They've been talking a lot about it in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, but Las Cruces took action. Doña County Clerk, Lynn Ellins, said:
he has been considering issuing licenses since last June, when New Mexico Attorney General Gary King issued a position paper stating that New Mexico's ban on issuing marriage licenses to same-gender couples is unconstitutional.
According to the Las Cruces Sun-News article, attorneys representing same-sex couples took their case to the New Mexico Supreme Court. The Court didn't rule, sending the cases back to the lower courts. Ellins said:
"I am an attorney, and I have read the AG's opinion, and I find it to be sound. After careful review of New Mexico's laws it is clear that the state's marriage statutes are gender neutral and do not expressly prohibit Doña Ana County from issuing marriage licenses to same-gender couples. Any further denial of marriage licenses to these couples violates the United States and New Mexico Constitution and the New Mexico Human Rights Act. Doña Ana County is upholding New Mexico law by issuing these marriage licenses, and I see no reason to make committed couples in Doña Ana County wait another minute to marry."
I feel really Happy in New Mexico today.