LAS CRUCES, N.M. — A southern New Mexico county clerk who is facing a challenge for his decision to issue same-sex marriage licenses has garnered close to $30,000 in donations.
Gay and lesbian couples flocked to southern New Mexico when Doña Ana County Clerk Lynn Ellins announced on August 21 that his office was now issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Dona Ana County Clerk Lynn Ellins has received more than 575 donations totaling more that $29,000.
That’s about 75 percent of the estimated $40,000 goal Ellins says will be needed to defend against a lawsuit filed by a group of state Republican legislators who’ve challenged in court his issuing of marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples.
Last week, Ellins’ office started requesting legal defense donations, starting at $5.
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Ellins says he “felt it was inappropriate” to use county resources to pay the legal fees, because the case involves polarizing topics.
Ellins issued the first licenses to same-sex couples on Aug. 21. He says around 225 licenses have been dispersed to date.
Donations for Ellins’ defense fund are being accepted here.
