The Roundhouse in Santa Fe (Photo by Peter St. Cyr)
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Diane Denish supports a domestic partner benefits law, while her Republican opponent, Susana Martinez, does not.
That’s according to The New Mexico Independent, which asked both candidates what they think about the issue. From the Independent’s article:
“Martinez is frank in explaining why she doesn’t support domestic partnerships.
“‘I don’t think it is necessary. It is not a law I would sign,’ Martinez said last week.”
Opponents of a domestic partnership law argue that state law already gives same-sex couples the rights they need to “plan inheritances, make end-of-life decisions for partners and do all the other things that spouses do for one another,” the Independent reported.
Supporters of such a law, like Denish, disagree. From the article:
“‘This is not just about eliminating discrimination and doing what’s right, it’s also about economics,’ Denish spokesman Chris Cervini said this week. ‘Domestic partnerships allow adults in committed relationships to plan inheritances, make health-care decisions and build wealth together. During these difficult times, we should be encouraging families to build and accrue wealth.’”