NEW MEXICO GLBTQ CENTERS PROJECT UPDATE

BY RICHARD SCRAMSTAD

In light of recent community feedback, the New Mexico GLBTQ Centers project has had to take a step back in order to proceed to ensure long term sustainability. The community needs to be more involved and supportive, and not enough time had been planned to inform and educate the community on the project. The feedback from members of the community indicated that work needs to be done in clarifying the organizational structure, securing additional funding prior to opening and re-evaluating the currently proposed building.

In June of last year, meetings were held with the City of Las Cruces, and they (the city) turned out to be very supportive. So much so, that they offered the use of city owned property for the project. This prompted the Centers organization to move up their timetable, and to consider opening the center in June of 2009. They had originally planned on the first opening to be in June 2010. A timetable closer to the original will allow them time to address community concerns and ensure the long term sustainability of NM GLBTQ Centers.

It became apparent that the time allotted for marketing and public relations programs had to be drastically reduced. Unfortunately, the time left was too short.

New Mexico GLBTQ Centers have now taken a step back to allow the proper amount of time for informing and educating the community and to request their further involvement. Memberships in the Centers project and volunteers are being requested.

Visit their website at www.newmexicoglbtqcenters.org for more information on how you can help. This is an important step in finally developing a real sense of community for all New Mexicans that identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered or questioning.