Pride Month 2024: Volunteer Opportunities and Organizing Events

Pride Month is just around the corner and EQNM will be showing up and showing out in events all over the state! We need volunteers. Have you been looking for a dedicated organization that does amazing work to donate some of your extra time to? You’ve found the right place!

We need you for several events throughout the month in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Farmington, and Portales.

Click the links to sign up to volunteer or come by and say hello if you’re planning on attending these events!

We hope to see you this summer! — Nathan & Elijah, EQNM organizers

EQNM’s 2024 Resilience Fundraiser, June 1

What is your FIGHT song? Come to the Albuquerque Social Club to volunteer, hang out with other queer & trans folks, and help fundraise money to help EQNM continue doing what it does best — advocating for our community! SIGN UP

Albuquerque PrideFest, June 7-8 SIGN UP

Albuquerque Pride Parade, June 8 SIGN UP

Santa Fe Pride on the Plaza, June 29 SIGN UP

Santa Fe Pride Parade, June SIGN UP

Farmington Pride in the Park, June 15 SIGN UP

Eastern NM Family PrideFest, June 29 SIGN UP

EQNM Endorsements for State Legislative Races

Equality New Mexico is PROUD to announce our second wave of endorsements for this years Primary Elections.

The reality is that LGBTQ people are still under attack across our country, and while New Mexico has the strongest protections in the country - we aren’t immune to these attacks. Protecting our Queer and Trans siblings means always fighting to elect people who will champion them!

At EQNM we have a thorough vetting process for these candidates, they fill out questionnaires about a multitude of intersectional issues to outline their beliefs and values, and then they are interviewed by our Endorsement Committee made up of LGBTQ leaders from across the state. Then our Board of Directors makes final decisions based on the recommendations of this Endorsements Committee.

These candidates all made promises to stand by EQNMs values, to approach policy from an intersectional framework and to help us continue to engage in our fight for liberation through their work in the Roundhouse in Santa Fe!

The Primary Election is June 4 - our LGBTQ communities need you to vote for these amazing Candidates and Champions!

EQNM's 2024 Early Endorsementsfor State Legislative Races

Equality New Mexic is PROUD to endorse these LGBTQ Fighters!!!

These candidates were selected for early endorsement because they have collectively been proactively leading our fight for intersectional LGBTQ Liberation!

These folks are the real deal. They work for queer and trans New Mexicans—and for all New Mexicans —year round, not just during the Legislative Session.

THE END: 2024 Legislative Session Was a Mixed Bag for LGBTQ+ New Mexicans

It’s been more than a month of competing priorities, behind-the-scenes politicking, and constant committee hearings at the Roundhouse. In the end, the 2024 legislative session will be remembered as a mixed bag for our community. We had some big wins, heartbreaking losses, and we quashed harmful initiatives wherever we saw them developing. Let’s recap what happened, and get energized for the work that lies ahead!

Session began with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s State of the State address, where she outlined an ambitious public safety agenda. Public safety is, of course, a priority for us all, but the governor’s approach was often less about safety and more about establishing the appearance of punishment. Along with our partner organizations, we managed to slow things down enough that really bad ideas didn't get anywhere. The legislature did pass a seven-day waiting period to purchase firearms and banned guns in polling places, taking a couple of steps toward a safer state. Not enough was done, but it's a good start for curbing the epidemic of gun violence in New Mexico. We can now focus on real solutions that involve all the stakeholders and voices from our communities.

EQNM worked alongside the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Providers to pass HB 151, the Benjamin Higher Education Sexual Violence Prevention and Intervention Act. New Mexico universities and colleges will now have to use the affirmative consent standard rather than making up their own ideas of what is and isn't sexual violence. Students will also receive training on affirmative consent, because we can't be expected to follow the same rules if we don't all know the rules to begin with. This victory was five years in the making, and we are so proud of NMCSAP and all whose dedication and persistence codified affirmative consent on New Mexico campuses.

Although the Paid Family and Medical Leave and Dignity Without Detention bills died, we will not give up on fighting for progress on both fronts. The Paid Family and Medical Leave bill brought forth in 2024 was both pro-business and pro-worker—a rarity. It was developed by experts for the past three years to provide New Mexico families with basic protections and help businesses work to keep employees even when they face crises, illness or created families. It included us. It is shameful that a handful of self-professed champions of LGBTQ people and families turned their back at the urging of conservatives who weren't telling the truth about this bill. The Dignity Without Detention loss was a blow to LGBTQ people seeking assylum in the US. We are severely disappointed in the legislators who support LGBTQ Americans, but don't see the reality of how ICE and private prison companies are treating our international siblings when they flee from homophobic and transphobic violence in other countries. We vow to work hard to help our partners who lead this cause get this done next year.

