The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) recently released their annual Municipal Equality Index (MEI), and this year, eight New Mexico cities are scored. This is double the number of cities scored in prior years - a change made at the request of Equality New Mexico to include cities outside of the I-25 corridor.
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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.
“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.”
Equality New Mexico was recently highlighted by the Equality Federation for its intersectional work with the reproductive justice movement.
A new website launched by Equality New Mexico includes an updated business directory and listing of LGBT-friendly businesses in New Mexico.
The site, eqnm.org, offers resources for individuals and small business owners wanting to connect with other businesses that serve the lesbian, gay, bi- or transgender (LGBT) community.
"Es difícil porque tienen que navegar entre los dos identidades y a veces por miedo no saben a quien contactar para ayudarlos", menciono la coordinadora del sur para EQNM, Myra Llerenas."Y por eso nosotros estamos aquí para hacer un refugio en donde pueden venir".
Igualdad Nuevo México, o más bien conocido como EQNM ha ofrecido su ayuda a la comunidad con preferencias sexuales diferentes por más de 20 años. En Diciembre del 2014, inicio un programa que proveé ayuda para los indocumentados LGBTQ a obtener sus derechos, desde ayuda para la legalización de su estatus migratorio en los Estado Unidos hasta la promoción de la igualdad social, y la integración al mundo laboral.
While support for same sex marriage is at an all time high, and conversion therapy bans are being passed throughout the country (President Obama has recently called for a ban of the practice, and Exodus International recently closed their doors), the type of dialogue presented by Archbishop Sheehan is still harmful. He states, “we teach that we accept gay people with respect, compassion and sensitivity,” but such levels of respect cannot be accomplished while alienating the LGBT community and propagating the conversation that our natural inclinations and our way of expressing love within a relationship is sinful.
“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.