FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | January 05, 2011

NCLR Commends New Mexico Attorney General for Opinion on Marriage Recognition

Statement by NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell

(San Francisco, CA, January 05, 2011)—New Mexico Attorney Gary King released an opinion on January 4, 2011 concluding that marriages between same-sex couples validly entered in other states or countries would be honored in New Mexico. New Mexico law generally provides that the state will recognize valid out-of-state marriages, even if the marriage would not have been permitted under New Mexico’s own marriage laws. The Attorneys General of Maryland and New York have issued similar opinions holding that those states will honor marriages entered by same-sex couples in other states, although neither Maryland or New York currently permit same-sex couples to marry. Five states, the District of Columbia, and 10 countries currently permit same-sex couples to marry.

A statement by NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell:

“We are grateful to Attorney General King for publishing this considered and carefully researched opinion, which clarifies that New Mexico will apply the same rules to same-sex couples who marry in other jurisdictions that it applies to all other out-of-state marriages. We salute New Mexico for its commitment to treating all families fairly and for supporting the ability of loving, committed couples to protect themselves and their families. Attorney General King’s opinion provides much needed clarity to the public, to businesses, and to government agencies on this important issue.”

The Attorney General’s opinion is available online here.

The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education.
www.nclrights.org.

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