New Mexico State senate defeats domestic partnership bill

[t0dd]

A bill which would have allowed same-sex couples to file as domestic partners in New Mexico has failed 17-25 in the state senate.

It makes me sick how often bills that seek to give even the most minimal rights to gays and lesbians are often thrown out by the most unjustifiable means. I really thought New Mexico was better than this. Oh, and check out how many democrats voted against the bill.


Read more here: http://www.currentargus.com/ci_11795907

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The bill by Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque, failed 17-25, with 10 Democrats joining all 15 Republicans in opposition.
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Immediately after the vote, several supporters gathered outside of the Capitol. Many were visibly shaken and shedding tears. Some speakers vowed to come back with another bill next year. "We have to tell the legislators we are not second-class citizens," said Chris Salas of Albuquerque. "We will be back every year."

[bluedawg12]

1. We keep putting these human rights bills up for a majority vote on our damned rights

and State after State they fall, or stall or die.

This strategy is not working, maybe it's time to look at ways to enforce laws and sue these bigots?

There has got to be some answer out there.

[dickthegrouch]

2. Which part of "Land of the Free" don't these people understand?

I am doubly angry at the dems who voted against.

Part of our problem, however, is that very few of us knew this vote was even up for consideration, far less that it was to be today.
If we've learned anything at all from the recent debacles on both popular votes and legislative bills it's that we need to get as many of our supporters on board as possible by makng as much noise as possible. It is TOO LATE to make noise afterwards.

Show these bastards the ad on youtube about the guy asking everyone in the country for his girl's hand in marriage. As Sean Penn intimated, shame them into doing the right thing if they won't do it of their own accord.

[sui generis]

3. well that's where playing nice will get you

when we play the pity card, nobody gives a shit. We really need to stop doing that.

Live your rights. Don't wait for them to be handed to you - and tell anyone who asks if the law invalidates your life then the law is meaningless. I intend to break it often and hard.

[bluedawg12]

4. They glomed on to this trick of using the popular vote for human rights

demonstrating yet again, the tyranny of the majority. Hell, even + 1% can get them over a hurdle just enough to kill any human rights legislation.

[Hermit Extrovert]

7. Exactly!

I just left New Mexico - in my opinion the attitude of the queer community in Albuquerque left a lot to be desired.
They had this "protest" about Prop 8, which was, as far as I could tell, run by straight kids at the local college.
They sent me a preparatory email which instructed us to "not be too loud or raise our voices". At a protest?? WTF??
It also instructed us not to write anything on signs that might be upsetting to religious types.

When pressed about it, these "organizers" informed me that -

1. This was not a "queer issue". (Ain't that a gem?)
2. We all needed to shut up and not be too loud or cantankerous because we'd offend the religious types that they needed to pass their blessed domestic partnership bill.

I told them that separate was not equal and that they were a bunch of ass-kissing wimps.

As can be expected, they sent me a nastygram, saying if I had seen their little demonstration, I would have seen a "good example of peaceful protest" - as if I were a violent maniac for wanting a sign that made fun of Mormons for having many wives or some such thing. I looked at the "protest" pictures - those people looked like zombies.
Oklahoma did a better job of protesting Prop 8!

It may make me sound like an asshole, but I'm not surprised at all that the bill failed.

They weren't getting a minute or my time or a dollar of my money if they weren't willing to fight for full equality.

[Maven]

5. 10 DEMOCRATS joined with 15 Republicans to oppose it?

THAT'S FUCKING SHAMEFUL.

[mitchtv]

6. time to vote third party in certain districts

or write in, or leave it blank I know this will bring flame but YOU DON'T VOTE AGAINST YOUR INTERESTS. These dems should be targeted