It’s hard to get many things done in a short legislative session; in even years sessions are only 30 days while they are 60 days in odd years. A number of bills we liked simply died for lack of time. We will continue to work through our organizing programs, our upcoming statewide LGBTQ summit, and through interim committee hearings to ensure that these are brought back and passed. 

We thank our EQNM community for staying informed and taking action during the legislative session. Your voices matter. It is essential that our elected officials begin to understand that LGBTQ people and our issues are truly intersectional. They need to see us as whole humans in need of physical and mental healthcare, jobs and employment security, and an effective community-based public safety strategy. For the rest of this year and in 2025 and beyond, we will advocate for legislative sessions driven by communities across the state and our lived experiences—not a top-down approach based on one person's "big ideas." 

We look forward to fighting with you for a legislative agenda that is bold, big, and ambitious.

Legislative Session: Week Four

It’s hard to believe that there is less than a week left in the 2024 legislative session! The tough-on-crime bills that dominated early discussions in the Roundhouse are slowing down amidst skepticism that they will work, although we still anticipate movement on gun safety measures. Until the action ends on Thursday February 15 at noon, we can expect marathon committee floor sessions every day, including this weekend. We’re optimistic that the key agenda items we’ve been supporting along with our partner organizations have a chance to pass. Be on alert for ways you can help let our legislators know that the affirmative consent and Paid Family Leave bills are essential progress for New Mexicans! If you have a minute right now, sign our petition in support of HB151 The Benjamin Higher Education Sexual Violence Prevention Act.

Our EQNM team is immersed in all things legislative. Shoutout to Nathan Saavedra and Michelle Najera (and her boyfriend Hector!) for joining Executive Director Marshall Martinez in Santa Fe today to support our community.

If you’re not following Haley Lynn’s epic EQNM TikToks, fix that now! Haley is covering the last week of the session in her posts.

Affirmative Consent passed the Senate Education Committee unanimously. The bill must now be addressed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The more noise we make, the better the chance that The Benjamin Higher Education Sexual Violence Prevention Act will become law. Let the Judiciary Committee know where you stand by signing EQNM’s petition. The link is available here and on all our social media platforms if you want to share it.

Thanks to the many champions who helped to push Affirmative Consent through the Senate! We see you working hard for us. 

Paid Family Medical Leave is still in play. In great news, it passed the Senate late last night!

Sadly, the Dignity Not Detention bill we supported died on the Senate floor. As it works now, ICE contracts with local New Mexico jails and private prisons to house immigrants that they solely can decide to detain. These local facilities are not subject to significant federal regulation, making them sites of gross abuses like harassment, hunger, sexual assault and other physical harms. The Dignity Not Detention bill would have prevented the state from contracting with ICE to use these facilities. New Mexico had a chance to put values before economics to ensure that we aren’t part of the torture of asylum seekers held by ICE, but members of the Senate killed that opportunity. Be sure to look up how your representatives voted on this bill, and remember it during the next election.

STAY TUNED

In the frantic final days of the session there will be an onslaught of meetings and news to keep up with about our bills and others. Legislators are continuing to take a thoughtful and deliberate approach to protecting our communities from gun violence, which will surely dominate much of the docket. Keep up with us on Twitter/X for the immediate stuff, and check back next week for our wrap up post. After you SIGN THE PETITION FOR HB151, of course. We’ll finally have answers soon!

Legislative Session: Week Three

Folks, we are halfway through the legislative session! The vibe in Santa Fe is more frenetic and frenzied. It feels like things are happening, and we’re pleased with the progress that has been made on some of our core priorities.

We took a stand to let our legislators know that criminalizing New Mexicans will harm members of the LGBTQ community that many of them have previously fought hard to protect. Tough-on-crime approaches are not the solution! Read the oped Executive Director Marshall Martinez wrote in the Las Cruces Sun.

WINS

Watch out for HB 289! 

Our top legislative priority to appropriate funds to the Department of Health for HIV prevention has some momentum. Keep track of the LGBTQ Health Care Training bill by following us on Twitter/X.  

We continued to support our partners. 

On Thursday we sponsored a Youth Lobby Day co-hosted by the ACLU and Planned Parenthood, where 100 young people were brought to the roundhouse to advocate for their communities. We have also been deepening our relationships with the ACLU and Bold Futures to center New Mexican voices in policy.

We spiced up the session by hosting Drag Brunch! Thanks to all who joined us.

STAY TUNED

We’re still monitoring many bills that impact queer folx and our allies. We expect to see some movement on Paid Family Medical Leave, the Benjamin Higher Education Sexual Violence Prevention Act, the Prohibit Library Book Banning bill, and others very soon.  

