Marriage equality - Las Cruces Bulletin

Link to Marriage equality - Las Cruces Bulletin

Alternative Spring Break at the Las Cruces GLBTQ Center

Encouraging Marriage Developments

This is the text of a press release we just sent out:

Statewide LGBTQ Group Encouraged On Marriage Equality

Las Cruces and Gallup – On the heals of Santa Fe City Attorney Geno Zamora's opinion that marriage equality is already legal in New Mexico, Dona Ana County Clerk Lynn Ellins is seeking an opinion from the Attorney General. New Mexico GLBTQ Centers is encouraged by these developments on the marriage equality front.

“County Clerk Ellins' request that Rep. Bill McCamley, D-Mesilla Park, seek an immediate opinion from the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General about whether same-sex marriage licenses can be issued by county clerks' offices statewide is potentially a huge step forward for same gender couples in New Mexico,” states David Stocum, Executive Director of New Mexico GLBTQ Centers.

According to press reports, "I am hopeful, as is my staff, that ours can be the office that shifts the tide in the State of New Mexico," Ellins said. "With Rep. McCamley's assistance, we will soon have in hand an opinion that will clarify the matter statewide."

“The tide has been turning in our favor, the US Supreme Court is hearing arguments next week regarding the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act and Prop 8. This is another opportunity to do the right thing,” says Stocum, “and it's fabulous it's here in New Mexico.”

Stocum concluded, “Our thanks to Santa Fe City Attorney Zamora, Mr. Ellins and Rep. McCamley for taking the lead in this latest effort at full equality for LGBTQ New Mexicans.”

New Mexico GLBTQ Centers is a statewide organization based in Las Cruces whose mission is to reduce homophobia and enrich the lives of individuals living in New Mexico who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer through education, advocacy, support, example and collaboration.

For more information on New Mexico GLBTQ Centers; visit www.newmexicoglbtqcenters.org or stop by the centers at 1210 N. Main Street in Las Cruces or 105 Dean Street in Gallup.

We Need A New Way To Think About Charity

The New Mexico GLBTQ Centers vision of a system of community centers with extensive outreach to the rural areas of New Mexico with both center and non-center based programs based on community needs,collaborating with GLBTQ groups, allies and others to reduce homophobia and enrich lives to create a New Mexico where diversity is celebrated and all New Mexico are respected equally. Is pure social innovation like Dan is talking about. I beat my head against the dirty word "overhead" on a nearly daily basis. The things we accomplish with almost no money are amazing. I can only imagine what we could do with financing based on Dan's ideas in this video.