Two same-sex couples who were denied marriage licenses in Bernalillo County, New Mexico are suing in state court, seeking a marriage license and an injunction stopping the county clerk from refusing to grant same-sex couples marriage licenses.
The American Civil Liberties Union and National Center for Lesbian Rights are co-counsel in the lawsuit. The couples, according to an ACLU news release, are Miriam Rand, 63, and Ona Porter, 66; and Rose Griego, 47, and Kim Kiel, 44.
New Mexico has no specific law allowing or banning same-sex couples from marrying. Earlier this week, the ambiguous status of same-sex couples' marriage rights was raised when the Santa Fe city attorney issued an opinion that asserted same-sex couples are allowed to marry.
"Ona and I have been together for over 25 years. Together, we raised children, we took care of our mothers when they were dying and are currently raising our granddaughter. We are family. We love and care for one another through good times and bad. We want our community to recognize our love and commitment for what it is – a marriage," Rand said in a news release announcing the lawsuit.