EQNM’s Primary Election Endorsements!

Primaries are coming up soon, so it’s time for EQNM to release our endorsements! To learn more about how we endorse our candidates, you can read this blog post. The bottom line is that we work to elect candidates who will stand up daily for queer and trans New Mexicans, without fail. We know that LGBTQ representation matters, but it isn’t enough—that's why we chose these candidates who have proven track records of being in the fight for LGBTQ liberation.

Our Equality Champions:

• State Auditor: Zack Quintero

• Attorney General: Brian Colón

• State Representative District 19: Janelle Anyanonu

• State Representative District 42: Kristina Ortez

• State Representative District 46: Andrea Romero

Our Endorsed Candidates:

• Bernalillo County Sheriff: John Allen

• State Representative District 17: Darrell Deaguerro

• State Representative District 26: Eleanor Chavez

• State Representative District 38: Tara Jaramillo

• State Representative District 39: Karen Whitlock

• State Representative District 70: Anita Gonzales

• State Treasurer: Heather Benavidez

• State Representative District 41: Susan Hererra

With the Supreme Court set to undermine bodily autonomy this summer over the upcoming Roe v. Wade decision, it is more critical than ever that we elect these state and local leaders who will stand up for New Mexicans. We deserve to be in control of our own bodies, and we must protect our ability to make decisions about our bodies, our lives, and our destinies.

Additionally, with increasing attacks on trans young people across the nation, our state needs reliable champions and allies who will work to ensure trans New Mexicans are safe. Trans people deserve to live without fear of discrimination, and we believe these endorsements will join us in breaking down the barriers that limit trans folks’ ability to thrive.

In New Mexico, our values are those of affirmation, acceptance, justice, and liberation. We will be counting on these leaders to help us live those values in policy, every day.

Do you want to help us elect these candidates and champions who will join us in the fight for LGBTQ liberation? Click here to sign up for volunteering updates, or donate to our cause here. 

And don’t forget that New Mexico now has same-day voter registration—here’s more info about how to register AND vote at the same time!

Let’s work together for a better future for queer and trans New Mexicans!

Monet Silva, Chair

EQNM Endorsement Committee

Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

Identifying and Reporting LGBTQ Discrimination in the Workplace

At EQNM, we believe that every LGBTQ person deserves to live without fear of discrimination, including in the workplace. Queer and trans people deserve equal opportunity for advancement in the Land of Enchantment.

A helpful partner has given us a resource to share with you detailing how to identify discrimination at work and how to file a workplace discrimination claim. Read this resource below!

Steps LGBTQ+ Workers Can Take If They Are Experiencing Discrimination in the Workplace

Even though LGBTQ+ workers are protected by the Federal Civil Rights Act, nearly 1 in 10 workers who are LGBTQ+ say that they have experienced discrimination and harassment at work. And that number is likely higher because so many people don’t report the discrimination they experience and instead just move on to other jobs. But you don’t have to put up with that discrimination and harassment. You can fight back and hold your employer accountable for violating your civil rights. 

Title VII of the Federal Civil Rights act made it illegal for employers to discriminate against employees because of their race, color, sex, religion, or place of birth. The Supreme Court extended those protections to include gender, identity, and orientation as well. If you have experienced discrimination at work you can file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal agency that investigates Civil Rights Act violations. 

The EEOC also works with 44 states to make sure that employers who discriminate get investigated. When a complaint is filed against any employer in those states the EEOC will send all the complaint information to the state labor board so that the state can investigate the company too. 

Examples Of Workplace Discrimination

Discrimination can be hidden or it can be very obvious. Some common kinds of discrimination that LGBTQ+ people face include:

Not Getting a Raise Or Promotion — If you were scheduled for a raise or a promotion and your work performance has been good but suddenly you are receiving warnings and writeups for mistakes so that you don’t get your raise or promotion that’s discrimination. 

Slurs, Epithets, or Discriminatory “Jokes” — When your bosses or coworkers make derogatory comments about LGBTQ+ people, use slurs, or make offensive statements that promote harmful stereotypes it’s always discrimination. 

Asking you what your orientation is — Your orientation and gender are not your coworkers’ or bosses’ business and they cannot ask you about or ask you to confirm either one. 

Misgendering you on purpose — If your coworkers or bosses consistently use the wrong pronouns or gender markers when talking to you and about you that’s discrimination. So is using your dead name if you’re transgender and have chosen a name. 

Dress Code Restrictions — If your employer tries to institute a dress code that requires clothing based on sex or gender like requiring women to wear makeup or skirts that’s discrimination. 

Filing A Workplace Discrimination Claim

The first step in stopping the discrimination is going to your boss and HR with a list of all the discrimination that you’ve experienced. Write down the dates, who did what, and what happened. If your boss and the HR department head refuse to help you or take action or if they dismiss your concerns then go to the EEOC’s website to start a complaint. You can also apply on the state level as well. In New Mexico, you can file a discrimination complaint with the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. When you file a claim on the state level, it will be dual-filed to the EEOC and two agencies will work together to try to help resolve your claim.

Penalties For Discrimination

Civil Right Act violations are a big deal and companies can have to pay huge amounts in fines if they violate workers’ rights. Your employer could have to pay up to $10,000 per violation or face criminal charges. You could receive lump sums of money for any wages owed you for a raise or promotion that you didn’t get and for anguish or pain and suffering. 

