Senate passes bill defining marriage

Steve Terrell | The New Mexican

March 10, 2005 Gov. Bill Richardson said Wednesday he was disappointed that the state Senate passed a bill prohibiting same-sex marriage without including provisions for "domestic partnerships" that would give same-sex couples some of the same rights as married couples.

However, Richardson refused to say whether he'd sign or veto Senate Bill 597, sponsored by Sen. Bill Sharer, R-Farmington, which passed the Senate on Wednesday 25-12. SB 597 adds the words "between a man and a woman" to a state law that defines marriage as a civil contract."It's still hypothetical," said Richardson spokesman Billy Sparks, noting the bill still must go through the House before it reaches the governor's desk.

As a congressman, Richardson voted for the federal Defense of Marriage Act in the 1990s. He has said he would sign similar state legislation, but that he also wanted legislation that would establish domestic partnerships.The Senate Judiciary Committee last week effectively killed a bill that would have established domestic partnerships in the state.

That bill's sponsor, Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque, said he didn't try to amend SB 597 to include domestic partnerships because gay activists were against combining the two bills. "They wanted an up-or-down vote," McSorley said. Last year, some members of the gay-rights advocacy organization Equality New Mexico considered backing a bill that would have combined a bill similar to Sharer's with domestic-partner provisions. But the group's board rejected the idea shortly before the session started.McSorley said the bill could get amended as it makes its way through the House.Sharer, in a written statement, expressed concern that time is running out for his bill.

"There are less than 10 days to go," he said. "For the sake of our families and for generations to come, I hope the bill will make it through its committee assignments because I believe it will be passed once it hits the House floor."Sharer and other supporters insisted that the bill wasn't aimed at gay marriages but instead was intended to strengthen families and give children "the best possible environment."As expected, the debate was emotional and lengthy, lasting about 21/2 hours.All Santa Fe area senators spoke against the bill.Sen. Phil Griego, D-San Jose, invoked the memory of his brother Billy Griego, who died of AIDS complications in 1987."My brother and his partner, Jim, were a great couple," Sen. Griego said. "They involved themselves in the community, they helped the family. They went to church with the family and took Holy Communion. At family gatherings we always expected them to be there, because they were a couple.

"When Billy was dying, Jim was there to change him, to bathe him, to feed him. He died in Jim's arms. Nobody on this floor can tell me that relationship was immoral or illegal," Griego said. "I would rather have seen Billy and Jim raise 10 kids than some heterosexual couples.

"Senate Majority Floor Leader Michael Sanchez said Griego's speech brought tears to his eyes.Sen. John Grubesic, D-Santa Fe, referring to the brevity of the bill, said, "This is only four lines. Four lines of fear, four lines of hate, four lines of mistrust, four lines of dissension, four lines of segregation, four lines of telling a group of people, 'You're different than us.' ""We all know this bill is designed to hurt people and nothing else," Grubesic said. "I don't want to be a party to hurting people and telling them 'You're beneath us.' "Sen.Nancy Rodriguez, D-Santa Fe, said she initially had intended to support SB 597, but changed her mind partly because, she said, the true purpose of the measure was political.

"It's to put us on record for election time," she said. "It's not about morals or family values; it's about election time. Are we relegating Scripture to stature? With a bill like this, that's what we're trying to do."Sen. Rod Adair, R-Roswell, mocked such observations. "It's shaking and stunning news that there is politics in here," he said. "I'm sure New Mexico stands horrified that politics enters the debate.

"Regarding prohibiting gay marriage, Adair said, "There's not a reason to change what society has determined to be the public good.

"Sen. Mark Boitano, R-Albuquerque, said the bill doesn't discriminate against gays. "There are many wonderful relationships in our society," he said. But he said, "It's relatively easy when you view marriage as a union of complimentary opposites; one having convex parts, one having concave parts.

"Sharer also said those who called the bill was discriminatory are wrong.

"You can't marry your sister," Sharer said. "You can't marry your own mom. Is that discrimination? Is that the Dark Ages because we can't do that? I don't think so.

"Two Democrats who had signed on as co-sponsors jumped ship. They were Sens. Leonard Tsosie of Crownpoint and Mary Jane Garcia of Doña Ana.