Santa Fe Mayor David Coss and three city councilors are taking their first formal step to push state officials to recognize same-sex marriage under current New Mexico law.
They're introducing a resolution at Wednesday's city council meeting. The measure is aimed at persuading county clerks across the state to issue marriage licenses and at getting Attorney General Gary King to an issue an opinion on the matter.
A city spokeswoman says a vote on the resolution wasn't expected Wednesday.
Before the meeting, the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement in defense of marriage. The bishops say it's a "life-long bond between one man and one woman."
The proposed resolution contends New Mexico's statutory definition of marriage is gender-neutral and doesn't define marriage as between a man and a woman.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.