NM: Don't Let These Discriminatory Bills Hit the Floor!

From the DFA-DFNM Meetup Message Board:
Contact your representative and tell them discrimination has no place in New Mexico's Constitution! Two unfair bills will be heard in the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee on Thursday, February 1, at 1:30 PM in Room 315 of the Roundhouse in Santa Fe.

Representative Gloria Vaughn (R-Alamogordo) has introduced House Joint Resolution 2 (HJR2), proposing an Amendment to New Mexico's Constitution which would define marriage as solely between a man and a woman. It would also bar New Mexico from recognizing any legal marriages between same-sex couples performed in other jurisdictions.

Representative Nora Espinoza (R-Roswell) introduced another bill aiming to strip the rights of New Mexico's LGBT citizens. House Bill 395 (HB395) is a State-level version of the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). This bill seeks to define marriage as solely between a man and a woman, and prevent New Mexico from recognizing any valid marriage between same gender couples performed in any other jurisdiction.

Both bills are currently in committee. Don't let these bills hit the floor. Contact your Representatives today and tell them you don't want discrimination written into New Mexico's Constitution! Email the committee members and let them know that bills such as HJR2 and HR395 only serve to weaken our state and divide our people. Their task is to improve the quality of life for all New Mexicans, not to waste time entertaining bills that simply seek to diminish it for some.

The House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee meets Thursday, February 1st at 1:30 PM in Room 315. Both these bills are on the agenda for that day.

Editor's Note: You can automatically contact the legislators on the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee by using this tool at the Equality New Mexico website.

(To find your representative, click on the link below:

https://legis.state.nm.us/lcs/leg.asp?who=H

Consumer and Public Affairs Committee Members :

Gail Chasey (D), Chair
District 18, Bernalillo County
gailchasey@msn.com

Irvin Harrison (D), Vice Chair
District 5, McKinley & San Juan Counties
irv4u@cnetco.com

Thomas A. Anderson (R)
District 29, Bernalillo County
kb5ysg@arrl.net

Nora Espinoza (R)
District 59, Chaves, Lincoln & Otero Counties
noralee@cableone.net

Antonio "Moe" Maestas (D)
District 16, Bernalillo County
antonio@moejustice.com

Al Park (D)
District 26, Bernalillo County
alpark.nm@gmail.com

W.C. "Dub" Williams (R)
District 56, Lincoln & Otero Counties
986-4454 (no email address)