EQNM Interim Executive Director

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

City of Albuquerque Improves Score on National LGBTQ+ Report Card

Albuquerque has made progress over the past year in LGBTQ equality and inclusion 

Albuquerque, N.M ⎻ The City of Albuquerque is climbing the charts on a national index that measures how well a city treats its LGBTQ+ community. The City earned a score of 85 this year, a jump up from 74 in 2018, according to the report released by the Human Rights Campaign.

The 2019 Municipal Equality Index (MEI) Report rates more than 500 cities nationwide based on their laws, policies, and services impacting the LGBTQ+ community.

“The improvement we made this year in making Albuquerque more inclusive is important progress for our community,” Mayor Keller said, “However, our work is not done. We will keep up our efforts to partner with local advocates, strengthen our policies and practices and fight discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.”

The City received points for ensuring transgender City employees receive health coverage benefits for transition-related health care, as well as for appointing a staff member to be a liaison between the Mayor’s Office and the LGBTQ community. The Human Rights Campaign also awarded points for the City of Albuquerque’s designation of a Pride House for LGBTQ elders during the National Senior Games, as well as for funding the Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico.

Albuquerque continues to score high in the areas of non-discrimination in City employment, having an inclusive workplace, and providing domestic partner benefits in the City’s employee benefit package. The City also rated highly for having a Human Rights Commission, for enforcing non-discrimination, and for reporting hate crimes to the FBI.

“In Albuquerque, we value and celebrate members of the transgender and queer communities,” says Adrian Carver, Executive Director of Equality New Mexico. “It’s important for LGBTQ+ Burqueños to know that our community has a strong partner in Mayor Keller. Equality New Mexico is proud to have worked with the two openly LGBTQ+ city councilors, Pat Davis and Diane Gibson, and the Mayor’s office to raise our score. We look forward to continuing this work so that everyone in our city lives a self-determinate life.”

The Human Rights Campaign issued the first MEI report card in 2012. Since its first report it has served as a tool and guide for many cities to develop, share and sustain equitable and inclusive practices for the LGBTQ+ community.  

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NEW MEXICO REACHES HIGHEST CATEGORY IN STATE EQUALITY INDEX:

The work of achieving full liberation for LGBTQ New Mexicans continues

SANTA FE, N.M.: This year, because of the diligent work of Equality New Mexico (EQNM), our state has joined the highest category in the State Equality Index (SEI). The SEI is a comprehensive report detailing statewide laws and policies that affect LGBTQ+ people and their families, and assessing how well states are protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination.

EQNM is celebrating 25 years of winning equality for New Mexico and being placed in the Working Toward Innovative Equality category of this report is an acknowledgement of our work. The SEI outlines the protections we have won, including a comprehensive non-discrimination law, safe schools laws, and healthcare access for transgender people. EQNM proudly continues to take a wide view of our mission, and uses a surgical approach to focusing on the implementation of laws and advancing innovative legislation that addresses the needs of vulnerable populations.

“The State Equality Index confirms what New Mexicans already know. Because of the passionate work led by generations of community members, this year the SEI categorizes our state as ‘Working Toward Innovative Equality’,” says Adrian N. Carver, Executive Director of Equality New Mexico. “We are proud to join the ranks of states who are leading the next phase of the LGBTQ+ movement, centering our work from our state’s cultural values of equity, inclusion, and liberation.”

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Equality New Mexico Announces Endorsements of Maggie Toulouse Oliver for Secretary of State and Stephanie Garcia Richard for Commissioner of Public Lands

ALBUQUERQUE, NM: Proudly, Equality New Mexico has endorsed Maggie Toulouse Oliver for Secretary of State and Stephanie Garcia Richard for Commissioner of Public Lands.

Toulouse Oliver has been instrumental in securing rights for the LGBTQ+ community. Knowing the road to marriage equality in New Mexico led through the courts, she invited the lawsuit filed by Kim Kiel and Rose Griego, et. al. that culminated in the Supreme Court’s 2013 “Griego v. Oliver”, ruling that marriage equality should be the law of the land in our state. 

