The New Mexico Hate Crimes Act was approved in March 2003. This act allows a judge to increase the basic sentencing for an individual who "commits a crime because of bias or prejudice." Under prior law, the sentencing for an offender was the same regardless of whether or not the crime committed was based upon biases such as that of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, age, gender identity, physical or mental disability or serious medical condition. New Mexico joins 45 other states that already have hate crimes laws.

Read the full text of act http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/03%20Regular/bills/senate/SB0249.html

The New Mexico Human Rights Act was also amended in March 2003, to include "sexual orientation and gender identity," making it unlawful to discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Read the full text of the amendment http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/03%20Regular/FinalVersions/senate/SB0028.pdf

INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence is a national activist organization of radical feminists of color advancing a movement to end violence against women of color and their communities through direct action, critical dialogue and grassroots organizing. http://www.incite-national.org/

Resources: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Equality New Mexico (EQNM) is a membership organization that uses the political process to guarantee full equality and justice for LGBT and allied communities in NM. http://www.eqnm.org/

New Mexico Gender Advocacy Information Network (NMGAIN) was established in November, 2000 as a source for information regarding the transgendered community. http://transgendernm.org/nmgain/

Resources: National

Human Rights Campaign
http://www.hrc.org/

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
http://www.thetaskforce.org/