New Mexico Telegram » Featured, LGBT » Rep. Garcia: Gays can be in relationships but not marry
Rep. Garcia: Gays can be in relationships but not marry
Rep. Mary Helen Garcia, D-Las Cruces, has been under fire for her votes bucking her party on some key votes, resulting in bills not passing.
One of those was a joint memorial that would have allowed voters to decide if same-sex marriage should be codified in the state constitution. Garcia was one of two Democrats to vote along with the Republican Party against the measure.
Her comments to KRQE are raising eyebrows.
“These people, gays, already have the option to be in a relationship, but I do not believe in marriage,” Garcia told KRQE.
The progressive group ProgressNow New Mexico has sent an email to supporters highlighting Garcia’s remarks.
Garcia’s position is at odds with her own party chairman.
“The Democratic Party of New Mexico has long advocated for full marriage equality in New Mexico and will remain steadfast in our belief as we move forward and we fervently hope our elected officials recognize the struggle for equality is at a cross-roads in America and New Mexico has chosen the wrong path,” Javier Gonzalez said in a statement to the press following the vote.
The Democratic Party of New Mexico has a plank in its platform that says it will “Protect[] constitutional rights and civil liberties by actively advocating for and supporting marriage equality and domestic partnerships with full spousal rights including community property and healthcare decision-makingactively advocating for and supporting marriage equality and domestic partnerships with full spousal rights including community property and healthcare decision-making.”
While there has not been recent polling, a 2011 poll from Public Policy Polling found a slight plurality of New Mexico voters supported gay marriage.
Written by Matthew Reichbach
Matthew Reichbach has blogged about New Mexico politics since 2006. Matthew was a co-founder of New Mexico FBIHOP with his brother and part of the original hirings at the groundbreaking website the New Mexico Independent. Matthew has covered events such as the Democratic National Convention and Netroots Nation. In addition to politics, Matthew is an avid sports fan, especially of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and TV fan.
Filed under: Featured, LGBT · Tags: gay marriage, Mary Helen Garcia, ProgressNow New Mexico, same-sex marriage
4 Responses to "Rep. Garcia: Gays can be in relationships but not marry"
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Thank you for doing this story! This woman should not call herself a DEM anymore. All NM DEMS should know about her, and take her seat from her in the next election. Truly out of touch.
Well, if Garcia doesn’t believe in marriage then SHE shoud be in one but she shouldn’t have the right to tell others they can’t!
Please remember that is New Mexico’s position to recognize marriages from other states even if the members are first cousins or the same sex. I suggest to my fellow queer New Mexicans that Washington state is a great place to go and get married…. Do not forget to spend lots of money in those states that will allow us to marry and for goodness sake do NOT spend your honeymoon money here at home!
A slight plurality does not get a constitutional amendment passed in NM… not even close. The fact is, there is a huge social conservative demographic here, (D) or (R). Yes, the same folks that would probably put Jerome Block and Manny Aragon back in office would also block civil unions. It’s NM. Used to be 49th in stupid legislatures, ahead of Louisiana. Not anymore.