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Quote of the Week:
"Tell me and I forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I understand?"
Weekly Green Tip:
For every minute a fridge door is open it takes three minutes of electricity use for the fridge to cool back down to its set temperature, decide what you want before you open it!
We all know and love our monthly Newslink paper. It’s informative and has something for just about everyone. We need your help south valley! We are looking for a volunteer to pick-up and distribute locally the newspaper each month. The newspapers are usually picked up at Wild Willy’s in
Goshen
and then you can distribute them about town. For example at Borders, PFLAG meetings, VPLC, TEDG and wherever else you feel would benefit from having our community paper. We are really looking for a long term commitment but if you can only do it for a month or two that would be great as well. So, if you are ready willing and able to keep this vital community resource available in our area, get in contact with us today! Newslink thanks you, I thank you and the community will thank you as well!
Looking for Time Bombs and Tea Leaves on Gay Marriage
By ADAM LIPTAK
WASHINGTON
The sentence was resolutely bland and nicely hidden in a long Supreme Courtdecision issued on the last day of the term.
All it said was this: “Our decisions have declined to distinguish between status and conduct in this context.” But the context mattered. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, writing for the majority, was talking about laws affecting gay men and lesbians.
Slipping that thought into a case about the treatment of a Christian student group reminded some of a technique perfected by Justice William J. Brennan Jr., whose fellow justices were wary of his “time bombs.”
“Brennan’s colleagues learned to watch for the seemingly innocuous casual statement or footnote — seeds that would be exploited to their logical extreme in a later case,” Seth Stern and Stephen Wermiel wrote in a new biography of the justice to be published in October.
Justice Ginsburg’s bland talk about status and conduct was significant because courts are more apt to protect groups whose characteristics are immutable. Calling sexual orientation a status may not require the conclusion that being gay is immutable rather than a choice, but it certainly suggests it.
There was something broader going on, too, said Suzanne B. Goldberg, a law professor at Columbia.
“The court is talking about gay people, not homosexuals, and about people who have a social identity rather than a class of people who engage in particular sex acts,” Professor Goldberg said.
Lawyers for couples challenging California’s ban on same-sex marriage wasted no time in offering the judge hearing their case a translation of Justice Ginsburg’s sentence.
We all love spending the long, sunny days of summer outdoors with our furry companions, but being overeager in hot weather can spell danger, warn ASPCA experts.
"Even the healthiest pets can suffer from dehydration, heat stroke and sunburn if overexposed to the heat," says Dr. Lila Miller, ASPCA Vice President of Veterinary Outreach, "and heat stroke can be fatal if not treated promptly."
Take these simple precautions, provided by ASPCA experts, to help prevent your pet from overheating. And if you suspect your pet is suffering from heat stroke, get help from your veterinarian immediately.
Visit the Vet
A visit to the veterinarian for a spring or early summer check-up is a must. Make sure your pets get tested for heartworm if they aren't on year-round preventive medication. Do parasites bug your animal companions? Ask your doctor to recommend a safe flea and tick control program.
Made in the Shade
Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it's hot outdoors. Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful to not over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it's extremely hot.
Know the Warning Signs
According to Dr. Lila Miller, ASPCA Vice President of Veterinary Outreach, "symptoms of overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. They can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees." Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with the elderly, the overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.
No Parking!
Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle. "On a hot day, a parked car can become a furnace in no time—even with the windows open—which could lead to fatal heat stroke," says Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine at ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital. Also, leaving pets unattended in cars in extreme weather is illegal in several states.
Big victory for marriage equality in DC! Today the DC Court of Appeals ruled against foes of DC marriage equality who had wanted to put an initiative on the ballot to invalidate same-sex marriages entered into in the District.
While Bishop Harry Jackson, a pastor in Maryland, has been the public face of this litigation, the truth is that outside groups like the National Organization for Marriage and the Alliance Defense Fund are the driving force behind these anti-equality measures.
“The court’s ruling today is a significant victory for justice, the rule of law and the protection of all D.C. residents against discrimination,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “It’s time for the National Organization for Marriage to realize equality is here to stay no matter how much money they want to throw at turning back the clock.”
Visit HRC to read the rest of the story, CLICK HERE.
This is the last time Dr. Pearson is scheduled to be in California this year. If you know anyone who would benefit from attending this workshop, please pass it along. As you know this material is extremely well researched.
Christianity & Homosexuality
Reconciled
Workshop
Experience a break through in a safe space!
This FREE workshop will answer all your questions about the Christian faith and lesbian, gay, bisexual and Transgender people.(Free lunch provided)
Who should attend?
