Kat Sanchez - She | Her
Equality New Mexico Foundation Board Chair

Born and raised in the West TX/Southern NM/MX Borderlands, Kat is a queer Latina who got her start in advocacy at New Mexico State University and furthered her policy experience spanning across the country from Southern California to New York and back to her roots in the Southwest Frontera. Kat is the Policy Director at the statewide reproductive justice organization, Bold Futures NM. Kat is driven by her lived experience and community to work for a New Mexico where individuals are treated with dignity and have the resources for body autonomy and ability to thrive without discrimination and fear. Kat is a wife, human and dog mom, retired roller derby player, fierce Dodgers fan, and music enthusiast.

Pamm Meyers - She | Her
Equality New Mexico Foundation Board Member

Pamm meyers, storyteller, dynamic leader and advocate dedicated to fostering prosperity within the LGBTQIA community through business innovation and social advocacy. With a multifaceted background, Pamm has become a trailblazer in various fields, leaving an indelible mark on New Mexico’s LGBTQIA and business communities. As CEO of Go Social, Pamm Meyers Social Media. https://www.pammmeyerssocialmedia.com/ Pamm is at the forefront of digital marketing and podcasting solutions for business owners and organizations. Her visionary approach has empowered countless ventures to harness the potential of social media, unlocking new avenues for growth and engagement and is a driving force behind her client’s success, leveraging the power of connectivity to elevate their brand through digital marketing and podcasting.

Pamm is the managing partner of Two Flower Productions, https://www.twoflowerproductions.com/, a podcasting company that produces “Lip Service, the podcast of Our Coming Out stories”, https://lipservice.media, (4800+ subscribers in 39 countries), 3Q, New Mexico’s Business Podcast, https://3qnm.com (4439+ subscribers in New Mexico). Previously the Executive Director of the New Mexico Out Business Alliance, currently, Board Advisor for the Way Out West Film Fest, https://wayoutwestilmfest.com/, Board Advisor for the Albuquerque Community Foundation Pride Circle, https://abqcf.org/pride-circle/ supporting the LGBTQIA community through philanthropy.

T. Justin Garoutte, MPH, CPH - They | He
Equality New Mexico Board Member

Justin is a gay, genderqueer, Latine public health leader from Antonito, Colorado. With over 10 years of experience in public health, they are passionate about achieving health equity and social justice with marginalized communities across New Mexico. In 2019, they received their Master of Public Health with distinction from the University of New Mexico College of Population Health with a focus on sexual and gender minority health. Justin has served as Policy Chair to the LGBTQ Health Caucus of the American Public Health Association and Policy Committee Co-Chair of the New Mexico Public Health Association. In 2021, they were named 40 Under 40 in Public Health by the de Beaumont Foundation. Currently, they are pursuing their Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree in health equity and social justice from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Justin aspires to continue breaking down barriers for health and building power through community organizing and policy advocacy. They reside in Santa Fe with their cats Peppi and Zucca. When they are not breaking down barriers for health, you can find them on local trails, camping, and paddling the Río Grande.

Katalina Hadfield - She | Her
Equality New Mexico Board Member

Katalina Hadfield (she/her) was born and raised in the Las Cruces area, and is thrilled to be at home serving the community that she loves so dearly. Katalina is an attorney at New Mexico Legal Aid in Las Cruces, where she performs housing, public benefits, and other legal services for lower-income New Mexicans.

Katalina earned her B.A. in Cultural Anthropology and Psychology from Duke University in North Carolina, followed by stints as a social work researcher in Seattle, and as a writer and project manager for the Human Rights Campaign in Washington, D.C. Katalina then earned her J.D. from Berkeley Law in California, where she specialized in Environmental Law and Public Interest & Social Justice Law.

Katalina is deeply devoted to serving her fellow LGBTQIA community. At the Human Rights Campaign, she was the lead researcher on anti-transgender violence, and led the Trans and Gender-Expansive Employee Resource Group. In law school, she served as co-chair of Queer Caucus, and led initiatives to improve the lives of transgender and gender non-conforming students, faculty, and staff. As an undergraduate, she served on the Presidential Task Force on Hate and Bias Issues. She's also a seasoned drag queen, and may be coming to a drag show near you!

In her spare time, Katalina enjoys stargazing, crafting, watching movies, making music, watering her plants, and spending time with her kitties, Algernon and Onion.

Daniel Williams - He | Him
Equality New Mexico Board Member

Daniel Williams currently serves as the Policing Policy Advocate at the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico. He previously served the ACLU-NM as the communications organizer working toward the freedom to marry in 2013. A lifelong New Mexican, Daniel grew up in Raton and Albuquerque. Prior to returning to New Mexico, Daniel spent six years serving as a minister to a progressive, social justice-oriented Presbyterian congregation in Austin, TX.

