NEW MEXICO: Sante Fe Mayor Claims Same-Sex Marriages Are Legal

David Coss, the mayor of New Mexico's capital Sante Fe, says there's nothing in state law that bans same-sex marriage and his city attorney agrees.   

Coss and Councilor Patti Bushee plan to introduce a City Council resolution on March 27 "recognizing" that same-sex marriage is legal in New Mexico. They have a legal memo in which City Attorney Geno Zamara says same-sex marriage is permitted in New Mexico. Zamora says that's partly so because New Mexico law defining marriage is gender-neutral and lacks any prohibition on same-sex marriage. Zamora also says same-sex marriage is legal because the state already recognizes same-marriages from other states and the New Mexico Constitution requires equal treatment on the basis of sex.

 A petition endorsing the mayor's move has been launched. (Tipped by JMG reader Elise)

RELATED: Last month a New Mexico House committee killed a marriage equality bill with the help of two Democrats.