City of Albuquerque Improves Score on National LGBTQ+ Report Card

Albuquerque has made progress over the past year in LGBTQ equality and inclusion 

Albuquerque, N.M ⎻ The City of Albuquerque is climbing the charts on a national index that measures how well a city treats its LGBTQ+ community. The City earned a score of 85 this year, a jump up from 74 in 2018, according to the report released by the Human Rights Campaign.

The 2019 Municipal Equality Index (MEI) Report rates more than 500 cities nationwide based on their laws, policies, and services impacting the LGBTQ+ community.

“The improvement we made this year in making Albuquerque more inclusive is important progress for our community,” Mayor Keller said, “However, our work is not done. We will keep up our efforts to partner with local advocates, strengthen our policies and practices and fight discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.”

The City received points for ensuring transgender City employees receive health coverage benefits for transition-related health care, as well as for appointing a staff member to be a liaison between the Mayor’s Office and the LGBTQ community. The Human Rights Campaign also awarded points for the City of Albuquerque’s designation of a Pride House for LGBTQ elders during the National Senior Games, as well as for funding the Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico.

Albuquerque continues to score high in the areas of non-discrimination in City employment, having an inclusive workplace, and providing domestic partner benefits in the City’s employee benefit package. The City also rated highly for having a Human Rights Commission, for enforcing non-discrimination, and for reporting hate crimes to the FBI.

“In Albuquerque, we value and celebrate members of the transgender and queer communities,” says Adrian Carver, Executive Director of Equality New Mexico. “It’s important for LGBTQ+ Burqueños to know that our community has a strong partner in Mayor Keller. Equality New Mexico is proud to have worked with the two openly LGBTQ+ city councilors, Pat Davis and Diane Gibson, and the Mayor’s office to raise our score. We look forward to continuing this work so that everyone in our city lives a self-determinate life.”

The Human Rights Campaign issued the first MEI report card in 2012. Since its first report it has served as a tool and guide for many cities to develop, share and sustain equitable and inclusive practices for the LGBTQ+ community.  

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NEW MEXICO REACHES HIGHEST CATEGORY IN STATE EQUALITY INDEX:

The work of achieving full liberation for LGBTQ New Mexicans continues

SANTA FE, N.M.: This year, because of the diligent work of Equality New Mexico (EQNM), our state has joined the highest category in the State Equality Index (SEI). The SEI is a comprehensive report detailing statewide laws and policies that affect LGBTQ+ people and their families, and assessing how well states are protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination.

EQNM is celebrating 25 years of winning equality for New Mexico and being placed in the Working Toward Innovative Equality category of this report is an acknowledgement of our work. The SEI outlines the protections we have won, including a comprehensive non-discrimination law, safe schools laws, and healthcare access for transgender people. EQNM proudly continues to take a wide view of our mission, and uses a surgical approach to focusing on the implementation of laws and advancing innovative legislation that addresses the needs of vulnerable populations.

“The State Equality Index confirms what New Mexicans already know. Because of the passionate work led by generations of community members, this year the SEI categorizes our state as ‘Working Toward Innovative Equality’,” says Adrian N. Carver, Executive Director of Equality New Mexico. “We are proud to join the ranks of states who are leading the next phase of the LGBTQ+ movement, centering our work from our state’s cultural values of equity, inclusion, and liberation.”

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REPORT: NEW MEXICO MAKES PROGRESS IN LGBTQ+ EQUALITY IN 2017

State Equality Index Scorecard Gives Optimistic Snapshot of Equality for LGBTQ New Mexicans:

ALBUQUERQUE, NM, January 8 - Today’s release of the Human Rights Campaign’s State Equality Index (SEI) report indicates New Mexico’s continued progress toward equality and self-determination for the LGBTQ+ community through 2017. Nationally, these scorecards look at statewide measures, both positive and negative, that affect LGBQT+ equality in 6 areas: parenting, relationship recognition and religious refusal, non-discrimination, hate crimes, youth, and health & safety.  

“The State Equality Index is an important reminder of the hard-fought wins we've had,” says Adrian Carver, Executive Director of Equality New Mexico (EQNM), New Mexico’s statewide LGBTQ advocacy and civil rights organization. “Regardless of what this federal administration or Congress tries to do, in New Mexico we have strong state-level protections for the rights and liberties for our community and our families.”

Changes from the 2016 SEI:

New Mexico’s score improved after Senate Bill 121, or “The Protect NM Kids Act,” sponsored by Senator Jacob Candelaria (D-Bernalillo) and Representative G. Andres Romero (D-Bernalillo), was signed into law by Governor Susana Martinez last April. The law prohibits the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy by licensed mental health providers with minors under the age 18, increasing the well-being and safety of all LGBTQ+ New Mexicans.

Looking Ahead in 2018:

Areas where New Mexico lacked significantly were laws and policies protecting LGBTQ+ youth, as well as LGBTQ+ inclusive health and safety laws and policies. EQNM is continuing its efforts to address these statewide gaps.  

“Equality New Mexico will, in the coming legislative sessions, fight for the inclusion of our communities in ALL policies. We'll step up the fight to ensure that New Mexico protects our students and families, that state workers are included in non-discrimination policies, that trans & gender non-conforming New Mexicans have full access to healthcare, and beyond", says Carver.

“In the upcoming legislative budget session, Equality New Mexico will be working to see the values of a ‘queer state budget’ reflected for the next fiscal year. A queer state budget means smart investments in education, the economy, health and wellness, civic engagement, and justice.”