New Mexico: State Supreme Court unanimously rules in favor of marriage equality

The New Mexico Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in the state Thursday, declaring in a unanimous ruling that it is unconstitutional to deny a marriage license to gay and lesbian couples.

New Mexico becomes the 17th state along with the District of Columbia in allowing gay marriage.

From the State Supreme Court ruling:

Prohibiting same-gender marriages is not substantially related to the governmental interests advanced by the parties opposing same-gender marriage or to the purposes we have identified. Therefore, barring individuals from marrying and depriving them of the rights, protections, and responsibilities of civil marriage solely because of their sexual orientation violates the Equal Protection Clause under Article II, Section 18 of the New Mexico Constitution.

We hold that the State of New Mexico is constitutionally required to allow same-gender couples to marry and must extend to them the rights, protections, and responsibilities that derive from civil marriage under New Mexico law.

From Freedom to Marry:

"The New Mexico Supreme Court did the right thing today by affirming fairness, freedom, and respect for same-sex couples who hope to share in the joy of marriage.

"The clarity of today’s ruling ensures that the freedom to marry, and the protections that come along with it, are guaranteed for loving and committed same-sex couples in the Land of Enchantment."

From the Human Rights Campaign:

“The court is entirely correct that denying lesbian and gay couples the same rights as everyone else is fundamentally unjust,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “Regardless of where you live, all people should have the ability to marry the person they love, and now the legislature must not do anything to turn back the clock in the Land of Enchantment.”

Read the entire decision from the New Mexico State Supreme Court below:

NM Supreme Court marriage opinion