New Mexico Has Gay Pride

By Alan Kleinfeld, 6-12-06

	Caption: Pride Fest, 6/11/06 Courtesy, Democracy for New Mexico

New Mexico has made the top of another "best of" list. With the recent Forbes #1 ranking for business, it’s nice to see more positive survey results. This time we tie with New York state for tolerance, and in particular for the rights of gays and lesbians to marry. The survey was conducted in part by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

I wasn't all that surprised that our live and let live attitude has been recognized. If it’s one thing New Mexico has tons of it is acceptance. In 2004, the Urban Institute Press, out of Washington, DC, ranked Albuquerque in the top 10 cities with high concentrations of same-sex households. Yes, that’s right. Little ol’ Albuquerque ranked 8th among cities like San Fran, Seattle, New York, Austin, Los Angeles and Atlanta.

So it was no surprise to me that New Mexico got a top ranking for accepting the idea of marriages of same-sex domestic partners. Our state constitution defines marriage as an act between two people. Let’s hope for the civil rights of everyone that it stays that way.

The whole gay marriage debate boggles my mind. To deny a group (any group) that right is nothing short of plain and simple discrimination. Why would anyone want to support hate? I've never figured it out. Growing up a New Mexican must have left an impression on me that you are what you are, whether that's gay, Hispanic, Indian, African American or Anglo or some combination thereof. No big deal.

In current times, what other group is not allowed to marry? White can marry black. Jews can marry gentiles. In some states (can you say Mississippi?) a man can marry his cousin. Or even all of his cousins. Ironically, it’s in these states that the idea of gay marriage ranks at the bottom of the survey.

As for the religious reasons against gay marriage, I just can’t give it any consideration. Until the bible beaters take everything in the bible as literally as the gay issues, then it’s not worth wasting time on. That means no more pork, no more hair cuts, no more leather shoes, no more mixed race marriage, no mixed clothing and let’s not forget no more lies, murder and infidelity. Besides, nowhere in the bible does Jesus himself say homosexuality is a bad thing.

But our commander in chief (who I don’t believe is as religious as he claims, but feels he has to pander to his base voters) says marriage should be between one man and one woman. Someone better tell Siegfried and Roy!

I think some people envy gays and lesbians. Most gay couples I know have stronger relationships and are more faithful than many straight couples I know. One straight female friend has been married six times. And she's not even 50 years old. She could easily fit in another half dozen and society wouldn’t begrudge her. At least not too much.

Of my gay friends, they have been in longer monogamous relationships. I bet you didn’t know that Raymond Burr, of Ironsides and Perry Mason fame, was gay and lived with his domestic partner for 35 years, until Burr’s death in 1993. For him, it was just part of everyday life.

From an economic standpoint, Republicans (who I occasionally think of as the money grubbing party) should be pushing for gay marriage. When the boys can marry, you know they’ll be shakin’ some serious groove, going all out for food, décor, attire, honeymoons, and limos, not to mention all the bling. There will be more trips planned, more hotel rooms booked, more taxis used and cars rented. Can you imagine all the hers and hers Subaru wagons?

But economics aside, isn’t it just fair to let whomever marry whomever? When we generally make the top of so many bad lists (drop out rate, teen pregnancy, poverty), it’s not just nice to hear of our state’s acceptance and tolerance. It’s fabulous!
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