Supporters, Members and Friends of EQNM,
I’m so excited to have a chance to introduce myself to you.
As you may have heard I have been appointed by the Board of Directors at EQNM as the Interim Executive Director. I am both thrilled and honored to be taking up this position.
I'm no stranger to the fight for equality and liberation, my first job in the activism world was in fact here at EQNM. I’ve worked as an organizer and political strategist for multiple candidates and organizations; from fighting climate change with the League of Conservation Voters to working for fair pay and safe working conditions with AFSCME-the public employees labor union. All personal fights because, like all of us, I have lived a multi-issue life.
I was born and raised in Alamogordo, New Mexico to a working-class family and a group of particularly strong women (and a few great men, too!) In High School, I worked to educate young people about safer sex. That’s when I learned that the rules don’t always align with what’s best for us. I was proud to lead a group of youth who fought sex-ed rules in Alamogordo Public Schools that banned the carrying or distribution of condoms on campus.
When I moved to Albuquerque to attend UNM, I was bitten by the political bug. I left UNM to work on multiple candidate campaigns, and for the Democratic Party. I’ve been doing it ever since. Most recently I was the New Mexico Director of Public Affairs at Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains; leading the charge to grow that department in New Mexico from a staff of 1 and a roughly $50,000 per year budget to a political force - 6 full-time staff across the state and a 98% “win-rate” for PP endorsed candidates in New Mexico.
I'm excited to bring these experiences, my truly intersectional approach, and my passion for building coalitions and organizing across the state, to EQNM!
But I strongly believe the African Proverb “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together."
That’s why I’m going to ask you to join me, to join us, in building a new EQNM that can harness and focus the power of LGBTQ New Mexicans across the state. Those asks will come, but today I just want to let you know who is at the helm.
Of course, I do live outside of my work, though often not much. In a pre-pandemic world, I could often be found performing as a drag queen at the Albuquerque Social Club or traveling with my closest friends. Now I wind down by sewing or reading at home or binge-watching legal and medical dramas on TV.
Together I know that we can create and achieve a policy that betters the lives of Queer and Trans-New Mexicans, and that we can ensure the voices of LGBTQ+ people across New Mexico are heard in every place where decisions are made. These will be my priorities, and I hope they will be among yours as well.
I look forward to working with you,
Marshall Martinez
Marshall Martinez
Interim Executive Director