The Las Cruces Sun News in Las Cruces, New Mexico is reporting that Doña Ana County Clerk Lynn Ellins has announced that his office is now issuing marriage licenses to same-gender couples.
Ellins said that he has been considering issuing licenses since last June, when New Mexico Attorney General Gary King issued a position paper stating that New Mexico’s ban on issuing marriage licenses to same-gender couples is unconstitutional. Since then, the Attorney General – in a legal brief to the New Supreme Court – has refused to defend the ban and has asked the Supreme Court to declare New Mexico’s prohibition of same-gender marriage unconstitutional under the state’s constitution.
When reached for comment today, the Attorney General’s office said it had just heard about the clerk’s decision and will examine it.
If acted upon, Dona Ana County would become the first county in New Mexico to actively issue same-sex licenses.
In a statement, Dona Ana County Clerk Lynn Ellins said that he carefully read the state laws and concluded that the “state’s marriage statutes are gender neutral and do not expressly prohibit Dona Ana County from issuing marriage licenses to same-gender couples.”
“Any further denial of marriage licenses to these couples violates the United States and New Mexico Constitution and the New Mexico Human Rights Act,” Ellins said. “Dona Ana County is upholding New Mexico law by issuing these marriage licenses, and I see no reason to make committed couples in Dona Ana County wait another minute to marry.”
The news was met with support after the announcement went up on the Sun-News Facebook site.
“This is amazing and I am happy to be a New Mexican and a resident of Dona Ana County,” posted reader Chandra Reed.
For more click here: https://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_23907214/do-ana-county-begin-issuing-same-sex-marriage
Also read more from Atty. General Gary King, Gov. Martinez and Santa Fe Mayor David Coss: https://fggam.org/santa-fe-new-mexico-mayor-david-coss-issues-statement-in-dona-ana-county-issuing-same-sex-marriage-licenses/
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