Albuquerque, NM – May 19, 2015 – Equality New Mexico is taking part in the national day of giving, “Give OUT Day” on Thursday, May 21st. This annual one-day giving event supports and promotes giving to LGBTQ causes and organizations.
"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.
Albuquerque, NM – May 13, 2015 – Equality New Mexico has created a one-stop shop for the LGBT community with a revamped website and an updated business directory, featuring LGBT-friendly businesses across the state of New Mexico. The site, eqnm.org, provides site visitors a wealth of resources for getting involved, finding allies in the business community, or getting connected with social and political issues facing the LGBT community.
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.