestic partnership. This domestic partnership would provide the couple with all of the rights and responsibilities available to married couples on the state level.
Legislation to fix the discrepancy for state employees between married couples and domestic partners so that when a state employee retires, their domestic partner would not lose their insurance.
Insurance Legislation: This bill would require that insurance companies offer domestic partner insurance benefits if an employer wants to offer them.
Wish us luck. Pray/chant/incant for us! :pray:
Added: The rep who introduced the DOMA is from Otero county, in the south of the state. Here's a recent 'claim to fame' from Otero Co.: Book Burnings
Alamogordo briefly made international news in 2001 when Christ Community Church held a public book burning, including the books in the Harry Potter series. Other books and magazines were also burned; the congregation was told to burn anything that was getting in way of their walk with God. The people behind the burnings, Pastor Jack Brock and others, stated the belief that the books had Satanic origins and could influence children to take up witchcraft. Several hundred others protested the event.