LGBTQIA

Route 66 turns 100 this year. The road has carried travelers from all walks of life. That includes people in the LGBTQ+ community who are now making efforts to document their history on the Mother Road.

Many initiatives are underway to celebrate the 100th birthday of Route 66, including an event at the International District Library in Albuquerque, located right on the Mother Road. Organized by Together for Brothers, a Zine-making event will be held on Tuesday to document the history of queer culture on Route 66.

On Sunday, about 80 people gathered in Albuquerque’s Tiguex Park to celebrate the International Transgender Day of Visibility, which officially happens on March 31st.

When the New Mexico Legislature convenes next month, LGBTQ+ advocates will ask lawmakers to consider data privacy legislation.

The New Mexico Holocaust & Intolerance Museum in Albuquerque has opened a new exhibit, marking the first time it has ever focused on LGBTQ+ issues. Also a first for the museum, it was created by high school students.

Albuquerque’s City Council voted to expand the city’s definition of discrimination Monday to address pregnancy, disabilities and gender and sexuality.The changes are meant to put the city in line with state guidelines.

As many states have moved to restrict or ban gender-affirming care for trans people, a few states, including New Mexico, have codified protections. But those laws don’t always mean accessing care is simple or quick, as a surge in new patients in the state collides with limited doctors and clinics.

It’s Banned Books Week, and some New Mexicans are celebrating simply by reading. The American Library Association is behind the event and puts out a list of most commonly banned books each year.

On this episode we talk with Deirdre Caparoso about explosion of challenges against libraries and books. She is outreach and community engagement librarian at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center. She is also chair of the intellectual freedom committee for the New Mexico Library Association.

The country’s largest LGBTQ plus civil rights organization has declared a state of emergency – a first in its 40-year history. The Human Rights Campaign said it’s a response to a surge in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation around the country. In comparison, New Mexico gets high marks for its protections.