Is it just us, or are you still smiling from Resilience? Our 2025 celebration at the Albuquerque Social Club was one of our biggest and best yet.
In a year marked by political attacks on our community, this event was a moment of collective joy, recognition, and unapologetic queer brilliance.
We honored incredible awardees who have gone above and beyond in their advocacy, leadership, and support for New Mexico’s LGBTQ+ communities, including: Samuel Poarch (Liz Stefanics Longevity Award), Todd McElroy (Liz Stefanics Longevity Award), Senator Angel Charley (Badass of the Year), and Las Cruces City Counselor Beck Corran (Badass of the Year). We laughed, danced, and cheered through an unforgettable performance hosted by LaRhya Daniels (a.k.a. EQNM Executive Director Marshall Martinez) and featuring our Director of Policy, Power & People Nathan Saavedra in his very first drag appearance as Filibust-her. (He raised $6,800; not bad, Nathan!) Marshall and Nathan were joined by Koda Daniels, Avery, Kalorie Karbdashian, Jessica K Daniels, Trey C Michaels, and DJ Flightphonic. The dollar bills were raining!
Photos: Mia Carrasco
The Soch was filled with energy, color, and solidarity. From volunteers and staff who helped with setup and check-in to our dazzling performers and community guests, we want to say thank you. Events like these generate not only joy, but the funding and momentum we need to keep organizing year-round.
We are so grateful to our queens and kings, awardees, volunteers, staff, board members, and the broader EQNM family.
We are so lucky to be building power and protecting each other. Resilience may be a great party, but it’s also an everyday commitment we make together.
PHOTOS (left to right)
1—EQNM’s Hazel Valente-Compton with volunteers Anne Peralta, Rosie Emery, Gina Miller, and Devon Miller. (“These four wonderful and dedicated volunteers stepped up to check people in at our yearly resilience fundraiser,” Hazel said. “Their help was a big reason this event was so successful and ran so smoothly!”)
2—Anastasia dazzles in purple.
3—Performers Koda Daniels, Kalorie Karbdashian, Hanii Ziehl, Janna Ziehl, Haley Ziehl, Avery, and Jessica K Daniels smile for the cameras.
4—Former US Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, delivers a speech. She also donated a private dinner to our auction, raising $7,500 to support EQNM!
5—EQNM staffers Rudy Montoya, Layla Garcia, Michelle Najera, Nathan Saavedra, LaRhya Daniels (AKA Marshall Martinez), Hazel Valente-Compton, & Gauge Burnett make activism fashionable.
6—Samuel Poarch receives his Longevity award from LaRyha Daniels.
7—Nathan debuts as Filibust-her.
8—LaRhya Daniels pumps up the crowd.