Only a few weeks left to keep fighting! Let’s stay energized and keep the momentum going.

Legislative Session: Week Two

Our second week in Santa Fe was filled with inspiring community actions, progress on bills we’re rooting for, and emerging details about the rest of the legislative agenda. On Thursday evening, we gathered with Planned Parenthood and other friends to honor the brilliant legal efforts of an attorney who worked fiercely to protect access to abortion and gender affirming care in the last legislative session! We also spent many hours in the roundhouse cafeteria breaking bread and strategizing. This work is tough, but we are fortunate to have lots of friends helping us out!

Our second week in Santa Fe was filled with inspiring community actions, progress on bills we’re rooting for, and emerging details about the rest of the legislative agenda. On Thursday evening, we gathered with Planned Parenthood and other friends to honor the brilliant legal efforts of an attorney who worked fiercely to protect access to abortion and gender affirming care in the last legislative session! We also spent many hours in the roundhouse cafeteria breaking bread and strategizing. This work is tough, but we are fortunate to have lots of friends helping us out!

The Paid Family Medical Leave bill (HB6/SB3) was heard on Wednesday, with many speaking up for its benefits. An alternative Paid Family Medical Leave bill (HB 11) was also shut down. The failed legislation was designed to support only mothers who recently gave birth and did not include LGBTQ familes or gender-affirming care. It only guaranteed 6 weeks of leave paid by the state and employee, not the employer. This is a great development for HB6/SB3 as it continues on in the process, and we are grateful for the members of the House Health Committee who saw beyond this ploy. We believe that caring for our families is not only a human right and a matter of dignity, but it is New Mexico values. It is the responsibility of everyone in our communities to 

Library-lovers can cheer for Sen Harold Pop and Representative Kathleen Cates (D-Bernalillo and Sandoval Counties) as the Prohibit Library Book Banning (HB123)is waiting for a message from the Governor so it can be heard. The bill makes libraries that ban books because of ideological material or disapproval of sexual orientation and other identifiers ineligible for state funding.

EQNM Champions Linda Serrato, Christine Chandler, and Kristina Ortez were incredible advocates this week. We’re not surprised to see them on the front lines, since they have previously supported legislation that helps trans people legally change their names, calls for gender affirming care, and expanding the Human Rights Act. 

STAY TUNED

We continue to await details on a variety of gun measures, as well as a panhandling bill. Our LGBTQ community is uniquely impacted by issues of violence, poverty, and homelessness so we will continue to closely monitor these developments to ensure that our safety and health are not compromised.

Keep up with us and keep the faith as we move deeper into the legislative process! We’ll be back with another update next week.

Legislative Session: Week 1

Fighting For LGBTQ Rights in the Crime-Focused 2024 Legislative Session 

The 2024 legislative session began this week with its customary pomp and circumstance.  There was a buzz in the air among people eager to represent their communities and make meaningful investments of our state’s budget surplus to help New Mexicans for generations to come! EQNM, Planned Parenthood, ACLU, and New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Providers all showed up in force! I was invited to sit on the House of Representatives floor with Rep Kristina Ortez, Equality Champion, alongside commissioners from Taos County and other partner organizations. We were all very excited, especially to welcome the first LGBTQ-identifying representative to the Majority Caucus in the House - Representative Cristina Parajon! 

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham began the session with her Tuesday State of the State address, focusing heavily on public safety, gun safety, and climate change measures. There was a lot of tough-on-crime talk in Santa Fe as the governor referenced dozens of bills that range from increased waiting periods to assault weapons bans. While LGBTQ folks are disproportionately impacted by violence, our community also knows that increased policing and jail time does not make us safer. EQNM will be here in the state capital for the duration of the session, working alongside our longtime partners like ACLU, Bold Futures NM, OLE NM, and the Southwest Women’s Law Center to ensure that LGBTQ New Mexicans and our allies will be represented, protected, and prioritized. 

WINS

Paid Family Medical Leave

The Governor has prioritized the Paid Family Medical Leave Act House Bill (HB) 6, Senate Bill (SB) 3

The bill means that New Mexicans will be able to take time away from work to welcome a new child, face a serious health issue, or support a seriously ill family member. This includes gender-affirming healthcare!

Affirmative Consent on Campuses

The Governor has prioritized the Benjamin Higher Education Sexual Violence Prevention & Intervention Act HB151

The bill means that affirmative consent will be used as the standard when investigating misconduct on college campuses. This is critical because we no longer live in a no-means-no world. We have to make college students feel safe in knowing that only #YesMeansYes. 

