Headline Of The Day

If only there'd been another armed three-year old to stop him. Details.

NEW MEXICO: Homeschoolers Campaign Against Pro-Gay Marriage State Rep

New Mexico state Rep. Bill McCamley was one of the key legislators in his state's successful same-sex marriage battle and local homeschoolers are enlisting their children in the campaign to unseat him. Via Progress Now New Mexico:

In the legislature, McCamely has been a strong supporter of LGBT equality. That’s no surprise given Dona Ana County’s prominence in the national marriage debate following the decision by County Clerk Lynn Ellins to begin issuing New Mexico’s first licenses to same-sex couples in 2013. Nearly 900 same-sex couples have received licenses in Dona Ana County, which includes McCamley’s district, since last year. So, it’s not surprise that marriage equality could be an important issue in House District 33. McCamley recently started handing out a campaign walk piece featuring his position on the issue and that has his opponent fired up and ready to lead an army of children (literally) against McCamley in their “critical” quest to defeat the progressive candidate in HD33.

McCamley's opponent, Neal Hooks, is a creationist whose website says this: "The push of homosexual agenda in our schools are destroying us." The homeschoolers are having their children walk the district to distribute materials in support of Hooks. Donate to McCamley's campaign here.

NEW MEXICO: Grasshopper Swarms Are So Dense They Show Up On Weather Radar

Via ABC News:

The worst grasshopper infestation in 20 years has become so thick around Albuquerque, N.M., that the airborne bugs are showing up on weather radar, officials said today. “Albuquerque has not seen these levels of grasshoppers since the early-mid 1990′s,” said John R. Garlisch, extension agent at Bernalillo County Cooperative Extension Service. The National Weather Service said the air is so dense with the bugs that they appear on its radar like rain. The swarm, the worst in two decades, is being blamed on the drought. “There wasn’t enough winter to kill the egg pots. Because of the dry winter the eggs survived, hence the outbreak of grasshoppers,” David B. Richman, professor emeritus at the Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science, New Mexico State University said.

You know what else New Mexico has? Paging Cindy Jacobs...

Bryan Fischer: SCOTUS Has Made It A Crime To Be A Christian In America

Porno Pete Has The SCOTUS Sadz

Alliance Defending Freedom Has The Sadz

"The First Amendment protects our freedom to speak or not speak on any issue without fear of punishment. We had hoped the U.S. Supreme Court would use this case to affirm this basic constitutional principle; however, the court will likely have several more opportunities to do just that in other cases of ours that are working their way through the court system. Americans oppose unjust laws that strong-arm citizens to express ideas against their will. Elaine and numerous others like her around the country have been more than willing to serve any and all customers, but they are not willing to promote any and all messages. A government that forces any American to create a message contrary to her own convictions is a government every American should fear." - Alliance Defending Freedom lead counsel Jordan Lorence, responding to today's refusal to take his case by the US Supreme Court.

BREAKING: SCOTUS Rejects Appeal Of Anti-Gay New Mexico Photographer

The US Supreme Court today declined to hear the appeal of the New Mexico woman who refused to photograph the commitment ceremony of a lesbian couple. The case has been the linchpin of the anti-gay movement to allow businesses to turn away gay customers and was the starting point of numerous campaigns to legalize such discrimination by state law.

Chris Johnson reports at the Washington Blade:

In orders published Monday morning, the court listed the case, Elane Photography v. Willock, without comment among as the cases it won’t consider. The case was brought to the Supreme Court by Elane Photography, which was found to have violated New Mexico’s anti-discrimination law for refusing to take a photo for the same-sex wedding ceremony for Vanessa Willock and Misti Collinsworth in 2006. (The wedding was only ceremonial because the incident took place before the state legalized same-sex marriage. Elane Photography filed lawsuit in state court, alleging that its refusal to photograph a same-sex wedding is protected on religious grounds. However, the New Mexico Supreme Court ruled against the claims, saying the businesses service can be regulated because it’s a public accommodation. Following that decision, Elane Photography asked the U.S. Supreme Court to consider the lawsuit based on First Amendment protections under the U.S. Constitution.

And the Alliance Defending Freedom loses AGAIN. Today's refusal may mean the end of all the similar "wedding cake" cases. Stand by for the sadz!

UPDATE: The ACLU celebrates.

"No court has ever held that businesses have a First Amendment right to discriminate, and it is no surprise that the Supreme Court has denied this attempt to overturn settled law," said Joshua Block, staff attorney with the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Project. "Selling commercial wedding photography services, like selling a wedding cake or a flower arrangement, does not mean that a business owner endorses a customer's marriage. The business is simply providing a commercial service. Everybody has the right to express their views on whatever subject they wish, and that includes business owners. But every business has to play by the same rules to protect customers from discrimination in the marketplace."

