Susana Martinez, New Mexico Governor, Loses A Hairstylist Over Gay Marriage Stance

WASHINGTON -- The frontiers of the gay marriage debate keep on expanding.

On Tuesday, Governor Susana Martinez (R-N.M.) lost a hairstylist who refused to clip her locks out of disgust with her opposition to marriage equality.

Antonio Darden, who had cut Martinez's hair on three occasions and runs Antonio's Hair Studio in Santa Fe, N.M., re-crafted the notion of civil disobedience when he declined to accept an appointment.

"The governor's aides called not too long ago, wanting another appointment to come in," Darden told a local news station. "Because of her stances and her views on this I told her aides no. They called the next day, asking if I'd changed my mind about taking the governor in and I said no again."

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

Time will tell if this the first salvo in a larger hairstylist revolt or, simply, an isolated incident. Gov. Martinez's shoulder length bob did not return a request for comment.

(Hat Tip: Think Progress)

Comments

[kevin mason2412]

05:33 AM on 04/17/2012

Wow a female Hispanic Republican I never thought I'd see that especially in New Mexico! I wonder does she endorse the same views as Romney and Santorum when it comes to womens healthcare issues!

[Djinn NY]

10:07 PM on 04/13/2012

I have a Bible in my bookshelf. I've also got the Qu'ran, the Bhagvad Gita, Popol Vuh, I Ching, the Kebra Nagast and others. I've always had an interest in Comparative Religion. But if there's a God, and He wants me. He knows where to find where to find me. Until then I will continue trying my best to have compassion and empathy towards others.

[CR90]

02:36 PM on 03/10/2012

So, a hair stylist refuses to service the NM Gov over her gay marriage stance, and he's a hero? WTF? IMO, people in their right mind would call him unprofessional. It's one thing to have a belief and take care of it on your own time, but when you're at work, even if it's your business, you shouldn't let politics interfere. Yes I know there are companies that do this and I usually agree with them. But still, it's one thing to involve politics when it would hinder you to do your job, it's another to just to refuse a service over politics.

[kevin mason2412]

05:19 AM on 04/17/2012

Well in this case it directly involves him personally so he felt it was his right to take a stand. I don't condone homosexuality personally but lets face it, it's here to stay and that won't change I'm in the frame of mind that what doesn't effect me won't hurt me. So if they wanna get married then fine if they don't great.

[lordclane]

10:22 PM on 08/22/2012

Yet, in the same state of New Mexico, a photographer who refused to take photographs of a gay wedding was successfully sued and had to pay damages. Hypocrisy knows no bounds....

[Arron Scott Cook]

09:19 AM on 02/25/2012

Lost her hairstylist? Wow. I heard a mayfly died in Sri Lanka. Earth-shattering.

[karaokekoncerts]

09:05 AM on 02/25/2012

Imagine if ALL gay folks went on strike for a week. Just imagine....

[awesmpwrca]

12:23 AM on 02/25/2012

This guy is on to something...what if all the human souls who just happen to be LGBT, refused to service the hate-mongering beings. I'd say we just found a new 'drumbeat'...

[CR90]

01:55 PM on 03/10/2012

Nice, you endorse a juvenile motion.

[Desertdweller81]

08:08 PM on 04/13/2012

Freedom of speech.
He chooses NOT to have her as a customer - which in many circles would be seen as a privilege... it's a quiet citizen's protest... Nothing juvenile about it...

[dm23nyc]

09:49 PM on 02/24/2012

Take her back as a client and give her a butch cut for spite. Surprise! She deserves it.

[jt121209]

09:37 PM on 02/24/2012

While we are at it...for all those saying gay marriage isn't in the bible--neither is allowing the cutting of hair :
King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.

so can we just upgrade to the new iGod and change with the times??

[Arron Scott Cook]

09:20 AM on 02/25/2012

I'm glad you don't quote out-of-context much.

[jt121209]

09:52 AM on 02/25/2012

It's not out of context.