STAY TUNED

We will continue to update the EQNM community each week of the legislative session here on our news blog. Next week you can expect more detailed breakdowns of what the crime and gun bills will entail and where we stand, as well as the status of other bills. You can also keep up with developments and opportunities to take action daily on our social media channels. 

Let’s pass paid family medical leave and campus sexual assault safety measures while working to make sure that proposed policies to address crime and gun safety don’t just result in more mass incarceration!

Calling Queer and Trans Artists!

Calling Queer and Trans Artists!

Equality New Mexico is planning our first LGBTQ Statewide Summit in over 20 years!  

In 2024 we will gather Queer and Trans folks from across the state to build relationships and strategize about the next phase of our movement in New Mexico!  And we want YOUR help!

To kick off the planning of this Summit, we are asking artists in New Mexico to submit designs for a logo for this summit!  The logo will be printed on all of our materials, used to advertise and recruit for the summit, and be a part of the LGBTQ history of New Mexico!

Art submissions are due no later than midnight on January 22, 2024.  Artists should submit artwork to Summit@eqnm.org as a PDF, JPEG, or PNG file.

Specifications for submission:

• If artwork is painted, drawn, or otherwise created on paper, a digital artist will recreate the artwork for use in materials. (Digital artist will recreate with as little change to the original design as possible)

• Only artwork submitted as a PDF, PNG, or JPEG file will be considered.

• Only artwork submitted before midnight of January 22, 2024, will be considered.

Rules for the contest:

• Artwork must include the words “LGBTQ Statewide Summit” to be considered

• Artwork must be appropriate for all audiences and age groups to be considered.

• Artwork submitted to EQNM for this logo becomes the property of Equality New Mexico. 

• EQNM will have sole control of how, when, and where said artwork is used.

• EQNM will credit the artist for any use of the logo. 

Judging Criteria:

• Connection to the LGBTQ Community

• New Mexico-specific references or “feel.”

• Relationship to the Goals and Purpose of the State Summit

• Reconnecting LGBTQ people from across the state to build relationships

• Cultural sensitivity and consideration in a multi-racial, multi-generational, and multicultural state.

• Ability to translate design to digital and print in multiple sizes for multiple types of materials.

Prizes:

• The winner of the Logo Contest will receive $350.

• The winner of the Logo Contest will receive 1 registration, plus travel and lodging for the conference.

• All artists who enter will be entered into a raffle drawing for other prizes, including (but not limited to):

• Free travel stipend to attend the Summit

• Free lodging stipend for Summit

• EQNM Swag Package

EQNM is hiring!

EQNM Development Associate Job Description

Equality New Mexico, a statewide LGBTQ advocacy and Public Education organization is seeking a part-time Development Associate. Our team is searching for a highly motivated, goal-oriented individual to assist us in meeting our significant fundraising goals for the growth and stability of our dynamic organization.

Job Overview

The ideal candidate will have experience in event planning, donor cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation to achieve continued and increased support of EQNM’s mission and financial support. However, we will consider an individual who has the skill and ability to quickly learn fundraising techniques and methods. There is potential for the position to eventually grow into full-time, as the budget allows.

Main Areas of Responsibility

• Assist the Executive Director and Board of Directors in developing a fundraising plan to include cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation of current and potential donors, volunteers, and other supporters of EQNM.

• Assist in the development and implementation of fundraising events, including house parties and other events accessible to various demographics. 

• Willingness to communicate with donors via phone and email.

• Work collaboratively with the EQNM administrative assistant in scheduling and organizing fundraising committee meetings, donor meetings, and events.

• Work collaboratively with the communications staff in facilitating compelling fundraising communications with supporters of EQNM.

• Schedule donor and constituent meetings between the Board of Directors and/or Executive Director.

• Utilize various research tools for mining potential EQNM donors and supporters.

• Convene and facilitate a fundraising committee to expand EQNM’s donor base, volunteers, supporters, and visibility in the community. 

• Assist EQNM staff in preparation of grant applications and reports, i.e., track and calendar deadlines, proofread documents, and other tasks as assigned.

• Support EQNM staff and committees in the planning and execution of major fundraising events.

• Compile fundraising progress reports and assist with budget reports as needed.  

•  Assist with special projects.

Position Requirements

Exceptional verbal and written communications skills; comfortable speaking in public

Have access to reliable internet service

Ability to work remotely and engage in Zoom meetings

Demonstrated ability to multi-task, plan, and organize multiple projects and meet deadlines while maintaining focus

Knowledge of Google Suite programs.

Willingness and ability to travel on occasion

Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed

Ability to quickly learn new systems (technology as well as organizational)    

EQNM is committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and we encourage People of Color, Women, Trans folks, and people of various experience levels to apply! 

To Apply, email resume and simple cover letter to Marshall@eqnm.org