Santa Fe Elects Gay Mayor

Santa Fe has elected its first openly gay mayor.

With his two young daughters and other family members by his side, Javier Gonzales, 47, was greeted by a mob of cheering supporters when he walked into a packed ballroom at the Hotel Santa Fe, many of whom he hugged and kissed as he made his way to the stage. “This campaign was never about me. It was about us,” he told a jubilant crowd. Gonzales made history as the city’s first openly gay mayor and will preside over a City Council on which two of the eight members are openly gay women — mayoral opponent Patti Bushee and newly elected Signe Lindell. He said the race was won by a grass-roots campaign that brought together a cross section of Santa Fe.

(Via Think Progress)

CORRECTION: In my first draft of this post, I moved Santa Fe to Arizona. My excuse is shut up.

Freep This New Mexico Poll

It's neck and neck right now. (Tipped by JMG reader John)

Tony Perkins Has The New Mexico Sadz

"The once-conservative Governor of New Mexico decided to pack it in and go home when her state's supreme court ruled the wrong way on marriage. Instead of standing her ground, Martinez waved the white flag on a potential state marriage amendment -- yielding every ounce of her power to an out-of-control judiciary with political goals. Before the judges sided with the radical Left, there was a strong consensus that the state should introduce a marriage amendment and let the people decide. Monday, Martinez handed the victory to New Mexico liberals on a platter, insisting that the state should focus on other issues like the economy and education reform. Obviously, Governor Martinez needs a class in basic civics, because the court doesn't write the law -- legislators do. And it's absolutely indefensible that a leader who ran on a pro-marriage platform would renege on her word and silence constituents. If Governor Martinez won't do her job, then conservative clerks shouldn't have to perform theirs." - KKK-affiliated hate group leader Tony Perkins, via email.

New Mexico Gov Won't Fight Marriage

New Mexico GOP Gov. Susana Martinez says that her state's Supreme Court has spoken and she won't back the campaign to overturn same-sex marriage.

Martinez said several times last summer — when several county clerks across the state began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples — that she believed state voters should decide the issue by way of a ballot question on whether to amend the state constitution. “I think what I said before was that yes, the people should have decided on it, but the Supreme Court has decided,” the governor said Monday when asked by a reporter about the issue. “And it’s now the law of the land.” Asked whether that meant she wouldn’t push for the Legislature to pass a measure like Sen. Bill Sharer’s Senate Joint Resolution 6, Martinez responded, “It’s the law of the land. The Supreme Court has spoken.” Sharer’s measure would put on the general election ballot a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union of one man and one woman. Proposed amendments to the constitution aren’t subject to a governor’s veto.

The campaign will proceed, of course. She's clearly a RINO!

Why Marriage Matters

Clip recap:

A coalition of state and national organizations will launch a statewide television ad today featuring a New Mexican family who represent the broad, majority support for the recent ruling by the state Supreme Court that grants every loving couple the freedom to marry. The ad will appear on both network and cable television throughout the state. It features Daniel and Theresa Sandoval of Albuquerque who have been married for 51 years, raised three sons and are now, after retiring, enjoying their five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. As Daniel Sandoval says in the ad, “We believe in the Golden Rule. In treating others as we want to be treated. Respect is very important to me and it’s the heart of the issue. In New Mexico, we respect every family.” The 30-second spot was produced and purchased by the Equality New Mexico Foundation and ACLU of New Mexico Foundation in partnership with Freedom to Marry, the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the ACLU LGBT Project.

Matt Baume: Marriage News Watch

Clip recap:

We end the year with big marriage wins in Utah and New Mexico. But those victories could still be overturned. We'll have the latest on attempts to undo marriage in those states. We've also seen some major steps towards equality in Oregon, Ohio, Florida, Arkansas and Illinois. Plus, AFER has date for a hearing in its Virginia case.

NEW MEXICO: County Clerk Resigns Rather Than Issue Gay Marriage Licenses

Via the Associated Press:

Officials say a rural eastern New Mexico county clerk and her deputy have resigned rather than abide by a state Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage. Roosevelt County manager Charlene Webb says Clerk Donna Carpenter and Deputy Clerk Janet Collins announced their resignations Friday morning. Webb declined to say why they quit. But county commissioners confirmed it was in protest of Thursday's Supreme Court ruling that says it's unconstitutional to bar same-sex couples from getting marriage licenses. Commissioner Bill Cathey says the two had made it clear they would quit "rather than be associated with that."

Buh-bye.

NEW MEXICO: GOP State Senator Intro's Bill To Ban Same-Sex Marriage

As expected, a GOP senator in New Mexico has already introduced a bill to place a ban on same-sex marriage in the state constitution and thereby overturn yesterday's ruling by the state Supreme Court.

