Pojoaque woman 'was a trailblazer for marriage equality'

Source: The Santa Fe New MexicanNov.文件倉 12--Jennifer Martin Neuman-Roper, who while suffering from terminal brain cancer won an emergency court order that allowed her to marry her longtime partner during a cascade of same-sex weddings in New Mexico this summer, died on Friday. She was 44.Her death certificate is the first in the state in which another woman, Angelique Neuman-Roper, is listed as the spouse of a deceased female.The New Mexico chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which announced her death Monday on its website, had sought an emergency court order allowing Jen Roper to marry while her health was rapidly deteriorating.The Pojoaque couple held an impromptu service in August in the lobby of the Christus St. Vincent Cancer Center on Aug. 21, even though a larger case on the legality of same-sex marriage in New Mexico hasn't been resolved. The couple then had a more formal ceremony with family and friends in October in Pojoaque."Angelique and I have been married in our hearts for 21 years and raised three wonderful children together," Roper told The New Mexican in August. "Because of my illness, we do not have the luxury of waiting years for the courts to decide whether loving, committed same-sex couples can marry in New Mexico. For us, the time is now."Not until five days later, on Aug. 26, did a Second Judicial District jud存倉e rule that Bernalillo and Santa Fe counties must immediately begin allowing same-sex couples to marry. The Neuman-Ropers are listed among six plaintiffs in the case, captioned Griego v. Oliver, now on appeal to the state Supreme Court.Jennifer Neuman-Roper is survived by her wife and sons Jayms, David and Damion. Family members were not available for comment on Monday.In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the Jen Roper Memorial Fund at the Los Alamos National Bank for scholarships to youth attending the Pueblo of Pojoaque Boys & Girls Club.A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Nov. 18 at Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church in Espa隳la."We are deeply saddened by the news of Jen Neuman-Roper's passing," said ACLU-New Mexico Executive Director Peter Simonson. "She was a beloved member of her community, a loving mother and wife, and a trailblazer for marriage equality in New Mexico. Her participation in the New Mexico freedom to marry case helped open the door for thousands of same-sex couples to celebrate their love and commitment in marriage here in our state. She will be missed."Contact Tom Sharpe at 986-3080 or tsharpe@sfnewmexican.com.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 The Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe, N.M.) Visit The Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe, N.M.) at .santafenewmexican.com Distributed by MCT Information Services儲存