Republicans file brief against marriage equality in New Mexico

Nearly two dozen current and former Republican legislators are urging New Mexico’s highest court to declare that state law prohibits same-sex marriage.

The Arizona-based Alliance Defending Freedom filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of the legislators with the state Supreme Court in a case that could resolve whether gay marriage is legal in New Mexico.

Gay marriage supporters also filed written arguments with the court on Sept 23.

At issue is an Albuquerque judge’s ruling last month that it’s unconstitutional to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

The Supreme Court plans an Oct. 23 hearing in the case.

The GOP lawmakers said anti-discrimination protections in the state constitution do not provide a legal right to marriage for same-sex couples. The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico and other groups disagree.

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