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Three More Couples Join ACLU Same Sex Marriage Lawsuit Against New Mexico

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Advocates of same sex marriage are celebrating the US Supreme Court's ruling today that the federal Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional.

Meanwhile, the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has added three more couples, for a total of five, to a same sex marriage lawsuit against the state of New Mexico.

Peter Simonson is the Executive Director of the ACLU-New Mexico. "Our case is asking the court to rule on the constitutional question," he says, "of whether or not same sex couples can be discriminated against based on their sexual orientation."

Simonson says there will likely be a trial this year and that the case might be decided by the New Mexico Supreme Court within several years.

The state Attorney General recently refused to issue an opinion on whether same sex marriage is legal in New Mexico, saying state law was not clear on the issue.  

Elaine Baumgartel was KUNM's News Director from 2013 to 2019. She was local Morning Edition host from 2007 through 2012 and she regularly hosted the station's live news and public affairs show for some years. Elaine originally came on board at KUNM as a volunteer and student employee in 2003.