Today is exactly two weeks from Election Day in many New Mexico towns and cities. And while Local Elections get very little attention most of the time, the eyes of the LGBTQ Community should be intently focused on this election.
Over the past few years, we have seen more anti-LGBTQ bills than ever before introduced (and often passed) in states across the country. Thanks to activists, partner organizations, and champion legislators, we have been very successful in New Mexico, not only in holding off those bills at the State Level but in moving forward protective policies to protect Queer and Trans New Mexicans, especially youth.
But the fight isn’t over, and in fact, it‘s more dangerous than ever for LGBTQ young people.
MAGA-aligned groups like Moms for Liberty are bullies who want to make decisions for all parents by banning access to information and healthcare information they disagree with. It's unfair to the majority of parents for a small group of extremists to decide what students can learn about what books they can read, all while working to silence voices they disagree with. New Mexico parents deserve the freedom to raise their own children in safe, inclusive schools that ensure their students are ready to graduate and take their next steps. MAGA groups like Moms for Liberty shouldn't be allowed to make those decisions for everyone.
But if New Mexicans don’t turn out in elections across the state, these extremists will be successful in taking over school boards across the state, which will be the beginning of an entire generation of young people (and our communities) harmed by these extreme policies.
Look, we aren’t saying we don’t want parents involved in the education of their communities’ children. We are saying that a small handful of very loud parents, led by a group of extremists that are listed as a hate group, shouldn’t be allowed to decide for the majority of parents, teachers, and community members what information young people have access to.
So EQNM this year, once again, endorsed candidates for School Board (and City Council) in various areas of the state. And while we didn’t have the time and staff capacity to endorse everywhere, we point our followers and friends to the work of our partner organizations.
We worked together with Organizations like OLE NM and Working Families Party to engage with candidates across the State and ensure that we were all able to work together in the interest of protecting LGBTQ young people, as well as the other values we hold close: access to reproductive healthcare, economic justice and fair pay for teachers and education staff!
Share these resources with your friends and family, take this information with you to the polls, and don’t forget to cast your vote- our LGBTQ youth are counting on you!