Observations from Joint Session of Senate and House Committees

(These are specifically my own observations and do not reflect talking points of any group)
 
1.       The public debate was carefully orchestrated… You were well represented if you opposed the bill today in the open hearing. The numbers of people opposing the bills unquestionably outnumbered those advocating. However, the debate was arranged so that the last word was given to those advocating the bill.  In fact they were given 45 minutes after the 45 minutes given to opponents. This was important because the strategy used did not allow opponents the opportunity of rebuttal for a number of bogus arguments given by the advocates.

2.      The Domestic Partnership Bill is a distinction without a difference…. In other words the bill is designed to grant to same sex partners all the rights and privileges of marriage while avoiding the politically charged language of ‘marriage.’ This is almost a mocking of the people of New Mexico. Same sex marriage could not stand up to a public referendum and so the bill in a sense is an end run. In the name of fairness it is an attempt to silence the majority of voters in our state.  It is a way of saying if we call a cat a dog you will not notice the litter box. This thing is marriage plain and simple. HOWEVER…

3.      The Senior Adults of our state are being used by the advocates… they paraded one government official after another to the microphone to decry the suffering of our senior citizens who are being denied their rights. How you ask?  The idea  is that if senior adults marry they lose benefits.  However, if they enter a domestic partnership they will be shielded from this ‘devastating’ loss of income. In other words the same sex marriage proponents are riding beneath the cloak seniors to slide this bill by opponents.  Who after all, would deny senior adults of their basic necessities. This is a complete fraud. First of all, they do not know if this kind of legal shenanigans will work in court. You basically have state government trying to deceive federal government in the area of benefits. Second, this bill has a horrifying effect…

4.      The bill gives “special rights” to Domestic Partners over Married couples... based on the arguments that were raised today, every married couple should get a divorce and then enjoin a ‘domestic partnership’ to give themselves a special status since the federal government seems to FAVOR those who are not ‘married.’ SO MUCH for the FALSE IDEA THAT THIS DOES NOT UNDERMINE MARRIAGE.  This bill is a disaster to those who are standing for marriage.

5.      The shift of focus is entirely a ruse for the unwillingness of government to deal with real problems… if senior adults need help with defending their benefits then the Roundhouse occupants should turn their attention to that problem …they have no business sneaking the gay agenda in on the backs of the citizens who would most overwhelming vote against a gay marriage bill.

6.      If this bill passes it will have a ripple effect that no one can yet measure… This bill will lead to laws and courts and government agencies putting their full weight into the implementation of its intent. In other words, the school system will have to write curriculum that undergirds this definition of family. Opponents will be prosecuted and sued on all kinds of discrimination issues. The courts will be clogged with not only the litigation between failed ‘domestic partners’ but with all the litigation that will ensue against private citizens whose religious convictions will not allow them to cooperate with considering domestic partners as married couples. We have not even dreamt of the ways this will unfold. Religious speech could become criminalized if it involves moral condemnation of sexual behaviors.

7.      If domestic partnerships are legalized it will weaken the resolve of those who are struggling with sexual identity.  I can write a book on this subject but you can imagine much of it yourself. This is a real issue of morality we have to open our eyes.
 

To read the bill itself please see attached .pdf below.
 
Alan Hawkins
 
These views represent my private and personal opinions and convictions and not those of any organization … I represent myself alone in writing these things.