Saturday, October 25, 2008

Southern New Mexico Pride Halloween Ball To Be Held Oct. 31


LAS CRUCES - Please join Southern New Mexico Pride for An 80’s Halloween Ball from 8:00-11:00 p.m. on Halloween night, Friday, October 31, 2008 at the Las Cruces Country Club.

The Ball will feature a costume contest, door prizes, a cash bar and all the 80’s music you can shake a broomstick at! Admission is $15 per person.

All ghosts, goblins, vampires, and witches 18 years and older are welcome.
Dress as wild and crazy as your imagination will allow.

All proceeds will go to fund Southern New Mexico Pride – celebrating diversity in Las Cruces. Pride puts on the Pride parade and celebration each June in Las Cruces.

Tickets available at the door and in advance at Spirit Winds in Las Cruces or by calling Jeff or Doug at 575-556-0264.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

New Gentlemen's Club to Meet Oct. 25th

The second gathering of the newly formed Gentlemen's Club of Las Cruces was held at the home of Paul Sestina on East Mesa. Seventeen men attended the potluck dinner and had a great time.

The group decided at this event to become more inclusive in its membership circle in the Las Cruces area, including neighboring communities, by welcoming gay men of all ages, single or coupled, and to attempt social outings in addition to its monthly potluck dinners. The group's mailing list now numbers 31 men.

The next event will be a potluck dinner (please bring an appetizer or dessert) on Saturday, October 25 at 6:00 PM. Those who wish to attend, or for further information, are asked to call John at 382-6914 or e-mail jabart83@aol.com by October 22. Location and directions will be given upon request.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

GLBT History Month 2008






NM GLBTQ Centers Begins Community Needs Assessment




The New Mexico State Fair marked the beginning of the first statewide gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning (GLBTQ) community needs assessment. New Mexico GLBTQ Centers, Inc., a Las Cruces based non-profit creating GLBTQ Community Centers statewide has received a $9800 grant from The Gamma Mu Foundation of Ft. Lauderdale, FL to partially fund the comprehensive statewide GLBTQ Community Needs Assessment. The New Mexico GLBTQ Community Needs Assessment will look at the needs of New Mexico’s diverse GLBTQ community in areas of healthcare, mental healthcare, senior programs, youth programs and other issues. The survey, which will be used to develop Center programs, will include both urban and rural areas of New Mexico.

“According to the Movement Advancement Project, the GLBTQ population of New Mexico is 68,411 people,” States David Stocum, Interim Executive Director of NM GLBTQ Centers. “We know many of these residents feel isolated and afraid,” Stocum continues. “This assessment is a step in ending that isolation and fear, a step in fully including ourselves in the community of New Mexico.”

The Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University completed a market analysis during the summer as part of the New Mexico GLBTQ Community Needs Assessment. The market analysis found that “The development of the GLBTQ Centers will be a positive improvement on the well-being of the GLBTQ population. Building on improving the lives of this population is necessary for economic and social development. With assistance, many individuals in the rural areas will achieve a higher standard of living, and over time the NM Centers have the potential to effect positive change throughout the entire state of New Mexico.”

NM GLBTQ Centers was at the New Mexico State Fair with other GLBTQ community groups and was recruiting survey participants and volunteers to assist with the community needs assessment. Anyone interested in assisting may also contact the Centers at info@newmexicoglbtqcenters.org.

PFLAG Las Cruces to Hold “Transparent” Fundraiser

PFLAG Las Cruces will screen the film Transparent at it 13th annual Celebrate Diversity Fundraiser November 8, 2008 at the Hershel Zohn Theatre at New Mexico State University.

Transparent is a documentary that focuses on 19 female to male transgender people and their coming to terms with transitioning. The 2005 film has been acclaimed as one of the best examples of new Trans cinema.

For more information or to purchase tickets contact Merlyn at 575-522-2624 or pflaglascruces@yahoo.com.

Remembering Matthew 10 Years Later



Photo by Gina van Hoof



Ten years ago on October 6th Matthew Shepard was brutally beaten and left to die. After days in a coma, he passed away on October 12, 1998.

According to the Matthew Shepard Foundation website, “Matthew was an optimistic and accepting young man. He always put his family and friends first and had a special gift of relating to almost everyone. He was the type of person that was very approachable and always looked to new challenges. Matthew had a great passion for equality and always stood up for the acceptance of people's differences.”

Matthew’s mother Judy founded the foundation to work to end hate. The current “Campaign to Erase Hate” focuses on ten ways to erase hate everyday. You can learn more about Matthew’s life and legacy at www.matthewspepard.org or www.matthewsplace.com.

ABQ Pride 9th Most Popular NM Event

New Mexico Business Weekly is out with their annual list of the top annual events in New Mexico, and Albuquerque Pride is ranked 9th on the list up from 20th last year. The most popular event is the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta followed by the State Fair.


Albuquerque Pride is in the company of the Spanish Market in Santa Fe and the Bernalillo Wine Festival. It is more popular than such institutions as the Hatch Chile Festival and Santa Fe’s Zozobra burning.


New Mexico Business Weekly reports attendance at this year’s parade and PrideFest was 30,000.

EQNM Executive Director Resigns



In a late night email to supporters on September 28th Alexis Blizman announced that after three years at the helm of Equality New Mexico, she was leaving the state’s advocacy agency.

“I am writing to you today to inform you that as of tonight, I am leaving my position of Executive Director of Equality New Mexico. This decision was a difficult but necessary one. For personal reasons, I have decided to move on,” Blizman stated in the email.


She continued, “The last three years have been incredible. We have fought to make New Mexico a better home for the LGBT community and our allies, defeating numerous pieces of anti-gay legislation and taking significant steps forward in our struggle for equality. I know that there is still much work to do, and even as I leave my position as ED, I remain committed to Equality New Mexico, its mission, and to the LGBT community.”


The resignation comes in the midst of a critical legislative election that could have a major impact on the community’s legislative agenda in the 2009 sixty day session. As of this writing the Press has been unable to obtain a response from EQNM.

Farmington GSA Thrives

KOAT-TV is reporting a club within the Farmington School District is celebrating its one year anniversary.

It's a big accomplishment, since the formation of the controversial club almost ended all school clubs at Piedra Vista High School. The Gay Straight Alliance is thriving according the story reported on the ABC station’s website. The entire story is available at the following link http://www.koat.com/news/17611760/detail.html?rss=alb&taf=alb

October Indulgence

Normal Heart Community Ventures Presents
“October Indulgence”
Thursday October 23, 2008 6:30 PM
Paisano Café
1740 Calle de Mercado in Mesilla

RSVP to Colin at cgromatz@nmsu.edu or 888-286-9306
Please RSVP by October 10th so we can make the reservations

Join us for dinner and conversation
You order off the menu and pay your check

$10 donation to support projects of Normal Heart Community Ventures

We’ll indulge one lucky guest with dessert on us.