Let’s push lawmakers for GLBT equality in New Mexico

Editor,

I write to you with the hope that together we can support members of the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender (GLBT) community in its pursuit for equality.

I can no longer sit around and watch my GLBT brothers and sisters’ suffering. Although it should not matter, I am a straight ally. Time after time, I have witnessed utter cruelty to GLBT members, and now it is the time for all of us to stand up against the repression they face.

The illegal injunctions and lack of freedom GLBT people are facing in 2011 is absurd.

It is ridiculous to think that in a country that promotes basic freedom, we find such an apparent stripping of rights. Homosexual people pay the same amount of taxes, go to the same schools and shop at the same stores, yet are not receiving the same rights as heterosexual people.

Bigotry and homophobia are still apparent in New Mexico. Gay and lesbian people deserve the right to be able to make life-long commitments of love. Denying homosexuals the freedom to marry is unethical and demoralizing. There is no specific prohibition against the marriage of two same-sex people, but if we do not act now that will change.

The New Mexico Bill of Rights seems to favor same-sex marriages, but Gov. Susana Martinez insists that she will fight against marriage equality.
New Mexico lawmakers are introducing four bills to ban gay marriage:
• A bill to define marriage as a heterosexual union in New Mexico.
• Sen. William Sharer is backing a bill that would define marriage as between one man and one woman.
• A bill to ban the state from recognizing the out-of-state marriages of gay couples.
• Rep. Nora Espinoza is backing a ban on gay marriage with a constitutional amendment.
We must push against right-wing lawmakers in Congress who support inequality in New Mexico. Gov. Martinez made false promises to unite New Mexicans, but we don’t need a governor to unite us.

We can unite together now in support of the GLBT community.

I have united more than 100 New Mexicans so far in my pursuit for equality. I have decided to not affiliate with a specific group in the hope that New Mexicans can see that making a change starts with the individual. If a 21-year-old woman can push to fight for equality, anyone can.

Homosexuals deserve the right to safety and happiness just like heterosexuals.
Please join me for a protest against the inequality of the GLBT community.

Brittany Renee Arneson
UNM student