In response to the Presidential election and concerns from married same-gender couples about their marriages being invalidated, the National Center for Lesbian Rights provided this statement...
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Equality New Mexico (EQNM), the state’s leading LGBTQ advocacy organization, has announced plans for southern New Mexico program expansion and utilizing remote co-working spaces across the state to increase budget efficiency and work within communities.
The death penalty is a costly and unjust system, and its enforcement has not proven to deter crime or lower homicide rates. New Mexicans know this, and successfully advocated for the state legislature to repeal the death penalty in 2009.
We often don't know what to do in times of crisis and devastation, and nothing we can do will ever erase the horror and hate that has been inflicted on the victims and families in Orlando, and our LGBTQ community at-large. But, we can come together and show the world that we will not succumb to fear and violence.
Equality New Mexico’s work did not end with same sex marriage. LGBTQ New Mexicans still experience discrimination, lack of acceptance from family, peers, co-workers and the general public, and a policy environment that obstructs equality under the law and quality of life. The events are to draw awareness to the issues and solutions.
Santa Fe, NM—Today, Santa Fe Public Schools (SFPS) announced the incorporation into existing policy of an administrative regulation addressing the safety and well being of transgender students. Formally introduced in October 2015 through the efforts of the Santa Fe Chapter of the All Families Matter Coalition and New Mexico Safe Schools Initiative partners, the regulation ensures students are addressed by the name and pronoun corresponding to their gender identity, and requires access to gender-segregated activities and areas in accordance with students’ gender identity. The regulation is supported by changes made to the SFPS Nondiscrimination Policy last year, in which ‘gender identity’ and ‘gender expression’ were added as protected classes.
“After a year of development and negotiation on this directive, supported by over a decade of community-led advocacy, we couldn’t be more excited to see APS advance protections for transgender students—one of the most marginalized student populations in our schools,” said EQNM Executive Director Amber Royster. “We are grateful for the tireless efforts of APS Title IX Director Janalee Barnard and the work of the APS Office of Equity LGBT Advisory Committee for ensuring that all students are safe and respected, and have every opportunity for success.”
"I’ve been a priest for 28 years,” said Fr. Rusty Smith, Executive Director of St. Martin's Hospitality Center. "Faith is at the center of my life, and freedom of religion is deeply important to me. But, this legislation would allow businesses to refuse to serve those who don’t share their beliefs. That just doesn’t sit right with me. Religion shouldn’t be used to hurt people, to impose one’s beliefs on others, or to discriminate.”
Albuquerque, NM – December 4, 2015 –The New Mexico Public Education Commission (PEC) recently unanimously passed a resolution in support of the New Mexico Safe Schools Initiative, an ongoing collaboration between Equality New Mexico (EQNM), Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico (TGRCNM), the New Mexico Gay Straight Alliance Network (NMGSAN), Prevention at Play, Southwest Women’s Law Center (SWLC), and the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN) of Albuquerque. The resolution also supports the Safe Schools for All Students Act, legislation introduced by Sen. Bill Soules (D-Las Cruces) in 2015 legislative session.
Equality New Mexico worked alongside over 100 civil and human rights organizations, including Immigration Equality, CIVIC, National Center for Transgender Equality, and United We Dream to run a campaign to stop the transfer that garnered national attention from the media and members of Congress.