The Courage Campaign has initiated a vote by vote, Senator by Senator plan to ultimately repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, aka DOMA. Just yesterday they zeroed in on New Mexico: they are now asking New Mexico's Senators for their support. And, just as Kossacks helped with Wisconsin, Kossacks from New Mexico (and from the rest of the United States!) can help by making their voices heard and their emails read by the state's Senators.
Here's how the campaign has unfolded so far:
Once S.598, the Respect For Marriage Act, was introduced by Senator Feinstein and multiple co-sponsors, the Courage Campaign's first ask was Senator Klobuchar of Minnesota, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee who quickly said she would support the repeal bill. I even got a letter from her:
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on DOMA. This is an important and personal issue and I appreciate having the benefit of your comments. I support repealing DOMA... Thank you for taking the time to contact me.
Sincerely,
Amy Klobuchar
Ten votes are needed from Senate Judiciary members to get this repeal legislation voted out of that committee. With eight of those votes co-sponsoring the bill and Senator Klobuchar, that left Senator Kohl of Wisconsin. With help from Kossacks (Part I -- Wisconsin), Courage Campaign members from the Badger State and others sent over 1000 messages to their Senator, and on April 14th he become a co-sponsor of S.598, along with Senator Harkin of Iowa.
Now it's time to add two more Senators to the growing tally.
Here's New Mexico's Senators' contact information, including their Washington phone numbers and addresses, email links, and some local office phone numbers and local office addresses.
JEFF BINGAMAN
NEW MEXICO
202-224-5521
email
703 Hart Senate Office Bldg. United States Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510
800-443-8658 505-346-6601
Suite 130, 625 Silver Avenue, SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
TOM UDALL
NEW MEXICO
202-224-6621
email
110 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington DC, 20510
505-346-6791 575-526-5475 505-988-6511
219 Central Ave NW Suite 210, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Please contact them, ask them to support S.598, the Respect for Marriage Act, and if you call, please let us all know in the comments how it went.
You can also sign the Courage Campaign's letter to them here.
It will take a long time -- probably years -- to get DOMA repealed. But a journey of 60 Senate and 218 House miles begins with the single steps of individual members of Congress.