New Mexico House Passes Civil Unions Legislation

In marked contrast to the shameful behavior of Democratic Governor Chet Culver in Iowa, who is pushing for an anti gay marriage amendment in his state, Democratic Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, lately retired from the presidential race, is pushing for civil unions legislation there that would allow partners hospital visitation rights, shared insurance coverage, inheritance rights, and responsibilities for child support, visitation, and custody in the case of divorce.

It's a refreshing change, seeing a Democrat stand up for the rights of the people instead of the rights of corporations, and makes up for his gaffe during the LOGO gay and lesbian presidential debate, when he answered that he thought being gay was a choice (he later said that he'd misunderstood the question).

That mistake notwithstanding, Richardson has one of the most pro-gay records of any of the Presidential candidates this time around, and we're sad he couldn't make more of a go of it.

The New Mexico House just passed the civil unions legislation for the second time in a year, at the urging of Governor Richardson.

Governor Richardson isn't the only hero in this story - Representative Antonio Maestas said: "Is this bill contrary to God, contrary to marriage?  And the answer is no. Not a single married couple in this state will get divorced because of this bill. Not a single couple that is engaged . . . will cancel that wedding as a result of this bill. Not a single straight person will become gay as a result of this bill."

Finally, another Democrat stands up to all the malarkey and mud slinging that surrounds the gay marriage debate, and does his part to wash the slate clean.

Next step, the New Mexico State Senate will vote on the measure.  A similar measure failed in the Senate in 2007.  Its fate there this year is uncertain, but we can only hope that they, too, will stand up and do the right thing.

At the very least, it puts the actions of Chet Culver and the Democratic Party in Iowa to shame, and gives the rest of us reason to hope for the future.

--Scott