GenderBender
Las Cruces
VIEWPOINTS
With today's revision (2-2-10) we have activated a new feature to the site called "Viewpoints" where readers may write in to express their opinions and feelings on what is happening in our GLBT community. You may e-mail either of the editors at their address on the Home Page or use the green "Contact Us" button at the top of this page. Contributors must identify themselves, and editors reserve the right to amend any submission for brevity, clarity and propriety (obscenities and personal attacks will not be allowed). Published views will appear for no more than three months.
This evening in the Senate Finance Committee hearing, SB183 for Domestic Partnerships, was tabled. There were 7 voting "yes" to table and 4 voting "no" to tabling the bill. Before this motion, there was a previous motion for a no recommendation, which failed. The no recommendation would have sent this bill to the Senate Floor.
It is frustrating and disheartening to know that our LBGTQ loved ones will not have equal rights in New Mexico for at least another year until the next Legislative session convenes. We are not finished. If anything, we should be even more dedicated and determined to rally behind the legislators that support equality for all and stand against those that don't.
Please send a personal, handwritten note to those Senators to thank them for voting for equality today.
Senator Howie Morales
Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino
Senator Mary Kay Papen
Senator Nancy Rodriquez
On the bright side, earlier in the day, the Senate Rules Committee did not pass a constitutional amendment, SJR1 Defining Marriage.
It is not over. We will survive to fight another day for full equality for all New Mexicans. Along with Equality New Mexico and other LBGTQ organizations in the state, we will work for full recognition of the relationships of LGBTQ New Mexicans.
Yours in Advocacy,
Carrie Hamblen
PFLAG Las Cruces President.
I am repeating this earlier message from Carrie Hamblen at PFLAG so that all of you can carefully consider what she asks us to do and act in your own way: -----Original Message----- Dear PFLAG Community, As we reflect on tonight’s State of the Union Address by President Obama, let us remember what our mission is as members of PFLAG Las Cruces. PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Although civil rights were just a segment of tonight’s address, We must embrace the President’s commitment to ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” so that our LBGT loved ones can serve in the military without fear of discharge. Although the President vowed to work on ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, I ask you to hold him accountable for that promise. Write him a personal letter, telling him how one more day of this horrible policy affects the freedoms of our loved ones. Waiting another day for a policy that does not have the best interests of our military LBGT loved ones is one more day a committed and patriotic individual will be removed from service. Tell the President that now is the time to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Not next week, next month or in 6 months. NOW is the time. Enough is enough. You can write the President at: The White House Closer to home, we also have great concerns as our Legislature moves toward the halfway point of the 30 day session. Equality New Mexico , the state lobbying arm for the LBGT community, is working very hard at rallying supporters of the Domestic Partnership Bill that Governor Bill Richardson has brought before our elected officials. However, the opposition is already bombarding the Capital with calls opposing Domestic Partnerships. Here’s the information from EQNM: “We need you to call your legislators and tell them to support SB183 ~ Domestic Partnerships. They are receiving calls from our opposition. Our Elected Officials NEED to hear from us TODAY!!!
From: Pflag Las Cruces <pflaglascruces@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wed, Jan 27, 2010 9:33 pm
Subject: Don't Ask, Don't Tell and New Mexico Domestic Partnerships Bill
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Please include your e-mail address
Let YOUR VOICE be heard that New Mexico Supports SB183 ~ Domestic Partnerships.
Click on the link below to find your Elected Official (or copy and paste it in your browser).
http://eqfed.org/eqnm/leg-lookup/search.html
Domestic partnerships provide basic legal protections necessary for families to care for their loved ones. This legal recognition not only keeps children safe but also offers them financial and emotional security. Tangible benefits for families include hospital visitation rights, the ability to obtain health insurance coverage for partners, and family or bereavement leave.
From the ACLU of New Mexico: Senator Peter Wirth has introduced SB 183 Domestic Partnership. The following is a link to the bill http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/1020Regular/bills/senate/SB0183.pdf The bill is 816 pages. Senator Wirth chose to introduce the longer bill because it illustrates the inequity in the current system by deny over 300 rights and responsibilities to straight and gay couples who are unable to marry. The first hearing for the bill will be on Tuesday, Feb. 2, in the Senate chambers one hour after the floor recess. Legislators are already receiving calls from the opposition so please contact your members and ask them to call 505-986-4600 in support of SB 183. Please know that Southern New Mexico Legislators, in general, support a Domestic Partnership bill. You can call them to thank them for their continued support of the LBGT community. But, if you have friends in the Northern part of the state, please take a moment and ask them to contact their legislators because that is where the opposition lies. The Catholic Diocese has already spoken out against the bill even though great efforts were made to revise the wording of the bill, avoiding any semblance of a reference to gay marriage. Despite those efforts, the Diocese is still speaking out against the value of every person in New Mexico as equal. That is not acceptable. Please, continue your advocacy and activism. Continue to speak for those whose voices are silent. Continue to write letters and make phone calls even if you feel you are not being heard. You will be heard. PFLAG Las Cruces hears you. The LBGT community hears you. And, all of us thank you. Yours in equality and fairness, Carrie Hamblen PFLAG Las Cruces President