Resources Found Via:

• https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/half-lgbtq-workers-faced-job-discrimination-report-finds-rcna1935 

• https://www.eeoc.gov/ 

• https://employmentlawhelp.org/wrongful-termination/turned-down-sexual-orientation 

• https://employmentlawhelp.org/sexual-harassment/sexual-orientation-harassment 

• https://www.eeoc.gov/youth/how-file-complaint 

• https://www.dws.state.nm.us/Human-Rights-Information 

Intersectionality Series Part One: ProgressNow New Mexico

At EQNM, we attempt to work from an intersectional framework and believe in centering the needs of those most directly impacted by any policy decision. But what does intersectionality look like in the context of LGBTQ liberation?

LGBTQ people are Indigenous, Black, Latinx, and Asian. We are rural and urban. We are disabled, and we need to access all types of healthcare. We are parents, workers, and students. We experience poverty, incarceration, and homelessness.

The bottom line is that LGBTQ people live in all identities and experiences, and that we are more than just our LGBTQ identities. Our identities are overlapping, or intersecting. That’s why EQNM partners with organizations that aren’t necessarily LGBTQ-focused, and why we care about racial justice, healthcare access, workers’ rights, criminal justice reform, and more. These issues are all LGBTQ issues, too.

We’re rolling out this new Intersectionality Series to uplift some of our partner organizations and highlight how their work intersects with our mission of LGBTQ liberation. The first people we spoke with were Jackie Aguirre and Edgar Cruz of ProgressNow New Mexico (PNNM), an multi-issue organization that centers systemically excluded communities and uplifts their voices. PNNM works to ensure that families and individuals have equitable access to the tools and resources they need to grow, create, and thrive.

One of PNNM’s priorities is reproductive justice. Jackie in particular has experience in reproductive justice spaces. “My goals are to get New Mexicans loud and proud on access to all inclusive reproductive care—everything from education and contraception to abortion care and family planning. I would like to see more New Mexicans unabashedly proud of how much we celebrate bodily autonomy,” she says.

Every LGBTQ person deserves to be in control of their own body, and reproductive justice is a crucial part of that. Queer women, transgender, and nonbinary people can all get pregnant, and therefore are affected by accessibility of contraception, abortion care, and pregnancy care. LGBTQ families need parenting resources, family planning, assisted reproductive services, and more. And all queer and trans folks deserve access to comprehensive sex education and sexual health resources.

After such amazing progress, all of those needs are now more in danger than they’ve been in the last fifty years. This is because of the pending SCOTUS decision over Roe v. Wade, which is one of the current priorities of PNNM. This decision will create a critical shift not just for those seeking abortion care across the country, but also for all of us who want to decide what healthcare we seek—from gender confirmation procedures to PrEP and PEP access, queer and trans lives are also on the line with this decision. 

PNNM points out that when people think about reproductive rights, health, and justice, they often think only about women and in turn may erase queer and trans stories, “and that is not okay. So as people in the movement, it is our responsibility to be intentional in our inclusivity, and to keep each other accountable in being inclusive.”

When asked what her favorite thing was about New Mexico, Jackie said, “I love that New Mexico embraces and celebrates their Indigenous cultures. New Mexican communities make it a point to intentionally include the many Pueblos and Indigenous folx whose land we live on today.” To learn more about Jackie and Edgar, check out this video!

How We Endorse Our Candidates

2022 is an election year for New Mexico, which means we’ll be rolling out our endorsements for the Primary soon! First, though, we wanted to tell you about our values-based endorsement process—that way, you get a better understanding of why we choose certain candidates over others.

Our first step involves sending candidates a questionnaire of basic, mostly yes/no questions. Here are a few examples:

• Will you oppose policies that prohibit or weaken history lessons by way of banning race-related or LGBTQ inclusive history/social studies lessons?

• Will you vote for and champion the NM Voting Rights Act package in its entirety? 

The purpose of this questionnaire is to quickly identify candidates who are fully aligned with our non-negotiable values. Candidates must get a 100% in order to move forward to the next step.

If, based on the questionnaire, a candidate is fully aligned with EQNM’s values, they are then interviewed by our Endorsement Committee. We believe that the Committee is truly representative of New Mexico—we have members from all four corners of the state, rural and urban. The Committee is multi-racial, multi-generational, and multi-issue. In fact, many members are advocates and organizers for other organizations that fight for important causes like economic and reproductive justice; we know that members are committed to improving the lives of LGBTQ New Mexicans and other marginalized groups in the state.

After candidate interviews, which serve to dig deeper into each candidate’s beliefs and their dedication to those beliefs, the Endorsement Committee takes time to deliberate. They can pick as many people as they want to endorse—there is no maximum or minimum limit, meaning their choices are truly based on values, not quotas.

The Endorsement Committee’s recommendations then go to our Board of Directors. The Board considers both the questionnaires and the Committee’s recommendations when making the final decision on endorsements.

With our new tiered endorsement system, the Board of Directors is also responsible for distinguishing between Endorsed Candidates and Equality Champions (though the Committee makes recommendations about this as well). Endorsed Candidates are candidates who we believe are aligned with our values and who we plan to count on to be a solid vote for our priorities, but who have not necessarily demonstrated a desire to go above and beyond for LGBTQ liberation.

