(Updated) Sounds Like GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Allen Weh Supports Domestic Partnerships

Update: The New Mexico Independent will be live blogging Tuesday's Senate Public Affairs Committee - Judiciary Committee hearing on the domestic partnership bill set to start at approximately 2:30 PM.
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Allen Weh, who is perhaps the most conservative of the candidates running for New Mexico Governor on the GOP side, issued a statement via a press release today with the following headline:

Weh opposes legislation that would redefine marriage

He then added:

“The New Mexico Legislature is currently debating certain bills that, if passed, would likely change the way marriage is defined in our state. I believe marriage is the union between one man and one woman, and as Governor would veto any legislation that could be used to redefine it.”

Surprise, Allen! The domestic partnership bill, SB 183, specifically does NOT redefine marriage, and it applies to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples! Even you might be tempted to take advantage of it some day, if certain conditions arise. The bill would help opposite-sex couples, for instance, that might receive lesser Social Security payments if they married, but who want to take advantage of certain legal protections provided by domestic partnerships.

As a matter of fact, the current 800+ page domestic partnership bill contains additions of the words "domestic partner" to every single provision in New Mexico law that contains the word "marriage," so that it's clear domestic partnerships are not considered marriages under the law.

So Allen -- you can now feel free to support the domestic partnership bill and encourage all your fellow conservatives to do the same. The bill in no way does what you are afraid of!

And, speaking of same-sex marriage, you might want to brush up on what one of the leading conservatives in the nation -- prominent attorney Ted Olson -- has to say about it. In fact, I dare you to read his arguments in "The Conservative Case for Gay Marriage" and come up with reasonable arguments that refute the case he makes for same-sex marriage. You never know, even you might someday support equal civil rights under the constitution and civil law for me and my same-sex partner of 20 years.