Santa Fe elects first openly gay mayor

Santa Fe mayor-elect Javier Gonzales

Santa Fe has elected it's first gay mayor - from a field that included a second openly gay candidate.

With his two young daughters and other family members by his side, Gonzales, 47, was greeted by a mob of cheering supporters when he walked into a packed ballroom at the Hotel Santa Fe, many of whom he hugged and kissed as he made his way to the stage.

“This campaign was never about me. It was about us,” he told a jubilant crowd.

Gonzales made history as the city’s first openly gay mayor and will preside over a City Council on which two of the eight members are openly gay women — mayoral opponent Patti Bushee and newly elected Signe Lindell.

He said the race was won by a grass-roots campaign that brought together a cross section of Santa Fe.

“I stand before you humbled. I stand you before standing on the shoulders of people like Mayor Coss and my father and so many who have been before in this position to say that I am ready to accept the responsibility and the honor of being your mayor,” he said, referring to outgoing Mayor David Coss and his father, former Mayor George Gonzales.

Santa Fe is one of my favorite cities in the world. It doesn't surprise me that a place so welcoming to everyone would so easily elect an openly gay family man.

Next time you consider a vacation spot, treat yourself to Santa Fe. The landscape, the art, the food, the people all make the trip worthwhile.

Santa Fe mayoral candidate Javier Gonzalez comes out

Javier Gonzalez, a former state Democratic Party chairman, former Santa Fe County commissioner, and current Santa Fe mayoral candidate, came out of the closet in a blog post on Wednesday.


Wrote Gonzalez, in part:

When a Bishop named Jorge from Buenos Aires took the name Francis, he made an immediate connection with Santa Fe. But when Pope Francis visited Brazil recently, he spoke directly to me, when he said, “who am I to judge?”

You see, when you come from a traditional family with deep roots in this community, the process of accepting that you are gay is complicated with fears about disappointing those you love, or becoming disconnected with a sense of place that is as much a part of me as my sexuality.

Growing up in this town, I felt myself fully embraced by la herencia, the traditional ways that defined the history of Santa Fe. Much of it is beautiful, a celebration of family, a spirit of community, a sense of obligation to those who came before us and responsibility to those who come after us. Knowing you are a part of a continuum gives a young person a sense of place and a sense of pride. These are all gifts I hope to pass on to my two daughters.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the reaction to his coming out was well received by followers on social media.

“Based on the reaction today, it reflects the beauty of our families in Northern New Mexico to accept our sons and daughters for who they are,” Gonzales said, adding that it’s shown him “it is important for people to step out and to stand up and be proud of who they are and to be able to share it with their community.”

Gonzalez is one of two openly gay candidates for the office of mayor, and supports legalization of same-sex marriage.

(source)

New Mexico: Santa Fe county approves resolution in support of marriage equality

Santa Fe County Officials just voted to support marriage equality in the state. While the resolution doesn't legalize same-sex marriage, it makes a strong statement about the county's position on the subject.

From SDGLN:

The Santa Fe County Commission, with near unanimous support, approved a resolution Tuesday that supports both marriage equality in New Mexico and a recent decision by the Santa Fe county clerk to deny two men a marriage license - an action that's made her the subject of a lawsuit. Commissioner Liz Stefanics said the resolution puts the County Commission "on the record as supporting same-sex marriage" and sends a message "that we wish the state Supreme Court to rule and make this matter clear for all the people here in our state."

New Mexico has no law on the books specifically allowing or banning marriage equality.

Santa Fe: City Council approves resolution in support of marriage equality

The Sante Fe city council last night passed a resolution by a vote of 5-3 supporting same-sex marriage:

There was a standing room-only crowd for the vote. The Santa Fe Fire Department had to bar the doors before the meeting started, leaving many to watch the proceedings from the hallway.

Many in attendance wore red to symbolize their support for marriage equality. Others sported yellow stickers, representing the Equality New Mexico organization, or pink felt hearts that said “All Families Matter.” A smaller group held pictures of the Virgin of Guadalupe or wore stickers that said “Life and Family are Sacred.”

No public testimony was permitted before the vote. The resolution, which passed by a 5-3 vote (including two abstentions), doesn’t have any effect on state rules and practices.

Sante Fe Mayor David Coss recently declared that there in nothing in state law that bars LGBT residents from marrying. City Attorney Geno Zamora argued in a memo this spring that the definition of marriage in New Mexico’s statutes is gender-neutral. “Since New Mexico does not define marriage as between a man and a woman, and since New Mexico does not prohibit same-sex marriage, same-sex marriage is permitted in New Mexico,” he wrote.

In a 2011 opinion, state Attorney General Gary King said that New Mexico must consider valid all same-sex marriage licenses granted in other states, just the way it honors other marriage licenses.

You do see where this is going, don't you?

Happy dance time, kids...