Daniel’s experience as an organizer and advocate began in his teenage years and has covered issues including LGBTQIA+ liberation, economic justice, reproductive freedom, immigrant justice, and more. He is a former board member of More Light Presbyterians and a past contributing writer for The Resistance Prays. Daniel spends his free time at the yarn store, the gym, or listening to yet another audiobook when not working to create a future characterized by justice, liberation, and solidarity.

Steven Romero
Equality New Mexico Board Member

Steven Romero is the Chief Financial Officer for Conservation Voters New Mexico overseeing budget and finance, human resources, fundraising, and culture and equity initiatives. Steven is a first-generation college student and received both his Bachelors of Business Administration and Masters of Business Administration from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM where he was born and grew up. He has worked for both New Mexico State University, and the University of New Mexico in various business administration capacities in addition to Los Alamos National Laboratory. Steven is deeply passionate about supporting New Mexico's LGBTQ+, rural and underserved and underrepresented communities and connecting them to the resources they need. In his spare time, Steven enjoys hiking, camping, and spending time outdoors. 

Carrigen Cain - They | Them | Theirs
Equality New Mexico Board Member

Carrigen is a nonbinary, queer human. Originally from rural Louisiana, Carrigen received their Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with minors in pre-law and psychology from Northwestern State University. They went on to receive their Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Texas at El Paso. Carrigen is a professional clinical mental health counselor in New Mexico. In their clinical practice, they specialize in trauma treatment for adolescents & adults, creative approaches to therapy, and affirming care for LGBTQ folks. They are passionate about health equity and the interplay between law and identity, which drives their professional advocacy. Their self care practices include art, mindfulness, and quality time with their spouse & pets.

Julie Johnston - She | Her
Equality New Mexico Board Member

As a lifelong advocate for equality and activist, Julie continues to be involved in Santa Fe, Los Alamos, and Northern New Mexico. Her career began as a middle school teacher and teacher educator, then transitioned into a safety training professional. Julie co-founded the LGBT Diversity Working Group and served as a leader on the Diversity Council at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

With her continual focus on the value of education, for its first decade, she chaired the Los Alamos Employees’ Scholarship Fund, which serves all of Northern New Mexico. Residing in a rural area, Julie gave back to the community by tutoring for the Pueblo of Pojoaque Education Department. She is a past board member of the Santa Fe Human Rights Alliance.

Julie stays active as an alpine ski instructor, an avid flower gardener, a volunteer at the opera, and a kayaker. Looking forward to advancing the mission of Equality New Mexico, she now serves on its board.

Marcus J. Porter - He | Him
Equality New Mexico Board Member

Marcus J. Porter is originally from Baltimore and has proudly called Albuquerque home for the past 15 years. He is the President and CEO of PT Marketing LLC and serves as Chairperson of the Board of Directors for CreatorsCollab. Marcus chose to make New Mexico home not only because of the opportunities to serve, but also because of the enchanting outdoors, the beauty of the landscape, and the warmth and friendliness of the people who make this community so special.

Marcus earned his undergraduate degree in Marketing and also pursued graduate studies in Business. His path into public leadership began in 2016 when he became involved in politics and went on to serve as a delegate representing New Mexico at the Democratic National Convention. He later served as Finance Chair of the Young Democrats of New Mexico and was elected as the first Black man and the first gay man to serve as Vice Chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico.

Throughout his career, Marcus has remained deeply committed to advocacy and service. He served for five years on the Board of Directors for the Supportive Housing Coalition, where he eventually became Vice President of the Board, helping advance efforts around housing and support for people experiencing homelessness. He has also worked extensively as a financial educator, teaching both youth and adults through credit union programs.

Helping people has always been at the heart of Marcus’s work. He is passionate about creating opportunity, strengthening communities, and using leadership to make a lasting difference in the lives of others.

Nathen Illidge Welch - They/Them | He/Him
Equality New Mexico Board Member

Nathen is a transplant from New Orleans and has lived in Albuquerque since 2016. They obtained a BA in Psychology and Costume Design from Christopher Newport University in Virginia, where they were born and raised. Nathen is a dedicated public servant and community advocate with a strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and LGBTQIA+ rights. Alongside their work as a government employee, they are an active voice in advancing access to gender-affirming care and supporting marginalized communities.

A celebrated drag performer and former Miss New Mexico Pride, Nathen uses art and performance as a platform for visibility, education, and empowerment. Their creative work extends into community theater in Albuquerque, where they continue to uplift local voices and storytelling.

During the challenges of 2020, Nathen played a key leadership role in preserving vital LGBTQIA+ spaces, serving as interim board president of the Albuquerque Social Club and contributing to the successful “Save the SOCH” campaign. Their efforts helped ensure the survival of a cornerstone community institution during a critical time.

Blending advocacy, artistry, and public service, Nathen brings passion, resilience, and a deep sense of purpose to their work on the EQNM board.