Happy 3 Years Las Cruces!

It is hard to believe that three years ago today our first community center in Las Cruces had its soft opening. We've made great strides from very humble beginnings.  The Rainbow Center in Gallup came on board last fall, Las Cruces had almost double the client visits in 2012 as in 2011, and we became an affiliate with SAGE and members of the National Coalition of Anti-violence Programs. 2013 is shaping up to be an exciting year both for New Mexico GLBTQ Centers and the LGBT community as a whole. Marriage equality is at the U.S. Supreme Court, New Mexico awaits an opinion from the Attorney General whether same-sex marriage is already legal here and opponents of equality are now outnumbered. The excitement for New Mexico GLBTQ Centers includes a larger location in Gallup, changes in our leadership structure and new programs. Among the new programs is the Gender And Sexuality Discussion Group (recurring 2nd Wednesday each month) which will meet at the Las Cruces  GLBTQ Center beginning April 10th at 6:30PM. It is an informal monthly discussion of topics related to gender and sexuality, open to everyone regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. Discussions may cover anything from basic definitions to current issues in politics and legislation, from scientific research to creative images, from pop culture to personal experiences. Feel free to join us whether you've had lots of exposure to issues of gender and sexuality or you're just starting to explore these topics. The group is facilitated by Jess Weinberg and Jeanine Deibel. If you would like more information, please contact the center at 575-635-4902. We've adjusted our leadership structure to provide improved focus on both local and statewide needs.  The Las Cruces and Gallup centers are led by Regional Operations Managers, Teresa Perez and Jordon Johnson, who are dedicated to building community through partnership and meeting local needs. In my role as Executive Director, I will focus on funding, program development, center development and supporting the local center leadership.  I will also continue our existing state and national partnerships while working to establish new collaborations.  We have also moved the organization's statewide headquarters out of the Las Cruces GLBTQ Center. As you can see, it is an exciting time, I hope you will join us for the adventure. Warmly, David Stocum Executive Director