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Rainbow Parade LGBTQ Pride
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- Created: Thursday, 07 May 2015 01:16
- Written by Kylo Braga
This year's LGBTQ Pride Parade is definitely going to be exciting; an event that must not be missed. Everyone, please make sure to attend and participate.
The 25th Annual Central Valley & Fresno's LGBTQ Pride Parade and Festival will take Plase on Saturday, June 6th 2015 in the Tower Diestrict between 10am and 3pm.
[CLICK HERE] http://www.fresnorainbowpride.com/newsite/pride.html
PROTEST: A Response to Tony Perkins in Visalia
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- Created: Sunday, 03 May 2015 16:10
- Written by Administrator
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND OUR ALLIES SHOW UP AND RESPOND WITH PROTEST. WE NEED TO LET IT BE KNOWN THAT TONY PERKINS'--NOR HIS HATE GROUP--WILL BE WELCOMED IN TULARE COUNTY.
TRUE CHRISTIANS PREACH LOVE, NOT HATRED.
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On the morning of Monday, May 4
, Tony Perkins will be speaking at the Tulare County Prayer Breakfast .
303 E Acequia Ave, Visalia, CA 93291
from 6:30am to 9:30am
But come for as long or as short as you can. We need your support.
Please see our Facebook Event for sign ideas and carpools.
If his name rings a bell, it's probably because you've heard his organization's name--Family Research Council--listed on the Southern Poverty Law Center's list of recognized hate groups, along with groups like the National Organization for Marriage, and the Westboro Baptist Church.
The Family Research Council has time and time again fought to keep LGBTQ+ people oppressed through malicious propaganda, often disguised in religious context. They are most well-known for being strong opponents of marriage equality.
A few of their many awful quotes, retrieved from rightwingwatch.org:
"...one of the primary goals of the homosexual rights movement is to abolish all age of consent laws and to eventually recognize pedophiles as the 'prophets' of a new sexual order."
"Gaining access to children has been a long-term goal of the homosexual movement."
"Supporters of V. Gene Robinson, the newly consecrated homosexual Episcopal bishop, claim his elevation sends 'a powerful message of love and tolerance.' However, it is not 'tolerant' to brush off opposition to the consecration of a homosexual bishop. Nor is it 'loving' to suppress evidence that homosexual behavior is a 'death-style' that is sending young people to an early grave."
With their history of such radical hate speech, we can't help but wonder why anyone would choose this man to represent a religious, Christian event.
Straight High School student asked his gay best friend to prom
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- Created: Tuesday, 28 April 2015 09:41
- Written by Kylo Braga
In this time of the year, Prom is in full swing. Many high school students are getting ready and are very excited for their school's Prom. But for some, it is a frustrating event, especially when in comes to finding a date. A high school student at Dessert Oasis in Las Vegas, named Anthony Martinez was having a tough time finding a date for Prom, until his best friend Jacob Lescenski asked him to be his date for Prom.
In
Saturday: Fresno Rainbow Pride Parade & Festival
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- Created: Wednesday, 04 June 2014 19:41
- Written by Administrator
Fresno's 24th annual LGBT Pride Parade and Festival
Saturday, June 7th - 10am Parade - 11am Festival
Theme is: Live & Love Proudly
This isn't just a Fresno Pride event it regional and the only Pride event that in the Valley that includes a parade!
Up to 5,000 people will attend the parade, parade begins at 10 am and the route is east bound on Olive from Palm to Maroa.
The Festival is a street festival and is roughly at Fulton Street and Alhambra, the festival entrance is at Fulton and Olive.
Admission is only $5
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Entertainment
Live Singers / Bands Drag Queens
Cara Coronado (Xotica)
Cookie Cutter (Lotus)
Leilani (Lotus)
Emma Berry (Independent)
Giselle O'Ell (Doll House)
Patricia De Leon
Hazzard Strange |
Hosts
Patricia De Leon (Miss Gay Fresno)
Leilani Price (former Miss Gay Fresno)
Justin Cider
Victoria De La Manana Drag Kings
A Town
Justin Cider
AndyRogenous
Alec Alnight
Sponsors
Donaghy Sales, Morgan Stanley, Rainbow Bowlers,
Coca-cola, Wet, GayCentralValley, Fresno Reel Pride, KFCF, GayFresno, California Endowment, Chukchansi Gold
Resort & Casino, PG&E's Pride Network, Imperial Dove Court
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A Quick Crash Course on the "Grow a Pair" Ordeal, from Gay Porterville
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- Created: Saturday, 24 May 2014 14:10
- Written by Elliot Trueblood
As many of you already know, Porterville has faced quite the controversy over the past couple of weeks. On Tuesday, May 6, Councilwoman Virginia Gurrola presented an item to the council—a Safe Zone program to be implemented into the community by local students from the Burton School District. Students would be able to place placards on community buildings, designating them as safe places for students who were being bullied to go to for help. What a crazy concept, right? Allowing an anti-bullying program that was requested by the students to make its way into our city seemed like a no-brainer. Unfortunately, other members of the council—including our mayor—did not see it as so. What happened next can only be described as ridiculous, and a total embarrassment to this city.
After Gurrola presented the item, our oh so lovely mayor, Cameron Hamilton, proceeded to utter his now infamous remarks.
“I mean, I am against bullying, but I am getting damn tired of it being used as a mantra for everything that ills the world when all most people have to do is grow a pair and stick up for them damn selves.”