[Djinn NY]

09:58 PM on 04/13/2012

Heretic! Dost thou deny the word of God?

[chacongeorge]

09:22 PM on 02/24/2012

I am glad she got that. Good call Antonio. I do think that she should be able to go back and get a little boy hair cut.

[PrunellaC]

09:07 PM on 02/24/2012

Dear Gov. Martinez,

Just be glad you don't look like Heather Wilson.

[Arron Scott Cook]

09:23 AM on 02/25/2012

You'll read anything - except the Bible.

[PrunellaC]

12:24 PM on 02/25/2012

There just so happens to be one in my bookcase as we speak. Don't you think HW looks a bit like an alien?

[jt121209]

05:11 PM on 02/24/2012

Religion, Politics and Sex...things you can't talk about at Thanksgiving but can be discussed with your hairstylist lol. I think he may be missing an opportunity to give the gov more of an insight...I am a hairstylist, so I understand how difficult it is to service someone that may have strong beliefs opposite of you-but in the end he is discriminating against her for her beliefs...he has a golden opportunity to educate her and bring her up to speed on what he and his partner desire...

[madchen515]

06:32 PM on 02/24/2012

But, with the arguments being primarily based on a religious stance, it is hard to reason with someone who is not being reasonable themselves.

[jt121209]

08:32 PM on 02/24/2012

you are right...it's a tough call on this one. I'm not sure if she knew he was gay or if he had conversations with her about his life, but if she wasn't governor and felt that way, would he turn her away again?
I tried to flip it around, to say if I had a racist person in my chair-what would I do? Especially because interracial marriages run close to home. I do believe I would stick up for what is right-but in a professional way...if something is said directly to me to offend me-then I have the right to direct them to the door with no further explanation...but truthfully in a professional environment-these are topics we aren't "supposed" to discuss in our field....
also-any argument is difficult if the other person has no sense of reasoning... :-)

[giftsthatpurr]

08:49 PM on 02/24/2012

He is "boycotting" her by refusing to provide service. I would not call that discrimination. It is her stand that discriminates

[jt121209]

09:31 PM on 02/24/2012

I understand what he did-I just think he could've come out on top by doing something different. I think that his reaction - makes her look better in the public light- and that's not the goal we are looking for. He did her hair previous times before this, and now it becomes an issue and makes him look like a bad guy (which he is not). Maybe had he done her hair, and then did an article for Huffington Post on Why is it okay for a homosexual male to specifically be requested for his haircutting services, but it's not okay for him to have equal rights? Why is it okay for him to be homosexual in certain settings and not in every aspect? I think the response may be more overwhelming in his favor.

[CogentThought]

04:52 PM on 02/24/2012

Now she just needs the highway dept. to come in and re-surface her face.

[livelife95]

04:33 PM on 02/24/2012

Even though I'm for gay marriage, honestly, she is entitled to her opinion and him denying her service for not believing in gay marriage is like someone denying a homosexual services for being homosexual.

[Bill Lynn]

05:22 PM on 02/24/2012

Like a marriage service, perhaps? What goes around comes around, honey!

[giftsthatpurr]

08:51 PM on 02/24/2012

She is the governor, and it is not just her single opinion since she is more than influential in proclaiming against civil rights for gays.

[PrunellaC]

03:34 PM on 02/24/2012

"re-crafted the notion of civil disobedience when he declined to accept an appointment."

I wouldn't exactly call this civil disobedience, but I would call it a fine example of a person standing up for his beliefs.

[Godweiser]

03:19 PM on 02/24/2012

Reality check; This woman chose her opinion. Homosexuals do not choose to be homosexual. In short, you are born homosexual, but it's your choice if you want to be an arschloch. And I think that it's fair that businesses can freely choose not to give service to arschlocher.

[Arron Scott Cook]

09:27 AM on 02/25/2012

There are homosexuals that disagree with you. Some claim to have been born straight.

[Godweiser]

10:01 AM on 02/25/2012

The APA doesn't agree with them, so they're wrong too.