Equality New Mexico is a left-of-center organization promoting LGBT interests and other left-of-center legislation. In 2023, the group helped pass legislation that made on-demand abortion and sex changes legal rights under New Mexico law. ¹ In New Mexico’s 2024 legislative session, the group opposed bills cracking down on crime, claiming that increased policing and jail time does not work. ²

The group opposed Target’s removal of Pride merchandise from selected stores in 2023. ³

Background

Activists founded Equality New Mexico in 1993 in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic sweeping through New Mexico’s gay population at the time. The activists claimed the problem was not finances or medicine. Instead, the activists claimed the problem was discrimination against gays. ⁴

The initial goal of the group was to amend the New Mexico Human Rights Act to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The group also pushed for the passage of a hate crimes law in New Mexico. Both pieces of legislation were passed in 2003 by the New Mexico legislature. ⁵

After 2003, the group consisted of Equality New Mexico, a 501(c)(4) advocacy arm, and the Equality New Mexico Foundation, a 501(c)(3) educational arm. ⁶

Beginning in 2009, the group began running TV ads and lobbying members of the New Mexico legislature to legally recognize same-sex relationships. In 2013, the New Mexico Supreme Court compelled legal recognition of same-sex marriages, and the group credits its work for the result of lack of a backlash in opposition. ⁷

Endorsements

In 2022, Equality New Mexico endorsed Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) for reelection, citing her stances on LGBT-related issues. ⁸

Positions

Opposition to Bullying in Schools

Equality New Mexico supported the anti-bullying program New Mexico Safe Schools Initiative. The group worked with school districts statewide to update their bullying prevention guidelines. ⁹

Transgender Name Change Policies

Equality New Mexico worked to make it easier for transgender New Mexicans to legally change their names and gender identification on state documents. ¹⁰

In the 2023 legislative session, Equality New Mexico convinced the state legislature remove a law requiring transgender people to run an ad in the local newspaper before they changed their names. ¹¹

Abortion and Sex Changes as Rights

In 2023, Equality New Mexico persuaded the New Mexico legislature to pass a bill that made abortion and sex changes a right that could not be infringed upon by any local government or anything else. ¹²

Left-of-Center Voting Legislation

In 2023, Equality New Mexico supported legislation passed by the New Mexico legislature that restored voting rights to all felons upon release from prison, created a permanent vote-by-mail list, and created automatic voter registration. ¹³

Target Pride Merchandise

In May 2023, Target removed from its stores Pride merchandise that critics alleged was targeted at children after customer complaints. It also removed merchandise from Abprallen, a London-based company that makes occult and Satanic-themed clothing and accessories. ¹⁴

In June 2023, Equality New Mexico signed a Human Rights Campaign letter calling on Target to reverse its decision to remove Pride merchandise from display in some stores, protect its employees from anti-LGBT bullying, and release a public statement in support of the LGBT community. ¹⁵

Kids Online Safety Act

In October 2023, Equality New Mexico announced its opposition to the proposed federal Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) claiming the legislation could be used by state attorneys general to harm LGBT children. The group cited conservative states’ opposition to far-left critical race theory, proposals to restrict information about abortion access, and the conservative Heritage Foundation’s support for keeping transgender content away from kids. ¹⁶

Paid Family Leave

In January 2024, Equality New Mexico supported legislation that would compel employers to provide paid family leave to all New Mexico workers. ¹⁷

Crime

In January 2024, Equality New Mexico warned New Mexico lawmakers against adopting a tough-on-crime stance. The group claimed that increased policing and jail time does not work. ¹⁸

Leadership

Equality New Mexico’s executive director is Marshall Martinez. Previously, he worked for the government worker union AFSCME and the League of Conservation Voters. ¹⁹

Monet Silva is the chairwoman of the board. ²⁰

Financials

According to Equality New Mexico’s 2022 tax return, the group had $126,409 in revenue, $86,845 in expenses, and $66,816 in assets. ²¹

