In the Senate Judiciary Committee, a domestic partnership bill was halted in a tied vote on Feb. 9.
The bill would allow same-sex and opposite-sex unmarried partners to be eligible for many of the same rights as married couples. It needed a majority vote by committee members in order for it to move to the Senate floor but was split in a five-to-five deadlock.
Gov. Bill Richardson has supported the bill since last year when it was presented.
Under the domestic partnership legislation, individuals could be included in their partners' medical coverage health insurance plans. Also, they could legally take family medical leave to care for a partner who is sick, earn property rights in a partner's pension and have inheritance rights.
Stephen Dinkel, a radio host on New Mexico's 1050 AM, said the bill is a distraction for the state's lawmakers who have more substantial issues, such as the economic crisis, to address.
"I believe that the homosexual population or group has their own distinct rights, so they should have their own (form of) marriage," Dinkel said. "Marriage in my opinion is made for a man and a woman."
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Andrew Turner, co-chairman of UNM's Queer Straight Alliance, said he supports the bill because it would be one more step toward equality for gays.
He said that the bill would be a great way to put New Mexico on the map but that if it does not pass it would be a huge blow to the community.
"I guess a lot of opposition is against gay marriage, but this bill is not the same because the federal government already doesn't recognize gay marriage anyway," Turner said. "But I don't think (the bill) would do any harm to New Mexico. I know that there are other bills trying to eliminate this bill and make the bill a different sort of contractual agreement, but I firmly believe that the domestic partnership bill is the way to go for New Mexico."
QSA co-chairwoman Brandy Rodke said she would like to see the bill pass, but that could still be a long way off.
"I like to think of myself as a feminist, and I think that the bill is better than same-sex marriage even though the bill is pretty much the same as same-sex marriage, which is why I believe people aren't willing to accept it," Rodke said. "We are just trying to get equal rights, but we are obviously going to fight for it in order to get there."
