Hundreds of militant lesbian, gay, bi
and transgender youth poured into the streets of Albuquerque on March
5 to protest attempts by right-wing New Mexico Governor Susana
Martinez and her supporters to end the state’s current progressive
policies on same-sex marriage and civil unions. New Mexico currently
has no legislation or constitutional mandate defining marriage as
only between a man and a woman. The state also recognizes the
validity of out-of-state same-sex marriages and provides certain
protections under the law for same-sex couples living in New Mexico.
At one point the demonstrators took
over a major intersection, blocking traffic chanting, “Gay,
straight, Black white—Marriage is a civil right!”
and “L-G-B-T, we demand equality!”
Right-wing forces in New Mexico are
planning to introduce legislation that would define
marriage as a union only between a man and a woman and eliminate
civil rights for same-sex couples. The Martinez administration’s main
focus, since her election, has been to target both LGBT rights and to
attack immigrants by attempting to overturn progressive
legislation protecting the rights of undocumented workers, such as
the ability to obtain driver’s licenses.
Chris DeBonis, an Albuquerque organizer
for the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), led
the chanting as the march moved up and down Central Avenue. “We’re
sending a message,” he said, “to Gov. Martinez and her
right-wing backers that we will not back down in our fight for the
rights of same-sex couples to full protection under the law,
including the right to marry. This issue will be decided here in the
streets, not in the Governor’s mansion. United, we say no to bigotry
and full equality for all!”
