Category: new mexico

A Light in the Desert | | Santa Fe Reporter

This blog originally appeared at Santa Fe Reporter.

As surrounding states pass laws limiting access to gender-affirming services, New Mexico provides refuge

The phone began ringing during the initial week of June, to be precise, on June 3rd, just one day after Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a prohibition on gender-affirming care for minors into law.

On that particular day, Marshall Martinez, the Executive Director of Equality New Mexico, mentioned that he received a minimum of five phone calls from individuals residing across the state border. In each case, they posed the identical query: “I’m relocating my family to New Mexico; what essential information should I be aware of?”

The phone calls have persisted throughout the summer.

Despite legal actions taken by families, physicians, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and a temporary pause granted by a state district judge, the Texas Supreme Court reversed that ruling last week, and the law officially came into effect on Friday, September 1st.

Texas has now become one of over 20 states that have implemented legislation prohibiting or restricting gender-affirming care for minors. Some other states have adjusted their policies to create obstacles and discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals. Given this situation, New Mexico is emerging as a sanctuary due to the recent enactment of laws that uphold rights and care within the state, particularly in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade in June 2022.

The decision initiated a process of unraveling abortion rights nationwide, along with access to gender-affirming healthcare.

The altered legal landscape in New Mexico has led advocates and healthcare providers in the state to prepare for an increase in out-of-state visitors, potentially even new residents.

However, leaders within well-established resource organizations caution that the limited resources in other states could place excessive strain on the available services here.

Adrien Lawyer, co-director of the Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico, says the state has begun to experience “a very specific pressure” on providers and resources as a result of what is happening in Texas.

“I think it just goes to show that you can’t control these things this way,” Lawyer tells SFR. “Folks are still going to seek this care, but then it just puts a strain on systems that are already strained in a chronically under-resourced state like New Mexico. It just hurts everybody.”

Click here to see full blog: https://www.sfreporter.com/news/coverstories/2023/09/06/a-light-in-the-desert/

Here are the most affordable states for retirees | The Hill

This blog originally appeared at The Hill.

A new study identifies a rugged group of states — Wyoming, Utah, Montana and Idaho — as the most affordable destinations for American retirees. 

Clouds rise above the mountains of the Teton Range as seen from Grand Teton National Park in Jackson Hole, Wyoming on August 15, 2022.

If those places sound cold, consider some warmer states that rank nearly as high in cost of living and other affordability measures: Virginia (5th on the list), New Mexico (7th), Tennessee (10th), Georgia (12th) and South Carolina (15th). 


According to a study conducted by Seniorly, a senior-living site, states were ranked based on eight financial factors important to seniors who are planning to retire on a budget. It is worth noting that the study did not consider lifestyle or climate factors typically associated with retirees moving to warmer states in the South. Instead, it focused on housing costs and living expenses, taking into account recent inflation and retirement account volatility.

Census figures indicate that over 200,000 Americans relocated to new states for retirement in 2022. The most popular destinations were Florida, North Carolina, Michigan, Arizona, and Georgia. While Florida and Arizona have long been favored retirement destinations, it’s worth noting that they have become more crowded and less affordable in recent years.

Despite the desire for warmer climates, a significant majority of older Americans, approximately three-quarters, express a preference to stay in their current homes and communities, as revealed by an AARP survey. This sentiment is often driven by a sense of attachment to the places where they grew up and raised their families, as well as the difficulty associated with changing healthcare providers.

As retirees evaluate their options, they are increasingly considering housing costs and living expenses, recognizing the impact of inflation and market volatility on their retirement savings. While Florida and Arizona continue to be popular choices, retirees are also exploring alternatives that offer a balance of affordability and quality of life.

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