On Friday, August 23rd, Mayor Coss, Councilor Patty Bushee and City Attorney Geno Zamora witnessed the
marriage of nine same-sex couples exchanging their vows at the Santa Fe County
Commission Chambers. Thanks to Judge Sarah Singleton who issued a writ of
Mandamus, County Clerk Geraldine Salazar announced that at 2:00 p.m. Friday she
would begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex applicants. Hearing the
announcement, couples flocked to the Santa Fe County Clerk’s office to get their
marriage licenses.
Mayor Coss
also served as a witness on two of the marriage licenses. He signed the license
for Howard K. Rogers and Jerry D. Permenter, both of Santa Fe and Krista Turner
from Albuquerque and Lisa Hunsicker from Denver, Colorado who got married today
in a joint wedding with seven other couples. The nine couples were married today
by ministers Talitha Arnold and Brandon Johnson of United Church of Santa
Fe.
“This is an
incredibly emotional day in Santa Fe. I am humbled to think of the lives
affected and the thousands of people who will finally gain equal rights. The
tide of justice is washing over the State of New Mexico and the United States of
America and I am so happy to be able to witness this historic
shift.
I want to
thank everyone in Santa Fe for their hard work and continued push for what is
right and what is just. I want to congratulate all local newlyweds and those
planning to marry. I also want to welcome couples getting married to Santa Fe. I
am asking our staff to put together a special celebratory package at our
convention center and I look forward to weddings there and throughout the
community of Santa Fe. This is truly a day to celebrate.”
Mayor David
Coss and Councilor Patti Bushee announced on March 19, that they were sponsoring
a Resolution expressing support for gay marriage in New Mexico and encouraging
County Clerks to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Later, Councilors
Chris Calvert and Ronald Trujillo signed on as co-sponsors of the Resolution
that was introduced at a City Council meeting on March 27. Resolution 13-44
passed on July 31, 2013.
“Today,
marriage law in New Mexico was recognized as gender neutral by the courts,” said
Geno Zamora, City Attorney. Our brothers, sisters and neighbors have been found
to be equal under our state’s constitution.”
In a written
opinion, dated, March 19, 2013, City Attorney Geno Zamora discussed the fact
that New Mexico’s statutory definition of marriage is gender-neutral and does
not define marriage as between a man and a woman. Nor does New Mexico law
prohibit same-sex marriage. Therefore, same-sex couples are capable of
contracting within the law and capable of marrying in the State of New Mexico.
Marriage Ceremony, Friday, Aug. 23
Pictured left to right, Krista Turner,
Mayor David Coss, and Lisa Hunsicker
Left to right, Mayor David Coss, Jerry
D. Permenter and Howard K. Rogers
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