Equality Champions, on the other hand, are candidates who have already been in a position of power and demonstrated a willingness to go to the mat for EQNM and the LGBTQ community. These are folks who have lobbied behind the scenes, sponsored our bills, worked to include EQNM in key policy discussions, or otherwise prioritized our values and our community with more than just a yes/no vote on a specific bill or policy.

Think of it like tug-of-war. If EQNM is at the rope, fighting for progressive policies to get pulled over the line, our Endorsed Candidates are going to show up at the game and cheer us on. Our Equality Champions are the ones who are going to dig their heels into the mud, grab the rope, and pull with us.

Be on the lookout for our endorsements for the Primary Election, and especially for our Equality Champions! Do you want to help us at the rope, too? Consider donating and/or volunteering with us. We’re so excited to elect dedicated candidates who will join us in the fight for LGBTQ liberation.

Happy LGBTQ Health Awareness Week!

We believe that the wellbeing of LGBTQ New Mexicans is crucial to the wellbeing of our state. That’s why we wanted to use this week to remind you that taking care of your body and mind is important, and it’s something you deserve!

While we often emphasize sexual health as an important part of LGBTQ health, that’s not all there is to it. Like for all people, general preventative healthcare is important for LGBTQ folks too! So, take some time to ask yourself: 

• Have I had my annual checkup/physical this year?

• Do I have regular mental health check-ins set up with a counselor or therapist?

• Have I been getting enough water and sleep?

• Have I been regularly moving my body in a way that feels good to me?

We realize that obtaining healthcare can be difficult for some folks. If you’re looking for a primary care provider (often referred to as a PCP) and you already have insurance, you can ask your insurance provider to give you a list of doctors that your plan covers. And if you don’t have insurance, community health clinics are a great place to start! They often offer a sliding scale pay option based on your income. Here is a website where you can input your zip code to find community health clinics near you.

If you’re looking for a mental health provider, here is a website where you can find LGBTQ-affirming mental health agencies in New Mexico. Keep in mind that mental health check-ins are a good idea for everybody—not just queer and trans folks. While you certainly can seek a therapist’s help for LGBTQ-related traumas, it’s also totally fine if you’re seeking counseling for unrelated struggles in your life, like work or family stress. We are more than just our LGBTQ identities, and we face obstacles just like everybody else.

Finally, make sure you’re practicing self care, this week and all weeks. Try your best to drink enough water, get enough sleep, move your body lovingly, and take time to do the things that make you happy. These are all good ways to nurture both your physical and mental health. Remember, self-love is an act of queer resistance.

Trans Texan families, we support you.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has recently released a letter instructing the Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate trans children’s parents as child abusers. He also directs professionals like doctors, nurses, and teachers to report any trans children they interact with. The important thing to note about this letter is that it's a non-binding opinion, not a law. 

Here are the facts:

• This letter has no legal effect; it does not change Texas law.

• Every major medical association agrees that gender-affirming care is medically necessary.

• It’s the responsibility of the courts to interpret Texas law and the Constitution; so far, no court in Texas or anywhere else in the United States has ever ruled that medically necessary gender-affirming care constitutes child abuse.

• Federal law like the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prohibits teachers, counselors, and school administrators from asking about students’ private medical information or disclosing whether a student is trans.

Still, we know that this letter is of course deeply concerning, and emotionally traumatizing for trans Texans, and trans people everywhere. Trans people deserve to be in control of their own bodies, and they deserve to live without fear of violence or discrimination, both individual and government-sanctioned. And none of us deserves to have our very existence questioned by our governments, or to be used as politically charged scapegoats.

So, folks in Texas, we urge you to continue speaking up for the wellbeing of trans youth in your state. Here are five district attorneys who have already stepped forward, openly refusing to comply with the governor’s “egregious” orders.

Are you also disgusted with Greg Abbott’s letter? Here are some things you can do, no matter which state you live in:

• Urge the Department of Family and Protective Services to protect the trans youth of Texas.

• Tell a trans person you love them. Reach out to someone you know, or join the Transgender Education Network of Texas in sending a virtual love letter to trans Texans.

Trans families in Texas, we see you. Your LGBTQ neighbors in New Mexico support you during this especially difficult time, and always. If you find yourself in need, here are some resources we hope will help:

• Transgender Education Network of Texas

• Equality Texas

• Lambda Legal

• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas

We demand a full investigation

Sexual misconduct, harassment, and assault in all of their forms are about power - and they always have been.  And LGBTQ Americans experience harassment in the workplace, and outside of it at very high rates.

People in power have always done whatever it takes to grasp on to that power and often become so enamored with it that they can’t help trying to increase it.  This always comes at the expense of people who at the moment, or historically, lack access to that power.

 When Senator Ivey-Soto referenced the Sexual Orientation of Marianna Anaya by saying: “I mean, she’s a lesbian,” he said “There’s nothing sexual about the relationship between Mariana and I.” these experiences and the oppression that comes with them were brought right back into the forefront of our minds.  Marianna’s attorney was 100% right (though his language could be updated): “I think that the polite and diplomatic comment that I can offer is that sexual abuse and sexual harassment occur without regard to sexual preference or consent, as a matter of definition,” Monagle said.

The history of Queer and Trans people is wrought with experiencing a lack of control over our bodies, whether through directly focused laws that prohibited our sexuality or gender expression for decades - or the contemporary versions - discriminatory laws aimed at preventing Trans youth from being who they truly are.  We can, and must demand better, especially from the leaders who are charged with making the laws that impact our daily lives. 