“Maggie has proven herself to be one of the biggest allies of LGBTQ+ New Mexicans, time after time.” says Adrian N. Carver, Executive Director of Equality New Mexico (EQNM). “Because of Maggie, regardless of what happens at the federal level, LGBTQ+ New Mexicans will have the right to marry the person they love. She’s consistently leveraged her offices to secure tangible wins for our community and as EQNM continues to fight for voting rights for all New Mexicans, we need Maggie Toulouse Oliver to continue to be our Secretary of State.”

In a questionnaire turned into EQNM, Toulouse Oliver states, “I am running for Secretary of State because I believe that the more people participate in democracy, the more representative their government—and the policies it creates—are of all communities. As Secretary of State, I have worked to make it easier for everyone to register to vote, for people with disabilities to cast a ballot and for working people to be able to vote at times and places that make sense for their schedule. When everyone votes, everyone’s voices are heard. That’s how we affect real change. “

Representative Stephanie Garcia Richard, running to be the next Commissioner of Public Lands, an office traditionally held by men, also received the endorsement of EQNM.

Of Representative Garcia Richard’s nomination, Carver says, “In a state with incredible disparities in education, health, and economic opportunity the State Land Office has gone underutilized in efforts to achieve justice in those areas. EQNM’s endorsement of Stephanie is a signal that we need a new type of leader as Land Commissioner. LGBTQ+ New Mexicans need someone who can leverage the mandate of the Office to focus on the wellbeing of all our community members.”

Representative Garcia Richard’s questionnaire states, “For over 100 years, and even before that, our land has been rich in shared natural resources and we have not realized the full benefit of those resources.  We have sold off our interests to short term profit gain, making due with the piddling we get from those sales, protecting powerful interests, lobbyists and industries at the expense of our people and their welfare.  Now, we face an increasingly grim climate reality, health concerns, water scarcity, and a population that faces obstacles to healthcare access, quality education, economic opportunity; a population that faces generational poverty, addiction and cyclical violence and sees no one willing to stick up for them.  I’m running to change all that.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Equality New Mexico Announces Endorsements of Deb Haaland, Xochitl Torres Small; Incumbents Heinrich, Lujan

ALBUQUERQUE, NM: In a first round of political endorsements for the 2018 election, Equality New Mexico, the largest LGBTQ political advocacy organization in the state, announced its support of Congressional candidates Deb Haaland (NM-1) and Xochitl Torres Small (NM-2), ), along with incumbent U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich and Congressman and DCCC Chair Ben Ray Lujan. (NM-3).

Haaland is running for the open Albuquerque area Congressional seat being vacated by Gubernatorial candidate Michelle Lujan Grisham, and if elected, would be the first Native American woman to serve in Congress. 

Of Haaland's endorsement, Executive Director Adrian N. Carver said, "Deb Haaland has exhibited the ability to run a winning campaign in the primary and into the general election. In a crowded field, she maintained a clear advantage in our community survey because she has long advocated for the self-determination of LGBTQ+ New Mexicans. Aside from directly aligning on our issues, Deb has demonstrated an ability to raise the money necessary to win and out-organized her opponents to win the Democratic Party's State Convention. Not only can she win this race, but Native American women deserve representation and a seat at the table in Washington. We look forward to Deb breaking that ceiling and leaving the ladder down for future generations of Native women."  

Torres Small is running for the sprawling open Congressional District 3 seat in the Southern part of New Mexico. 

Carver said, "The vacancy created by Steve Pearce's run for Governor creates a unique opportunity in Congressional District 2. We must assure all New Mexicans are represented in Congress by people who support their families and want to see them thrive. I'm confident that 2018 is a year that Xochitl will replace Steve Pearce’s hateful rhetoric and deliver the representation LGBTQ New Mexicans in District 2 deserve.”

"While we have two open congressional seats, ready for new voices, we count Sen Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan as steadfast allies and among the strongest advocates for LGBTQ+ New Mexicans.”, says Carver, “Equality New Mexico has endorsed them both before and we’re proud to endorse both incumbents again.”

