A House committee has shelved a proposal to allow voters to decide whether to legalize same-sex marriage.
The Voters and Elections Committee voted 7-to-4 on Thursday to block a constitutional amendment proposed by Democratic Rep. Brian Egolf of Santa Fe.
Two Democrats – Debbie Rodella of Espanola and committee chairwoman Mary Helen Garcia of Las Cruces – joined Republicans in opposing the measure, which would have placed the gay-marriage question on the 2014 general election ballot.
Egolf told the panel, “It’s a shame that people have to come to the Legislature and ask for permission under the law to be treated equally.”
House Speaker Ken Martinez made an impassioned speech for the amendment, at one point weeping as he recounted the struggles of a young gay man who had cut his wrists because of unhappiness.
Rep. Jim Smith, R-Sandia Park, moved to table the proposal, though he said he took no joy in doing so.
Former Democratic Attorney General Patricia Madrid issued an advisory letter in 2004, saying state law limits marriage to a man and a woman.
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