LGBTQ people deserve better than to continue to experience this, and we deserve better than to have these excuses used in the face of very serious allegations.  

Equality New Mexico, on behalf of LGBTQ New Mexicans has been fighting for liberation for 29 years, and this moment can be no different.  LGBTQ New Mexicans deserve access to justice when we are wronged, Marianna Anaya is due this, at the very least. We call on the Senate Leadership: President ProTem Mimi Stewart, and Majority Floor Leader Peter Wirth, who have been endorsed by EQNM in previous elections, to push this complaint into a full investigation. 

Ask your legislators to put 16-year-old voting back in SB8

Victory! Senate Bill 8, the New Mexico Voting Rights Act, has just been passed in the Senate Rules Committee. There’s still work to be done, though, as enfranchisement for 16-year-olds has been stripped from the bill.

Why do 16-year-olds deserve to vote in school board elections? 16-year-olds work and pay taxes (no taxation without representation, right?). Youth are leading social movements in climate action, gun violence prevention, anti-racism, and more. Their daily lives are directly impacted by decisions made on their school boards. Ultimately, 16-year-olds are contributing members of society who are worthy of agency over their own education, and their own lives.

Young New Mexicans are the future of our state, so it’s only fair that they have a say in that future. Plus, voting earlier on in life will build a strong foundation for a lifetime of civic engagement.

For LGBTQ youth, however, 16-year-old enfranchisement on SB8 isn’t just a matter of building a better future. It’s an urgent, immediate issue.

Every day, trans students are hearing their dead names used in classrooms, and trans athletes are being forced off of school sports teams. Every day, LGBTQ youth are watching their very existence be debated in school board meetings across the state. Shouldn’t they have a say in the elected officials sitting on those boards?

Additionally, LGBTQ youth are especially vulnerable to homelessness, and municipal governments make the key decisions about resource distribution to homelessness programs.

Young New Mexicans deserve a say in their education and the elected officials making decisions about their schooling. Ask your legislators to put 16-year-old voting back in SB8!

It's time to Fix the Human Rights Act

We’re proud that New Mexico’s Human Rights Act is one of the strongest in the country, but it’s time for us to make it even stronger.

Senate Bill 152 will clarify and strengthen our existing nondiscrimination law. Not only will it modernize the Human Rights Act’s language surrounding disability, but it will also close an unintentional loophole that has historically allowed state agencies and publicly-funded entities to claim that they’re exempt from the Act. That means that our taxpayer dollars have been used to facilitate discrimination against our friends, family, and neighbors.

The Human Rights Act has always intended to fully protect New Mexicans from discrimination, so we must make that clear and official with this bill.

SB152 is crucial for the safety of our LGBTQ youth, one of the most vulnerable groups of New Mexicans. Queer and trans youth are over-represented in government systems of care, such as foster care and homeless shelters. They experience mistreatment in those systems at disproportionate rates, too. Because many of the providers that support youth are government contractors and grantees, it's essential that these entities are prohibited from discriminating against queer and trans youth seeking help during their time of greatest need.

Here are a few other groups who will also benefit from enhanced protections because of SB152:

• Students, staff, and faculty facing discrimination in public schools and universities

• Citizens accessing the court systems

• LGBTQ families adopting children

• LGBTQ youth, particularly trans or gender non-conforming youth and LGBTQ youth of color, facing disproportionate mistreatment in the juvenile justice system

The passing of SB152 is especially important during the pandemic, as it’s becoming more and more clear that individuals are relying on a multitude of services provided by a myriad of agencies and contractors. This bill will help ensure that all New Mexicans have access to opportunity without discrimination.

At EQNM, we believe every LGBTQ person deserves to live without fear of violence or discrimination, individual or government-sanctioned. Don’t let your taxpayer dollars continue to fund discriminatory practices in New Mexico. Instead, contact your senators and urge them to vote yes on SB152.

Take Action!

As you know, the Legislative Session jumped into high gear, and EQNM will be actively working for liberation throughout the session. Even though (so far) LGBTQ priority legislation didn’t make the list of Priorities, there are still crucial policies we must pursue, and many we must work to stop!

We will have a regular schedule of Phone and Text banking throughout the Session to help our members and supporters engage with lawmakers on the issues impacting our community!

Use these links to sign up now!

Monday, 1/24: Legislative Session Phonebank

Wednesday, 1/26: Legislative Session Phonebank

Thursday, 1/27: Legislative Session Textbank

Monday, 1/31 Legislative Session Phonebank

Wednesday, 2/2: Virtual Advocacy Day - NM Voting Rights Act - plans to come

Wednesday, 2/2: Legislative Session Phonebank

Thursday, 2/3: Legislative Session Textbank

Monday, 2/7: Legislative Session Phonebank 

Wednesday, 2/9: Legislative Session Phonebank 

Thursday, 2/10: Legislative Session Textbank 

Monday, 2/14: Legislative Session Phonebank

Wednesday, 2/16: Legislative Session Phonebank

Kicking off the 2022 Legislative Session - the Governor's Priorities

This afternoon LGBTQ champion, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham gave her State of State address to the NM Legislature. You can find it in the archived Webcast video on NMlegis.gov.  Look for the House Floor session on January 18th, and begin watching at about the 1 pm mark.

Of course - I am disappointed that Governor Lujan Grisham began by urging the Legislature not to be constrained by incrementalism while addressing teachers' wages but seemed to throw that idea out the window once she moved onto other issues.