The endorsed candidates in contested primaries released the following statements: 

Xochitl Torres Small: "Equality New Mexico has been an amazing advocate for the LGBTQ community in New Mexico," said Torres Small. "Having partnered with EQNM while working at the UNM School of Law Clinic, I saw firsthand their commitment to ensuring that all New Mexican's civil liberties and rights were protected.  I am honored to have their endorsement, and look forward to continuing to work with them through the campaign and beyond."

Deb Haaland: "This endorsement is very personal for me, I've worked with EQNM for a very long time, and I’ll continue to work extremely hard to win this primary so I can champion equal rights for all and protection from all discrimination. In this Trump era, when too many people face increasingly hateful violence, we can't turn our backs for even a moment -- because if we do, Trump will continue to strip away the rights of our LGBTQ family. In Congress, I’ll stand up to Trump and his exclusion of transgender members in our military and I'll fight to make sure Title 9 protects everyone. It’s time that Congress works to truly address the oppression of our marginalized communities.”

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An open letter to our Members and supporters

Dear EQNM Members and Supporters,

Times of transition are opportunities to make organizational shifts and be innovative. The boards of Equality New Mexico, 501(c)4 and the Equality New Mexico Foundation, 501(c)3 are proud of the growth and development of our work over the years. We continue to be excited for the refinement of our statewide role in intersectional community-based movements, outreach, education, and policy development. When faced with identifying new leadership for the organization, we took the opportunity to think about how we could be ground-breaking in creating an organizational model that would reflect our commitment to shared decision-making and distribution of power.

The challenge with making organizational shifts is that it can be hard to predict barriers to successful outcomes. For personal reasons Ophelia Hu Kinney has chosen not to begin her role as Co-Director of Programs & Outreach at EQNM. We ask that you respect her privacy in reaching this decision and direct any questions about this change to the board. We know that Ophelia will continue to be a leader in her community and we wish her well in her future endeavors.

We originally hired Adrian N. Carver as Co-Director, Policy & Development because we were excited about his deep history in NM, statewide relationships, and the innovative ideas he presented to grow EQNM. Adrian is passionate about our communities and has devoted his life to advocating for all New Mexicans to be able to live with dignity, joy, and opportunity. We fully support his leadership and are excited to announce that we have named him Executive Director of Equality New Mexico and the Equality New Mexico Foundation, effective July 9th, 2017.

EQNM will continue to have bold ideas and vision as our work expands and grows statewide. We remain dedicated to our mission and vision while having an organizational structure that will sustain our statewide work and relations.  We have not given up on innovative leadership models and as we move forward, we commit to staying true to the values that led us toward the decision to make an infrastructure shift. We are prepared to work toward an organizational structure that will sustain our work, all of our staff, members, and community members. We remain committed to the values that drove us to select a co-directorship model and we are committed to finding ways to actualize those values within our existing structure.

Our intersectional movement is constantly changing, learning and expanding--which is why we must sustain and resist the institutional and societal actions designed to oppress us. We must be able to adapt to the needs of the community, and as board members, we believe that this change in direction is how we can best use our current capacity to continue uplifting the stories of New Mexicans and continue to fight for justice.

As such, we are happy to re-introduce you to Adrian N. Carver, Executive Director of Equality New Mexico and the Equality New Mexico Foundation. We are incredibly excited for his leadership and innovation. Please direct any questions you might have about this change to info@eqnm.org.

Sincerely,

The Equality New Mexico and Equality New Mexico Foundation Boards

EQNM Albuquerque Public School Board of Education Picks

Equality starts at home - in our neighborhoods, communities, and schools. 

On Tuesday, February 7th, four Albuquerque Public School Board of Education seats will be elected. Albuquerque is not only the largest school district in our state, but is also the 31st largest in the country. Your decision to vote could mean the difference between a Board that promotes fairness and access for all students, and one that promotes a pro-Trump, pro-tea party agenda. 

Early voting is happening now through February 4th - click here to find your nearest early voting location. If you can't make it early, please book the time in your schedule now for February 7th.

Nothing is more contradictory to New Mexico values of fairness, equality, and family than school board members who place their personal politics and beliefs over the access, safety, and wellbeing of all students - especially the most marginalized. Help us make sure we elect the best APS Board of Education possible.

Where to Vote & More Candidate Information

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