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.
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