EQNM has been asking for months for a shortlist of key LGBTQ priorities to be placed on the agenda for this Legislative Session, and we still haven’t heard about any of them from her office.  But we can assume that this list released by her office means that she chose not to include our priorities. I’d hoped that a Governor who has been a champion for us for so many years would have prioritized our issues in her first administration, but we will continue to push forward to encourage her to act in her values.

Arguably the most passionate part of her address was when she chose to focus on crime.  There is no doubt that crime should be a priority issue at all times.  But let’s be 100% clear - more cops do not prevent crime!

The Governor called for a raise for State Police Officers (in our values, we will not oppose raising wages for any workers,) $100Million for hiring and retention of State Police Officers, and keeping people in jail longer/until their trial.

These are the beginning of setting a tone for how we might address crime.   The research and evidence have been clear for a long time - the key to preventing and lowering crime rates is investing in communities to lift people out of poverty, increase access to basic needs, and provide for rehabilitation after a crime is committed.  

Queer and Trans people launched our battle call to our modern fight for equality - with an anti-police-brutality riot at the Stonewall Inn in 1969.  And here we are 53 years later, still having not accomplished any significant police reform.   Law Enforcement Officers often over police, profile, and over-incarcerate LGBTQ people because of bais they inherited or were taught.  And we are often the victims of brutality and unnecessary violence at the hands of the police.  We cannot pretend that it will just be okay to hand over $100 million dollars and focus on hiring and retention of Police Officers - without the need to provide more training and better screening of Law Enforcement Officers before they are handed a gun and badge and sent into our communities.  Especially when the multiple attempts last year to hold Law Enforcement accountable by reforming the Law Enforcement Academy, and the Licensing and Review process were vetoed by this Governor.  

We have always had a presumption of innocence until proven guilty, but the proposal from the Governor and some District Attorneys, to allow individuals accused of a crime to be held unless they can prove they will not commit another crime is in direct violation of that value! And how does one prove they won’t commit a crime in the future?  Is there an option to receive a “Minority Report”, as well, or must we rely on the majority view of the Precogs? 

I am hopeful about the opportunity to discuss these and many other ideas, efforts, and policies that truly would help reduce crime in New Mexico.  EQNM is suited up for this fight and we will keep our members and supporters updated as these proposals move along.

Because we give props when they are due, we must celebrate that the Governor’s Office did make the protection of our democracy a priority for this legislature.  I am so excited to gear up in support of the New Mexico Voting Rights Act - being led by our Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver.  We know that our liberation will not be achieved by voting alone, but while we have only this system to work within - we must do everything we can to protect it and ensure its inclusion of all of our communities!

This session is off to a less than ideal start, but I am confident that with the power of our movement behind us, and the invaluable partnerships we have across the state we will make it into a Legislative Session that is transformative for Trans and Queer New Mexicans in all 33 counties!

Update your contact information - or join our movement today - so we can help you engage on these critical issues this Legislative Session!

Giving to our LGBTQ families

We all experience this time of year in different ways.

I’ve been listening to Christmas music for over a week, and just a few days ago I put up my Christmas tree and all the decorations (I love Christmas decorations and music!)

Although we don’t have snow all over town yet - we all know NM winters come somewhat late, and when they come they come furiously.  An especially difficult time for our unhoused and low-income neighbors.

And far too often families in New Mexico, especially those with children at home, lose out on the meals provided at school because of the winter holiday break.   

Sadly, we also have all heard the stories of various charity organizations that have discriminatory - anti-LGBTQ practices sucking up all the resources this time of year.

We don’t want to leave our queer and trans families literally out in the cold, because folks don’t know who or how to give to the charitable organizations that include us.

So we put together a shortlist of LGBTQ-specific organizations to whom you can donate (in the ABQ area) to help with clothing, blankets, and food for our LGBTQ relatives.

If you aren’t in the ABQ area - and you know of LGBTQ inclusive organizations, let us by email we’ll include them the next time around!

So here are a list of organizations and the type of donations they need this time of year:

Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico:

Food: Bottled water (please!), Shelf-stable snacks (chips, granola bars, nuts, etc.), Shelf-stable protein (Vienna sausage, pouched meats/tuna, etc.), Cup of noodle soups.

Clothing: Long-sleeved tops, Leggings or sweat pants, Jeans, Underwear: sizes small-large only, any style or “gender”, Sweatshirts or hoodies, Outerwear including jackets, hats, gloves, scarves, etc.

Folks can drop off donations at TGRCNM - 5600 Domingo Rd NE - on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between 1:00-6:00 until Dec. 17 or after Jan 3. 

Imperial Sovereign Court of NM: 

Canned or Boxed: Corn, Green beans, Instant Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing, Gravy

Drop-off at Swank Salon 1400 Carlisle NE before December 14

ABQ Mutual Aide:

Collecting Coats and Winter clothing for all ages and genders

Drop off at Albuquerque Social Club 4021 Central Ave NE (entrance faces Copper Street) Tuesday - Sunday after 6 pm 

If you have the capacity to support any of these local LGBTQ-specific organizations, we encourage you to do so!

We MUST elect these Champions December 7

On November 2, 2021, the City of Albuquerque saw a shift in the balance of power at the City Council level.  Conservative Activists who have records of being anti-LGBTQ, Anti-Immigrant, and Anti-Reproductive Healthcare took seats that had belonged to moderate or progressive Councilors in the past.

