Good for gays, necessary for New Mexicans

By Michael Ray Huerta

Forget the ideology.


For a few moments, set aside your belief that I chose to be a raging “homosexual” whose only mission is to convert your children, and I’ll set aside my belief that you’re a bigot whose misunderstanding of the Constitution is matched only by your religious hypocrisy.


Let’s just forget about all that.


Instead, why don’t we talk about something we can all agree on. New Mexico needs jobs, and all of us – gay or straight – could use an economic revival in our lives. That is why this week’s opinion from Attorney General Gary King stating that New Mexico should recognize all out-of-state marriages – included same-sex marriages – was such good news.


In 2010, the economic buying power of the LGBT community grew to $743 billion. According to numerous studies, same-sex households are more likely to spend their increasing wealth than their heterosexual counterparts. Other studies, including one from the nonpartisan Urban Institute, explain that diversified and tolerant communities directly affect the growth and development of high-technologies.


Strong buying power. Skilled labor. Willingness to spend money.


I agree with our new Governor, Susana Martinez. We want people outside of New Mexico to know that we’re “…open for business,” and that our state is “…inviting people not only to grow their businesses here,” but to also grow their families and communities. What better way to do that than by telling Americans that New Mexico welcomes – with open arms – all hard-working people, regardless of their marital status.

We’re high on partisanship in this state, and low on economic development. So how about, just this once, we forget the ideology, and instead focus on getting our state back on track. Because in the end, while the attorney general’s opinion is good for gays, it is more importantly necessary for New Mexicans.

Huerta is a lifelong New Mexican from Las Cruces. His résumé includes work with The Human Rights Campaign, Hillary Clinton for President, Rep. Harry Teague, AmeriCorps, and serving as an elected delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Huerta now leads communications and operations at Citizen Schools New Mexico, a national non-profit that focuses on education reform.

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