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Caveat!

These inforamtional blurbs haven't been updated in a while, so take the information with a grain of salt.

As new inforamtion pours in and these communities change and grow,your humble webmaster will attempt to update this information, and flag the things that are new.

Until then, this section is strictly AYOR (At-Your-Own-Risk)!

Yours,
Jon-Carl Lewis
13-Aug-98.

Albquerque, Las Cruces, Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Silver City, and Taos

Albuquerque

(pop. 410,000)

Community Spirit
The community in Albuquerque is as diverse as it is large. While not unfied in coherent action it nevertheless offers a great deal of opportunity for involvement. It has several large public events every year including the annual Albuquerque Gay and Lesbian Pride (2,500 people and growing), National Coming Out Day Fiesta, WIMINFest concerts, the Zia Gay Rodeo, Summer Solstice, a women's event, in addition the major events in the city such as the Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Summerfest (multi-cultural celebrations every Satyrday night in the summer, the State Fair (over one million visitors annually), professional baseball, hockey and soccer teams, and the highly ranked UNM basketball teams. Happily there is an under 21 support group for the gay and lesbian youth of the region. No other city in the state has succeeded in maintaining such a group. Albuquerque has a very supportive mayor and has made recent advances including the only hate crimes law in the state. In a recent publication Albuquerque was named as one of the best metropolitan living environments for gay and lesbian people.

Local Hot Spots
As a large metropolitan area Albuquerque offers many diversions. The Nob Hill area on Central and the area just south of the University of New Mexico are regarded as the gay region of town. This area is populated with gay friendly restuarants, stores and shops. Albuquerque has the state's only Gay and Lesbian bookstore as well as one of the oldest women's bookstores in the country. There are five gay bars scattered mostly throughout the south side of the city from east to west along Central Avenue. See the Professional Directory for listings.

Housing
Albuquerque is a rapidly growing city. Most growth occurs in the northwest and east sides of the city. Many new homes are being constructed on the western side of the Rio Grande River which runs through the middle of town. As a result housing is affordable considering the urban area. The Nob Hill neighborhood is regarded as a neighborhood with potential. It is an older section of the city possessing some charm which the new suburban sprawl noticeably lacks.

Job Market
New industries are moving to Albuquerque at a rapid pace. The low cost of housing, the favorable weather, and the amenities of the city are all factors. The city is particularly strong in technology. Sandia Lab, a national research facility, and the University of New Mexico contribute new ventures and qualified staff to the region. Most large businesses and agencies have non-discrimination policies inclusive of sexual orientation, and several (i.e. UNM, AOL, and Intel) offer domestic partner benefits.Check the on-line version of the Albuquerqe Journal for employment ads.

Schools
Albuquerque has one of the largest school systems in the country. As in any city a tour of the schools and discussions with teachers and counselors will be your best determinant in deciding which school is best for your child. Albuquerque also has a number of universities: Unversity of New Mexico and TVI (Technical Vocational Institute) are the largest.

Places on the web
Albuquerque Citylink, City of Albuquerque, Albuquerque Journal

Las Cruces

(pop. 70,000)

Community Spirit
Located in the far south of the state, the community of Las Cruces faces the special challenge of living in one of the most conservative communities in this overwhelmingly Democratic state. This poses challenges to unifying the community. The community tends to be more social than civic in its organizing. Several local activists are working to bring greater cohesion to the community. There is an annual celebration of Gay Pride Week in the form of several events including a picnic. Recent additions of a lesbian and gay film festival and a local PFLAG chapter look promising. The women's group SABRA has been hosting events. There is a lesbian and gay student group at NMSU and a faculty group as well. Much more organizing is needed to encourage the elected officials of Las Cruces to be more representative of their lesbian and gay constituency. The town is much improved with the presence of New Mexico State University which draws gay professionals and students to the area to augment the native population.

Local Hot Spots
The local publication, Normal Heart, can be found at gay friendly places: Spirit Winds, the Gen and The Fountain Theater.

Housing
Housing in Las Cruces is affordable. However, you must be careful to find a neighborhood that is not beset with crime. Gang violence is a problem in the general community.

Job Market
The largest employers are the New Mexico State University, general agriculture, the city, and White Sand Army Missle Range. Wages are low. Far better to have a job lined up before moving to Las Cruces.

Schools
NMSU is the university in town. The secondary school system is not Las Cruces' strong point.

Places on the Web
Las Cruces and Dona Ana County, Citi-Guide

Los Alamos

(pop. 18,000)

Community Spirit
Los Alamos is located atop a series of mesas and has grown from the secret military lab of World War II where the atomic bomb was developed. As a small community of 12,000, Los Alamos boast more Phd's per capita than any other city. The gay and lesbian organizations that I am familiar with in Los Alamos are LABGALA which works for workplace rights as well as being a social group and PFLAG. The general community of Los Alamos tends to be accepting of homosexuality. The high education level of the town is a factor in that. There are plenty of gay and lesbian people in Los Alamos and they get along fine, but not much has been organized to improve community life there. Santa Fe is 35 minutes away and offers the family member in Los Alamos a range of opportunities to be involved and out.

Local Hot Spots
Other than the weekly LABGALA meeting, I am not aware of any. Again people travel to Santa Fe.

Housing
Housing is moderately priced. Land is limited on top of the mesa and poses engineering challenges.