Now we MUST win both of these seats in the run-Off on December 7 - if we have any hope of protecting the work we have done to protect LGBTQ workers, address homelessness, and hold law enforcement accountable for their actions.

We need you to help!  Use these links to sign-up to phone bank or text bank (from anywhere) with EQNM - if our communities don’t know there is an election happening, we have no hope of winning it!

Phone Banks are happening Mondays and Wednesdays with a couple of Fridays and Saturdays and Text Banks are happening Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

Monday, November 15th Phone Bank

Tuesday November 16th Text Bank

Wednesday, November 17th Phone Bank

Thursday, November 18th, Text Bank

Monday November 22nd Phone Bank

Tuesday November 23rd Text Bank

Wednesday November 24th Phone Bank

Monday November 29th Phone Bank

Tuesday November 30th Text Bank

Wednesday December 1st Phone Bank

Thursday December 2nd Text Bank

Friday December 3rd Phone Bank

Saturday December 4th Phone Bank

Monday December 6th Phone Bank

Tuesday December 7th Text Bank

EQNM Endorsement Process

Fighters for LGBTQ Liberation, the time is upon us again - Elections are coming up!

Folks across the state will be voting this November, for Mayors, City Councilors, and School Board Members.   And Equality New Mexico will be doing our part to help elect people who will fight for LGBTQ Liberation!

Before we jump in and begin to endorse candidates for these offices - we wanted to just remind our members and friends what this process looks like and what our values are in this fight.

Process:

EQNM Has formed an Endorsement Committee, with the best representation we can get from across the state in our various communities.  We seek to bring the voices of rural NM as well as Albuquerque and Santa Fe. We work to bring Queer, Trans, Nonbinary, Black and Indigenous, and People of Color into this conversation because our community is multi-racial, multi-generational, and multi-issue!

Candidates are asked first to submit a questionnaire, developed by this committee, to respond to a number of questions about our values.   Once the questionnaire is submitted, the committee reviews it and then invites some (if not all) candidates to engage in an interview.  The interview with the entire Endorsement Committee is an opportunity to clarify and elaborate on the answers in the questionnaires.

The Endorsement Committee then deliberates and decides on recommendations for endorsement. Once they have recommended candidates for endorsement, the Board of Equality New Mexico will vote officially whether or not to endorse the candidate(s).

Our Values:

While EQNM feels strongly that representation from our community for our community is critical - we know that more LGBTQ voices in public offices are necessary to further our liberation - we can’t ignore that not all voices from our community will represent our liberation well.  So we ask candidates about a number of issues that impact LGBTQ New Mexicans. 

Queer and Trans people live in every community, are part of every family, and work in every job in the state.  So our community is impacted by issues from healthcare, to economic stability, from education to policing and criminal “justice” policies.

We work toward Reproductive, Economic, and broad Social Justice policies.  We think about policies regarding policing and incarceration, healthcare access, education, immigration, and nondiscrimination.

As our endorsement committee begins to do this work, we wanted to make sure our members know about this process, and how and why we make these decisions.  We will continue to strive to be transparent and accountable to our community.    

EQNM is hiring!

The team at Equality New Mexico is growing and expanding. Please consider applying and sharing this announcement.

Equality New Mexico seeking an entry-level Communications Associate to focus on content production and placement.

Equality New Mexico, a statewide LGBTQ advocacy and public education organization, is expanding our team. We are searching for an excited and eager entry-level Communications Associate that wants to be active in the LGBTQ movement in New Mexico.

The position is part-time with the possibility of expanding to full-time in the future.   

Key Responsibilities:

• Content Creation

  • Draft and format key content for emails, social media, op-eds, and other communications methods.

  • The position will be a key part of a team charged with redefining the style and “voice” of the organization in all communications.

  • The position will work with leadership to develop a communications calendar and then create content to implement Style and Brand guidance.

• Social Media Management

  • Create and execute social media strategy to engage EQNM audience 

  • Monitor and uplift the digital presence of partner organizations on intersecting issues.

  • Work with Graphic Designer and Community Organizer to create media assets that engage and empower the EQNM audience

  • Monitor social media posts for comments/engagement and implement EQNM policies.

• Be a team player

  • Engage with the EQNM team (staff, Boards, and key community leaders) to continuously shape and implement projects, values, and tactics that work for our movement.

  • Give and receive feedback from mentors, leaders, and staff about engagement, messaging, projects, and EQNM’s role in the broader world.

• Qualifications

  • Open-minded and eager to learn

  • Passion for LGBTQ issues at the intersection of race, gender, and class

  • Interest in systemic change and upending oppressive systems

  • Willing to travel occasionally

Interested Applicants can apply by email Marshall@eqnm.org with a resume, and a writing sample of less than 500 words. Please also include a few sentences on why statewide advocacy work on LGBTQ issues appeals to you, and what motivates you to create a better New Mexico.

Equality New Mexico is a systemic change organization that works to identify and uproot systemic causes of oppression of LGBTQ New Mexicans. We organize, develop leaders, provide political education and engagement to queer and trans New Mexicans to help them shift the use of power in New Mexico so that the systems we live and interact with help us thrive. 

EQNM  is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, age, familial status, military status, religion, disability, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. We welcome and encourage applications from people of color, indigenous people, and transgender people.