1. “Governor Signs House Bill 7, Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Act.” Office of the Governor – Michelle Lujan Grisham, March 16, 2023. https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/03/16/governor-signs-house-bill-7-reproductive-and-gender-affirming-health-care-act/.
2. “Legislative Session Week 1 Summary.” Equality New Mexico, January 19, 2024. https://www.eqnm.org/news/2024/1/19/legislative-session-week-1-summary.
3. “Breaking: Over 200 LGBTQ+ and Allied Organizations Call on Target, Business Community to Speak out against Extremist Anti-LGBTQ+ Attacks.” Human Rights Campaign, June 5, 2023. https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/breaking-over-200-lgbtq-and-allied-organizations-call-on-target-business-community-to-speak-out-against-extremist-anti-lgbtq-attacks.
4. Dunlap, Susan. “Equality New Mexico Celebrates 30 Years, Looks Forward .” NM Political Report -, January 12, 2023. https://nmpoliticalreport.com/news/equality-new-mexico-celebrates-30-years/.
5. Dunlap, Susan. “Equality New Mexico Celebrates 30 Years, Looks Forward .” NM Political Report -, January 12, 2023. https://nmpoliticalreport.com/news/equality-new-mexico-celebrates-30-years/.
6. Dunlap, Susan. “Equality New Mexico Celebrates 30 Years, Looks Forward .” NM Political Report -, January 12, 2023. https://nmpoliticalreport.com/news/equality-new-mexico-celebrates-30-years/.
7. Dunlap, Susan. “Equality New Mexico Celebrates 30 Years, Looks Forward .” NM Political Report -, January 12, 2023. https://nmpoliticalreport.com/news/equality-new-mexico-celebrates-30-years/.
8. Clark, Carol. “Equality New Mexico Endorses Gov. Lujan Grisham.” Los Alamos Daily Post, September 5, 2022. https://ladailypost.com/equality-new-mexico-endorses-gov-lujan-grisham/.
9. Banham, Mark. “Equality New Mexico: A Conversation with Program Manager John Flores.” Everything Gay in Santa Fe. Accessed January 22, 2024. https://www.gaysantafe.com/equality-new-mexico-conversation-program-manager-john-flores/.
10. Banham, Mark. “Equality New Mexico: A Conversation with Program Manager John Flores.” Everything Gay in Santa Fe. Accessed January 22, 2024. https://www.gaysantafe.com/equality-new-mexico-conversation-program-manager-john-flores/.
11.  “Equality New Mexico 2023 Legislative Session Funder Debrief.” Equality New Mexico, April 14, 2023. https://www.eqnm.org/news/2023/4/14/equality-new-mexico-2023-legislative-session-funder-debrief.
12.  “Governor Signs House Bill 7, Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Act.” Office of the Governor – Michelle Lujan Grisham, March 16, 2023. https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/03/16/governor-signs-house-bill-7-reproductive-and-gender-affirming-health-care-act/.
13. “Equality New Mexico 2023 Legislative Session Funder Debrief.” Equality New Mexico, April 14, 2023. https://www.eqnm.org/news/2023/4/14/equality-new-mexico-2023-legislative-session-funder-debrief.
14. Zilber, Ariel. “Target to Remove Some LGBTQ Merchandise after Facing Customer Backlash.” New York Post, May 31, 2023. https://nypost.com/2023/05/23/target-to-remove-some-lgbtq-merchandise-after-facing-customer-backlash/.
15. “Breaking: Over 200 LGBTQ+ and Allied Organizations Call on Target, Business Community to Speak out against Extremist Anti-LGBTQ+ Attacks.” Human Rights Campaign, June 5, 2023. https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/breaking-over-200-lgbtq-and-allied-organizations-call-on-target-business-community-to-speak-out-against-extremist-anti-lgbtq-attacks.
16. “We Must Stop Kosa at the Federal Level.” Equality New Mexico, October 30, 2023. https://www.eqnm.org/news/2023/10/30/7hm9r6l1sus0n0sjbbor0gr90ilypm.
17. “Legislative Session Week 1 Summary.” Equality New Mexico, January 19, 2024. https://www.eqnm.org/news/2024/1/19/legislative-session-week-1-summary.
18. “Legislative Session Week 1 Summary.” Equality New Mexico, January 19, 2024. https://www.eqnm.org/news/2024/1/19/legislative-session-week-1-summary.
19. “EQNM Staff.” Equality New Mexico. Accessed January 22, 2024. https://www.eqnm.org/staff.
20. “Board of Directors.” Equality New Mexico. Accessed January 22, 2024. https://www.eqnm.org/board.
21. “Equality New Mexico, Full Filing – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed January 22, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/912197418/202341349349200129/full.