Job Market
The Los Alamos National Lab is the single largest employer. LANL is still primarily a weapons research facility although there has been increasing diversification into more beneficial civilian research projects. A number of high technology companies that are spin offs from the lab also employ a fair number of people. Many of people who work in Los Alamos live in Santa Fe and vice versa.

Schools
The primary school system is one of the better ones in New Mexico. There is an off shoot of the University of New Mexico there.

Places on the web
Virtual Los Alamos, Los Alamos Comunity Pages

Santa Fe
(pop. 70,000)

Community Spirit
Located at the foot of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains at 7,000 feet the capitol city of the state of New Mexico is the most gay friendly city in the state. The community is very cohesive and well unified. Every quarter all of the organizations attend a regional summit to plan action for the next quarter. Some of the organizations are: Santa Fe Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Pride Committee, The Human Rights Alliance, The Human Rights Election Fund. Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network, Santa Fe Lesbian and Gay Hotline, City Different Professional and Business Association, PFLAG, Lambda Eldorado, Desert Hearts, and Women's Wednesday Night Discussion Group. Annual events include: The Jesse Helms Ball, The Black and White Ball, The Santa Fe Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Film Festival, Gay Pride Week, and AIDS benefits (Baile De La Gente, AIDS Walk, Ski for Life, and Aid and Comfort). Santa Fe is one of those rare exceptions where the vast majority of the community leaders are women. The mayor of Santa Fe attends the Gay Pride Parade each year (which draws 2,500 marchers) along with state legislators, city council people, former govenors, and other political notables. There is one lesbian city councillor and many other allies in city government.

Other quality of life factors include the Santa Fe Ski Basin, the Santa Fe Opera, Santa Fe Stages, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, the Museums of New Mexico, Promusica, the 300 restuarants, and sunny weather.

Local Hot Spots
In general the community of Santa Fe happens at annual events, political and organizational functions, and private socials. Walking around town you may spot lots of rainbow tags on cars but it will not be obvious where the gay community congregates. Nevertheless popular local spots include: The Santa Fe Baking Company, Ten Thousand Waves (a Japanese Spa), Geronimo, Vanessie, Zia Diner, Downtown Subscriptions and the gay bar Drama Club.

Housing
Housing in Santa Fe is expensive. Homes start at about $130,000 and go to $5 million. Rent for $300 is a rare find and is usually in the $600 per month or more range. Yet many of the homes in Santa Fe have character, charm, and Santa Fe Style. As a rule homes are less expensive on the southside and in Eldorado. Eldorado is a 4,000 home development 15 minutes south and east of Santa Fe. Most homes there sit on an acre or more of land and start around $170,000.

Job Market
The largest employers are the state government and the tourism industry. The biggest challenge to living in Santa Fe is economic opportunity. There are plenty of cases of people with doctorate degrees waiting tables. It takes extra effort and saavy to find a good paying job. The people who succeed the most are the ones who create the opportunity for themselves. There is an inordinate number of small businesses in Santa Fe. Check the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper for employment ads.

Schools
The better schools are private. Saint Michaels, a catholic school, is well regarded and generally gay friendly. Santa Fe Preparatory is very gay friendly and probably the best school in the city. There are bright spots in the public schools, but I would advise a parent to tour the schools and talk with counsellors to determine the best one for their child. There are two liberal arts colleges - Saint Johns and The College of Santa Fe. The College specializes in theater and environmental sciences. The Santa Fe Community College is well regarded and popular in the community.

Places on the web
Santa Fe.com

Silver City

(pop. 15,000 drawing area 45,000)

Community Spirit
This historic isolated area was built by miners and ranchers, and is evolving into an artist's mecca, vacation spot and retirees' haven. The gay and lesbian community is rapidly organizing, coordinating their monthly scheduled highly varied activities through the Gnetwork Newsletter. The population is an interesting split between highly conservative persons and very accepting liberally minded ones. Gila Regional Medical Center is an excellent facility and the main supplier of health care for the four counties of the area.

Local hot spots
Higher Grounds Coffee Shoppe is a popular gathering place as are the Faywood Hot Springs and Diana's Bakery and Restaraunt. The gay owned and operated Bear Creek Motel and Cabins are set in the beautiful pine woods, on the edge of the Gila Forest. The surronding areas are fantastic for single track mountain biking, hiking, rock hunting and bird watching. The Tour of the Gila road bike race every June is nationally ranked.

Housing market
The rapid influx of artists, telecommuters and west coast immigres has the housing availablity under quite a squeeze. Rental and sale prices are rapidly rising while availability is diminishing.

Job Market
The same factors causing a housing crunch are affecting the job market. There is a dearth of competent contractors and knowledgable construction workers.

Schools
Western New Mexico University is a small but very well established institution. Public schools are good, and free thinkers have the option of Down to Earth, a private creative learning establishment.

Place on the web
Silver City, Southern New Mexico Online, Gilanet, Silver Web

Taos

(pop. 4,000 full time plus 12,000 seasonal)

Community Spirit
Taos is a small town about an hour and half north of Santa Fe. There is no organized gay community, but the community interacts on an informal basis. The general population as a whole is relatively reclusive and that is true for the lesbian and gay community. There is a huge number of gay people in Taos but they like their privacy. The town is very tolerant and accepting of the gay and lesbian community. There are prominent town leaders who are gay and lesbian. If you are visiting Taos, stay at or stop by The Ruby Slipper to find out more information on the community. And don't miss the Taos Talking Picture Festival!

Housing
take a look at the Taos Real Estate Network

Places on the web
Laplaza Telecommunity, Taosnet