Executive Director Announcement

Marshall Martinez was appointed as Interim Executive Director of Equality New Mexico (EQNM) and the EQNM Foundation in September of 2020. The previous Executive Director had been placed on administrative leave and then resigned his position, and there was an urgent need to find a replacement for him. Martinez, who had been involved with EQNM and the EQNM Foundation since 2002, was a member of a working committee whose goal was to rebuild and grow the organizations. He volunteered to serve as Interim Executive Director for a six month period to stabilize the organization. This helped the all-volunteer board mitigate the struggle of trying to engage in a search during this tumultuous time. The six month period is nearing its end and the boards have just completed an evaluation of his job performance.

EQNM and the EQNM Foundation conducted a community survey to obtain community input for our evaluation of Martinez’ performance. The responses from the community indicated the community was very pleased in the organizations’ new direction and approaches, as well as with the work and efforts of Marshall Martinez as interim Executive Director.

The EQNM and EQNM Foundation boards of directors are also very pleased with Martinez’ efforts over the past five/six months. Here are some results from a community survey that 66 people responded to earlier this year:

• How would you rate your overall impressions of EQNM leadership right now? More than 70% of respondents rated their impressions as a 9 or 10 on a scale of 10.

• Among the 52 respondents who had interacted with the Interim Executive Director, 73% rated their interactions with him as a 10 out of 10.

• When asked how they would rate the current direction of EQNM Legislative Advocacy work, more than 75% rated it as a 9 or a 10.

• More than 65% of respondents recommended EQNM to friends/family who are interested in LGBTQ issues.

• Finally, more than 74% of respondents supported removing the "Interim" from Marshall’s title, making him the official Executive Director of Equality New Mexico.

 As a result of the board’s and the community’s positive assessment of Martinez’ performance since his appointment, the board has offered Marshall Martinez the Executive Director position at EQNM and EQNMF on a permanent basis.

Martinez’ first Community Organizing job was at EQNM in 2002-2003 - when it was fighting for Workplace Discrimination protections at the State Legislature. In the years since Marshall has continued his activism and advocacy work, having supported many candidates and elected officials in their bids for public office on political campaigns.  Marshall was the Director of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains in New Mexico for 5 years.  Marshall is no stranger to the work and has proven to be well-suited to pick up the decades long mantle of EQNM and move us into the next decade.

Sincerely,

Board of Directors - Equality New Mexico and Equality New Mexico Foundation

We had to say something about this.

We have less than 20 hours to go in this legislative session - and there is so much left to do.

If you haven’t followed a New Mexico legislative session, a lot can get done in the last 24 hours, and we'll send out a full report over the weekend. 

Some great policies have been developed and moved through the processes, and it's even better that some great ones will still get over the finish line. I can’t wait to share with you all that list of bold policies when it’s over.

But right now, we just have to say a few things about this session:

This legislative session is not the first to be full of rampant sexism, racism, and homophobia, but this time it was much more public - this time it happened under a spotlight.

No doubt it came to an awful boiling point last evening on the Senate floor during debate about Paid Sick Leave.  But it was just that, a boiling point, not an isolated incident.

This is the most diverse legislature we’ve ever seen in New Mexico. The House is majority women, we have our first African American Senator, six openly gay and lesbian legislators across both chambers, and we've made huge strides toward a more representative legislature.

But we all know, when the balance of power begins to shift, those who have always held it start to grasp on to the past even harder - often in the worst ways.

In this session, we have seen committee members ask a Cabinet Secretary nominee if her race would prevent her from doing a good job. We have seen a committee member call the cops on a black woman who was supporting a bill - because she didn’t like the things she said. We saw the same representative accuse our own EQNM staff of “blasting and disrespecting law enforcement” after sharing his own very real, very specific story of a harmful incident with a police officer. 

Women, queer, and BIPOC legislators have been denied time to present their bills in committee.  Those who were allowed have been belittled, demeaned, and disrespected in some of the most abusive ways.  

Though usually more subtle, last night’s abuse of the President ProTemp Mimi Stewart on the Senate Floor was in fact that boiling point.  

The response, the policies we have all worked so hard on, and the next steps are still being developed.  But right now, we have to be clear - we are grateful for all of those legislators standing strong - exhausted though they may be - on behalf of our communities.

 Sign up here to stay updated as this all unfolds.

We are revolutionary in our existence alone.

I’ve asked our Community Organizer to share his experiences on House Bill 304 with the EQNM Community.  Below are his thoughts, but first Quick recap: HB304 introduced by Representatives Cook, Montoya, Townsend, Lord, and Black, was an attack on transgender youth in sports. The so-called “Women’s Sports Protection Act'' claimed an inherent supremacy of males in athletics, and prohibited trans youth from playing sports on the team of their identity.  While it claimed to be saving spots in school and youth sports for cisgender women and girls, it really was just a way to put blatant transphobia and sexism into legislation. HB304 was tabled (did not pass) in it’s first committee last week. Read what Andrew had to say about it below.

House Bill 304, the anti-trans athlete bill, brought a storm to New Mexico — not only a storm of transphobia and sexism, but a more powerful storm of strong, resilient, and fierce advocates. I cannot adequately explain how it feels as a young, trans masculine and queer person to see communities come together in this way. 