The emotional damages inflicted upon those that are bullied range from anxiety and depression, and can lead all the way to suicide. Imagine being bullied to your breaking point, reaching out to an adult that you trust for help, and being told, “grow a pair.” It is safe to say that if a student is to reach out to an adult, the bullying has already spun out of their control. They are likely already feeling the fears, intimidations, and feelings of hopelessness that come along with being bullied. The last thing they need to be told is to “grow a pair.” They need intervention, support, and a solution to the issue they are facing. Perhaps, you know, a safe place to go for help. Kind of like a safe zone. Cameron Hamilton’s remarks were a huge slap in the face to anyone who is being bullied, has been bullied, and to anyone who has lost a loved one to suicide that was brought on by a bullying situation. He has issued no public apology, and continues to stand by his idiotic statements. This is a true embarrassment to the community.
One question that has been brought up again and again is, “How is this an LGBT+ issue?” This is an LGBT+ issue because the LGBT+ community was used as a tool by the councilmembers to block the Safe Zone item from reaching fruition.
In a painfully obvious inference to the LGBT+ community, Councilman Greg Shelton asked Councilwoman Gurrola if the Safe Zone initiative would cater to one specific group over another:
“Listen…is this thing discriminatory at all? Is it for everybody? It doesn’t favor one over another? […] I just wanna make sure we’re not going down that path.”
If you are even slightly familiar with Porterville’s councilmen, it is simple to understand what he is getting at. Of course there is no anti-bullying program that would only cater to one specific group. Even nonprofit organizations like The Trevor Project are all-inclusive, and would not turn away anyone who needed help. Unless Shelton is truly that ill-informed on how society operates, he knew that as well.
Later, during the oral communications segment of the meeting, townspeople got their chance to speak. This is when individuals came forth and asserted that these safe zones would be indoctrinations into a certain lifestyle. It was said that if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it’s probably a duck. I wonder what they could have possibly meant by that?
To fully understand how and why this was painted as an LGBT+ issue by the council and the community, you can check out the video on Gay Porterville’s YouTube Channel. I cannot express enough the importance of watching this video. It’s a real gem; a perfect introduction to the attitudes and unprofessionalism of our city councilmen.
To sum up, the LGBT+ community and our dedicated allies were once again dragged through the mud by our city councilmen. This is how this whole ordeal got painted as an LGBT+ issue. Are you frustrated with that? Trust me, so are we.
We’ve been dealing with this kind of nonsense for years, and the homophobia is getting real exhausting. So far, under our belt, we’ve got quite the collection of shameful anti-LGBT stances from our city government. In 2008, Porterville was the only city in all of California to openly endorse Proposition 8. In 2013, we were faced with the reprehensible rescinding of Porterville’s Pride Proclamation. As a direct result, Virginia Gurrola was removed from her seat as mayor, seemingly for supporting the LGBT+ community of Porterville. That’s how we ended up with Mayor “Grow a Pair” in office. He’s been a real pleasure, as you can see…Next, in October of 2013, the council voted against recognizing National Coming Out Day, effectively belittling the struggles and hardships associated with coming out of the closet. This brings us to the “Grow a Pair” controversy, in which councilmen and community members employed harmful rhetoric pertaining to “the gays” as a way of opposing the Safe Zone initiative, throwing Porterville’s LGBT+ community under the bus once again.
Unfortunately for the children of Porterville, the Safe Zones will not even be considered again until July. This was revealed at the May 20 meeting; the same one from which Cameron Hamilton bolted from during oral communications for a news interview (yet another slap in the face to his community). If you screw up royally, and the constituents you represent want to voice their frustrations with you, you grow a pair and you listen to them. You don’t take off in the middle of the meeting to go defend your backward remarks to CNN and Fox News. This action displayed his true colors.
Out of all of this, one thing is for certain. Cameron Hamilton owes every single member of this city a public apology.
Dining out for Equality - Tomorrow
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- Created: Saturday, 26 April 2014 09:36
- Written by Administrator
Join us in Hanford on Sunday, April 27, at Geta Xpress at 480 N. 11th Ave, for Hanford's best Japanese food.
PFLAG Tulare & Kings Counties
Kathryn Hall
Saying Goodbye To Brooke Burk of Gay Visalia
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- Created: Sunday, 25 August 2013 20:06
- Written by Melissa Ballard
In this line of "work", we often meet people that have a big impact on us. We work closely with these people on projects and often develop friendships. When I first started working in this community I met one such person who did become my friend, Brooke Burk of Gay Visalia. Brooke, in so many ways, helped fashion the work I do here in Hanford. She was always willing to lend a hand in the projects we worked on here in our community, often times, even coming here from Visalia to help in person. Brooke worked with us here during the months just before and the months following the passing of Prop 8 by assisting us with the supplies and contacts needed to hold our rallies and phone banks. She has helped us consistently over the past 5 years, mentoring us for events and in the development of our Softball Team, advising us and being a much needed friend to me, as well as, Kings Co as a whole. She started the first South Valley Pride event, Family Fest, 4 years ago. She worked hard on that project to provide Kings and Tulare Co. with a Pride event we could call our own. It was a much needed event in our conservative area, it was an event where we could be proud of who we are and spend an afternoon enjoying the company of family.
Having said that, it is with great sadness that I type this, Brooke has decided to step down as Division Leader of Gay Visalia. Her absence will be deeply felt, for she not only made an impact in Visalia, but here in Hanford as well. She was a wonderful leader in her community and an amazing friend to ours. I want to wish Brooke all the best. We will miss working with you Brooke, but you will always be our friend!
Gay Hanford's E-Shop is now open!
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- Created: Thursday, 01 August 2013 18:05
- Written by Administrator
We're proud to announce that our online store is now available! You can pick out any item and have it delivered right to your door! The same great prices you've seen us offer during pride and other events. Please browse our store. You can always find it in the future on our site menu, listed as "Store".
Thank you for supporting Gay Hanford, all funds raised go to helping our all volunteer organization.
