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Category Archives: New Mexico

Audio Recording Reveals: Stylist Urged Others to Boycott Governor Martinez Over Her Marriage Views

More on this incident via the Los Angeles Times:

The spat between New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez and a Santa Fe hair stylist has gotten as ugly as – dare we say it? – a lousy haircut.

Earlier this week, KOB-TV ran an interview with Antonio Darden, who has cut the Republican governor’s hair a handful of times. Darden, who is gay, announced he would never do so again unless Martinez dropped her opposition to gay marriage.

The spectacle of the stylist's protest worked the Internet into, well, a lather. (The story lends itself to all sorts of goofy puns.)

So Martinez’s office spent Thursday fighting back.

A few months ago, Martinez needed a haircut on short notice, spokesman Greg Blair told The Times in an email. One of her staffers called about half a dozen hair stylists, including Darden, before finding one who could fit her in. At the time, Darden didn’t utter a word about gay marriage, Blair said.

That changed in recent weeks, when Darden left a voice mail that the governor’s office released to reporters Thursday. In it, Darden appears to have recently learned that Martinez opposed gay marriage, and said he was “upset and distraught” over her stance.

Then Darden mentioned a recent controversy in which a Democratic lawmaker referred to Martinez as “the Mexican” for whom a colleague had been “carrying water.” (The lawmaker later apologized.)

“I do believe the comment about ‘taking the Mexican some water’ was appropriate, since she wants to be attacking the gay people,” Darden said in the message. “You may pass this on and let her listen to it. And, Susana, if you are listening to it, shame on you.

“I am going to let all gay people know,” he continued, “stop serving you, stop providing you with what you need.”

It’s unclear what prompted Darden’s phone call.

Video: Stylist Refuses to Cut New Mexico Governor's Hair Over SSM Opposition

RawStory:

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez’s (R) opposition to same-sex marriage has led to her stylist refusing to cut her hair ever again unless she changes her stance.

According to KOB-TV in Albuquerque, Antonio Darden declined to work on Martinez’s hairdo after cutting her hair three times previously. Darden, who runs Antonio’s Hair Studio in Sante Fe, said Martinez’s office repeatedly called to schedule another appointment with him only to be denied.

...Darden added: “I think it’s just equality, dignity for everyone. I think everybody should be allowed the right to be together. My partner and I have been together for 15 years.”

Martinez has stated that she believes marriage is between a man and a woman only.

Why Doesn't Obama Come Out? New Polling in Key Battleground States Holds the Answer

Public Policy Polling -- a Democrat polling firm that we've talked about before -- is asking questions in key states for the 2012 election, including what their voters thing about marriage.

FLORIDA
"Do you think same-sex marriage should be legal or illegal?" (July 6th)
Illegal: 53%
Legal: 37%
Unsure: 10%

NEW MEXICO
"Do you think same-sex marriage should be legal or illegal?" (July 5th)
Illegal: 48%
Legal: 42%
Unsure: 10%
(Democrats outnumber Republicans 51-32 in New Mexico)

Video: New Mexicans Rally to Support Marriage!

Marriage proponents gathered in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Valentine's Day to promote marriage this week, and to support laws aimed at keeping families "strong and together." Preserving marriage they said would "help curb crime and save the state hundreds of thousands of dollars."

Video from KOAT Action 7 News Albuquerque, NM (KOAT.com)

Pro-marriage votes in 2012

The Daily Times:

A legislator has filed a bill to overturn the New Mexico policy that recognizes same-sex marriages.

[Rep. David] Chavez also has proposed a state constitutional amendment that would put the question of same-sex marriage before New Mexico voters in the 2012 general election.