I was unsure of how the conversation was going to go and it was a scary feeling going into the house public affairs committee to testify against HB304. I had no idea what I was going to say. I wasn’t ready for the questions and hateful commentary from the elected officials on the committee. On top of that, I was unprepared to practice self care after the fact. My community partners, particularly those with the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Services, the Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico, the Gender and Sexualities Alliance Network and Bold Futures, made sure that I felt supported and protected. They patiently answered my questions (all 10 million of them), reassured  me of my boundaries, and offered up emotional labor afterwards. I have said it before, and I will say it again: I am so grateful for my New Mexico community. Our community is what makes us so powerful.

So, we did it; we killed HB 304. We can take a deep sigh of relief, knowing that we are strong enough to take on anything. We cannot ignore the damage this bill has already done, however. 

Transphobic policy treats us — transgender and gender nonconforming youth — like pawns. We are simply a talking point used to push policy that doesn’t benefit anyone. Our livelihood erased, our humanity ignored. It also serves as a painful reminder how our existence is viewed.

Listening to my community partners give their testimony in committee made me feel incredibly empowered. It is beyond difficult to listen to an elected official justify transphobia, and I am amazed by my community’s ability to fight through that with messages of hope, change, and inclusion. A half hour of public comment grounded in supporting our trans youth was exactly what I needed at that time. 

To my transgender, nonbinary, genderqueer, two spirit, gender nonconforming, and gender fluid friends, family, and community members: 

You are not alone in this fight. We see you, we hear you, and we are always going to show up. We are revolutionary in our existence alone. 

Senator Schmedes doesn't think we deserve healthcare

Senator Greg Schmedes (R-SD 19) represents pieces of Bernalillo, Santa Fe, Sandoval, & Torrance Counties and actively works against the LGBTQ community in New Mexico. In his time in the House and now the Senate, he has introduced and sponsored many discriminatory bills. And he just doesn't stop.

Schmedes is a trained doctor and surgeon when he’s not serving in the Roundhouse and is leading the charge on SB 323 this session, the so-called “Healthcare Protections Act.” But it doesn’t protect New Mexicans. You want to know what this bill does? SB 323 would write into law that health care workers can openly discriminate and withhold care from LGBTQ individuals and families - no matter how critical that healthcare may be. 

His bill would allow medical staff to refuse almost any kind of care, to any person, and the patient would have no recourse if they were harmed - and we have to stop it. 

This bill puts the “right to discriminate” above the healthcare needs of the patient, and doesn’t even require that the patient be directed to someone else who can help them.

Not only is Senator Schmedes sponsoring a bill that would harm communities across the state, he also has time to serve as the New Mexico Director of the American Academy of Medical Ethics. Sounds legit, right? Well - this “academy” equates homosexuality to alcoholism or substance abuse disorders and believes that homosexuality is unhealthy and leads to damaging consequences for patients. AAME believes that homosexuality “can be cured.” 

Not only that, AAME also believes that individuals will lead “healthier and fulfilled lives” only if they identify with their biological sex. AAME is “concerned that efforts to compel healthcare professionals to affirm transgender ideology, provide medical legitimization for transgender psychology, or cooperate with requests for medical or surgical sex reassignment threaten professional integrity.”

 They - and Senator Schmedes - literally believe that the integrity of the medical profession is best suited when providers are able to discriminate and harm their patients.

This is the kind of dangerous rhetoric and ideology that we’re up against in our fight for justice and progress. 

Senator Schmedes and his fellow conservatives in the New Mexico legislature do not care about their constituents or building a better tomorrow for all of us - they are only concerned about preserving outdated power structures that hold our communities down. 

Join EQNM by donating today and help us show Senator Schmedes that New Mexico will not stand for his hatred and antiquated ideals. Our state depends on us. 

This never should have happened...

Yesterday was an intense day for the EQNM team.

On the high notes: HB142 the Affirmative Consent Education bill was given a unanimous, bipartisan endorsement from the House Health and Human Services Committee.

This was, in part because our Community Organizer, Andrew Echols spoke powerfully and eloquently about the need for teaching Affirmative Consent, and making sure that accusations and investigations of sexual misconduct are followed through. 

Andrew shared a deeply personal story, about experiencing harassment at the hand of law enforcement, in his dorm room on campus at his college.   He was misgendered, and harassed about the name on his ID by the officer.

The point of his story is that he went to the appropriate reporting entity, in 2019 when this happened, and he has still not received any follow up from Campus officials.  

What happened later, was shocking to me.  State Representative Stefani Lord mischaracterized Andrews' comments, and accused him of something he flat out didn’t do.  And she wasn’t kind when she did it.

Rep. Lord accused Andrew of being the 4th person before her committee who cast blanket accusations about all law enforcement being terrible. Which is NOT what Andrew did when he shared one specific story about one specific officer.  And it’s worth noting he spoke to the issue of educating young people about affirmative consent, and the issue of campuses having mechanisms in place for proper follow-up.

Rep. Lord not only accused Andrew of making this blanket accusation, but she told him she offered this “as advice” because “when you make broad accusations about law enforcement you take me out of the game.”

I just have to share with our members how proud I am of Andrew, our Organizer! He shared a personal, emotionally harmful story about being harassed because of his Gender Identity-then the story of being re-traumatized by campus officials in handling the issue.   

Andrew was strong, vulnerable, and authentic in expressing the experience that too many LGBTQ young people face.

Rep. Lord was dismissive, paternalistic, condescending, and she was wrong.