New Mexico: Former Attorney General Patricia Madrid pens op-ed in favor of marriage equality

Former Attorney General of New Mexico, Patricia Madrid, has penned an op-ed for the Albuquerque Journal in support of marriage equality as the state Supreme Court mulls over it's decision.

Ms. Madrid closes with this:

"Some will recall that as attorney general, I stopped the Rio Rancho county clerk from issuing marriage licenses. But that had nothing to do with the constitutionality of same-sex marriage and everything to do with individual county clerks acting on their own without the law behind them.

"I applaud the clerks for asking for a swift resolution by the state Supreme Court of the current checkerboard, where some counties grant marriage licenses and others do not.

"While I’m hopeful the state Supreme Court will grant marriage equality in New Mexico, I believe that is where the issue should be decided. The Legislature should resist any temptation to continue to make marriage a divisive issue.

"New Mexico has always been a land of freedom, of live and let live, and we all try to apply the Golden Rule — to treat others as we want to be treated ourselves.

"To me, that speaks directly to the freedom to marry.

"Marriage has been the cornerstone of my life, and I hope that soon in New Mexico, our gay and lesbian friends, neighbors and family members can have that same mix of celebration and security."