A bill that would have allowed same-sex couples access to domestic partnerships in New Mexico failed last week in the state Senate. According to the Sante Fe New Mexican, 10 Democrats and all of the body’s Republicans voted against the bill, which failed 17 to 25.
The New Mexico state Senate Judiciary Committee voted 6 to 5 two weeks ago to move the bill to a floor vote in the state Senate. It would have provided same-sex couples with the legal rights and benefits of marriage under state law. According to the Associated Press, the bill was stalled in committee early in February and failed in the state Senate Judiciary Committee last year after a similar measure passed the New Mexico state House in that legislative session.
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson told the Sante Fe New Mexican that “I’m disappointed by the Senate’s actions today in defeating what is fundamentally an issue of civil rights and equality.”