As a pastor, I have two duties. The first is to the child, to assure him or her that she or he is loved and accepted as a child of God and that she or he is safe.
Viewing entries tagged
lgbtq
Entrenched homophobia in society that takes the form of dangerous ex-gay teachings led me and many others down a treacherous path, filled with self-doubt, self-pity and self-hatred.
Joined by supporters at the State Capitol today, Equality New Mexico, Legislators, clergy members, mental health professionals and survivors of conversion therapy spoke about the important work that still needs to be done to ensure equality, safety and mental health for the LGBTQ community and for all New Mexicans.
In response to the Presidential election and concerns from married same-gender couples about their marriages being invalidated, the National Center for Lesbian Rights provided this statement...
Equality New Mexico (EQNM), the state’s leading LGBTQ advocacy organization, has announced plans for southern New Mexico program expansion and utilizing remote co-working spaces across the state to increase budget efficiency and work within communities.
The death penalty is a costly and unjust system, and its enforcement has not proven to deter crime or lower homicide rates. New Mexicans know this, and successfully advocated for the state legislature to repeal the death penalty in 2009.
Let's stop the shaming and brainwashing of our young people. Let's honor and love our future generations for exactly who they are and want to be. I am committed to ending the abuse and trauma that is conversion therapy, and I hope you will join me.
Equality New Mexico is proud to partner with O.penVape and OutFront Minnesota to bring attention to marijuana legalization and why it is a social justice issue of importance to the LGBTQ community.
As soon as I learned what happened in Orlando, I promptly began drafting emails and statements, designing social media graphics, and coordinating vigils and other demonstrations of support across the state and country.
I am angry that queer and trans people of color continue to be commodified and used as collateral to push a single issue policy. I am angry, and as a Queer, gender nonconforming Latinx, I am allowed to be angry.
We often don't know what to do in times of crisis and devastation, and nothing we can do will ever erase the horror and hate that has been inflicted on the victims and families in Orlando, and our LGBTQ community at-large. But, we can come together and show the world that we will not succumb to fear and violence.
Equality New Mexico’s work did not end with same sex marriage. LGBTQ New Mexicans still experience discrimination, lack of acceptance from family, peers, co-workers and the general public, and a policy environment that obstructs equality under the law and quality of life. The events are to draw awareness to the issues and solutions.
“After a year of development and negotiation on this directive, supported by over a decade of community-led advocacy, we couldn’t be more excited to see APS advance protections for transgender students—one of the most marginalized student populations in our schools,” said EQNM Executive Director Amber Royster. “We are grateful for the tireless efforts of APS Title IX Director Janalee Barnard and the work of the APS Office of Equity LGBT Advisory Committee for ensuring that all students are safe and respected, and have every opportunity for success.”
I am one of many marginalized voices in the LGBTQ community, and all of my intersected identities have informed and shaped how I navigate my Queer identity. My Queer identity isn’t a single checkbox, and I don’t live a single-issue life. This evening when I entered this room, I didn’t leave my Chican@ identity at the door – I walked in with my whole self and all of my intersected identities.
“There’s a lot of power in telling your story—finding your voice,” according to Myra LLerenas, Southern New Mexico Field Coordinator for Equality New Mexico, which is known as the civil rights organization for those identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
Llerenas was one of the presenters at a workshop held at the Center for Gender Equity at Western New Mexico University focused on the multiple challenges of being “undocumented and queer.” A first generation New Mexican who grew up and still lives in Las Cruces, she is a self-described advocate of collective social justice.