Brian Brown Has The New Mexico Sadz

"Today's opinion by the New Mexico Supreme Court is disappointing but not surprising. These are the same justices that demanded in an earlier ruling that Christians be the ones to compromise and deny their faith, in the case of Elane Photography. Once again, activists judges have thrown out the historic legal understanding of marriage in New Mexico. This is a continuation of a very dangerous rush towards silencing people of faith who simply believe marriage to be the union of one man and one woman. The National Organization for Marriage will do everything in its power to protect believers of true marriage in New Mexico and around the nation from the fallout of radical judges who deny the truth of marriage." - Hate group leader Brian Brown, who adds that New Mexico is only further proof of the need for a federal constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage. Which, of course, will never ever ever fucking happen.

BREAKING: New Mexico Supreme Court Unanimously Rules For Gay Marriage!!!

From the Albuquerque Journal:

The New Mexico Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in favor of same-sex couples, granting them all the same rights of marriage enjoyed by heterosexual couples. The court’s 31-page ruling states, in part, that: “All rights, protections, and responsibilities that result from the marital relationship shall apply equally to both same-gender and opposite-gender married couples.”

Stand by for more details!

UPDATE: Here is the ruling.

UPDATE II: Freedom To Marry excerpts the above.

We conclude that the purpose of New Mexico marriage laws is to bring stability and order to the legal relationship of committed couples by defining their rights and responsibilities as to one another, their children if they choose to raise children together, and their property. Prohibiting same-gender marriages is not substantially related to the governmental interests advanced by the parties opposing same-gender marriage or to the purposes we have identified. Therefore, barring individuals from marrying and depriving them of the rights, protections, and responsibilities of civil marriage solely because of their sexual orientation violates the Equal Protection Clause under Article II, Section 18 of the New Mexico Constitution. We hold that the State of New Mexico is constitutionally required to allow same-gender couples to marry and must extend to them the rights, protections, and responsibilities that derive from civil marriage under New Mexico law.

UPDATE III: NCLR head attorney Shannon Minter advises that today's ruling is effective immediately and marriages may now commence in all 33 New Mexico counties.

UPDATE IV: There will be a celebration rally tonight!

Op-Ed Of The Day - Patricia Madrid

"Some will recall that as attorney general, I stopped the Rio Rancho county clerk from issuing marriage licenses. But that had nothing to do with the constitutionality of same-sex marriage and everything to do with individual county clerks acting on their own without the law behind them. I applaud the clerks for asking for a swift resolution by the state Supreme Court of the current checkerboard, where some counties grant marriage licenses and others do not. While I’m hopeful the state Supreme Court will grant marriage equality in New Mexico, I believe that is where the issue should be decided. The Legislature should resist any temptation to continue to make marriage a divisive issue.

"New Mexico has always been a land of freedom, of live and let live, and we all try to apply the Golden Rule — to treat others as we want to be treated ourselves. To me, that speaks directly to the freedom to marry. Marriage has been the cornerstone of my life, and I hope that soon in New Mexico, our gay and lesbian friends, neighbors and family members can have that same mix of celebration and security." - Former New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid, writing for the Albuquerque Journal. (Tipped by JMG reader George)

Matt Baume: Marriage New Watch

Clip recap:

What an end to the year -- the marriage bill is a done deal in Hawaii, and before the week is over another will be signed in Illinois. Plus there's a new lawsuit in Idaho, positive polling in Maine, and we're one step closer to the ballot in Ohio. But we're also facing some very tough work in Indiana.

NEW MEXICO: Plaintiff In Marriage Equality Lawsuit Dies Of Cancer At Age 44

One of the plaintiffs in the New Mexico marriage equality lawsuit currently before the state Supreme Court has died of cancer at the age of 44.

Jen and Angelique Neuman-Roper of Nambe were married in August during an impromptu ceremony in the lobby of the Christus St. Vincent Cancer Center in Santa Fe, the same day a judge granted their request and ordered the Santa Fe County clerk to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. They made their urgent request because Jen Neuman-Roper had Stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. They married again in October, this time in a more formal ceremony in Pojoaque attended by many family and friends. Upon her passing, Jen Neuman-Roper was the first person to be issued a New Mexico certificate of death that acknowledged a surviving same-sex spouse, according to a news release issued today by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico.

ACLU New Mexico, which is representing the six couples, has posted a remembrance on their website. An excerpt:

“We are deeply saddened by the news of Jen Neuman-Roper’s passing,” said ACLU-NM Executive Director Peter Simonson. “She was a beloved member of her community, a loving mother and wife, and a trail blazer for marriage equality in New Mexico. Her participation in the New Mexico freedom to marry case helped open the door for thousands of same-sex couples to celebrate their love and commitment in marriage here in our state. She will be missed.”

(Via JMG reader Matthew)