Christian lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders who nee a firmer understanding of how the Bible does not condemn them.
Straight family members and friends who want to learn more about these issues and support their loved ones.
Nonchristian lesbian, gays, bisexuals and transgenders who would like to learn why many conservative Christian groups oppose gay marriage and how to address these issues on a cultural basis.
Church ministers and members who might like their church to become more LGBT-friendly. (This format is very interactive and allows participants to ask questions in a safe environment)
Sponsored by
Freedom In Christ Church of San Francisco
Facilitated by Rev. Joseph A. Pearson, Ph.D.
Date: July 31, 2010
Location:St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 1031 Franklin St.
(Parking is Free)San Francisco, CA (Lower Level Fellowship Hall)
Time:10am to 4pm
I really liked this storyline because it took me way back to when I was in elementary school. (This, may I add, was not long ago.)I still remember the little sexual flings my and I had. My “friends” and I didn’t know really what we were doing but had a sense of belonging to each other. This story can really make a person related with inner conflicts of ones own personal identity and sexual frustration of not understanding what to make of the whole thing. (Talk about your Jekyll and Hyde personality.)
James loves his friend Andy. Andy is falling hard for Mark. And mark is …straight? Things are not always what they seem in a sixth grade catholic school class, as this charming and bittersweet novel shows.
Twelve-year-old Andy immerses himself in his love for comic books—when he’s not thinking about Mark, the captain of the basketball team, or dodging the pinings of his childhood friend, James. Ever since adolescence made James’ sexuality more apparent to his peers, Andy fears he will be exposed just by association. The only way to change his social status and get closer to Mark is to try out for the basketball team, which seems like a hopeless cause, not only because he can’t play, but because he sure Mark is more interested in the popular female student all the boys are after. Mark may be a jock, but one should never assume that means he’s straight…
That time is drawing near again. The Visalia Skittles softball team is gearing up for their second season! The fall league starts in September and we will be forming the team soon. If you are interested in playing on our LGBT+ co-ed slowpitch softball team then join us for tryouts!
All games are played on Friday nights anywhere from 6:00 to 9:30pm in Visalia at Plaza Park. You must be 18 years or older to play. We had a blast last season and took second place in our division while doing it. Many of us didn't know each other when the team formed but there have been some great friendships created during our time together. And we can't forget about our fans, THEY ROCK! We always have an overwhelming support from the stands. We can't wait to see all of you again, too!
So, if you like to have fun and you like to play ball, we hope you will join us for tryouts!
Skittles Team Tryouts
Saturday, August 7th at 9:30 am at Whitendale Park in Visalia. Beverages will be provided.
Please contact Brooke, team manager, with any questions or for more information.
We are all waiting to hear the final verdict on the Federal Prop 8 trial. Once that verdict is handed down we will meet in Porterville for another Day of Decision Rally. We will stand in solidarity with a victory or another disappointing outcome. We hope you will come out and show your support. The event details are below. You can contact Brock for more information, brock93274@yahoo.com.
When & Where: Day the decision is given, 5:00 pm in Porterville on the corner of Henderson & Potter in front of Savemart.
This year Gay Central Valley will be selling fireworks. This is Fresno's ONLY LGBTQIA Fireworks Stand and all proceeds will go to support the efforts of Gay Central Valley, a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit, their divisions and continue to support other local organizations.
We'll offer great deals on packages, as well as many Buy One, Get One Free offers on your favorite items!!! Make your celebration a BLAST and support your local LGBT+ community.
Beat the RUSH, **PRE-ORDER** NOW and we'll mail you a gift certificate for yourself or someone special. That's right! We offer pre-orders with payment on all fireworks. With your pre-order you will receive a receipt to exchange for your purchase, as soon as sales officially begin. http://www.gayfresno.com/fireworks/certificates.html
The Fireworks Stand (from TNT Fireworks) will open on Monday, June 28th at 12:00pm and will then be open daily from 9 AM to 10 PM through the 4th. North East Corner of Palm and Olive.
Don't wait till the last minute to plan your celebration! Pre-order, plan ahead, and make your celebration one to remember!
During 2010, Gay Central Valley financially sponsored:
Orgullo y Poder Latino - LGBT Latino Conference
Fresno Rainbow Pride Parade and Festival
Fresno Skittles co-ed LGBTQIA Softball team
Visalia Skittles co-ed LGBTQIA Softball team
Stride with Pride for Kids
Dear Friend of The Trevor Project in Tulare County,
I want to sincerely thank you for expressing an interest in volunteering with The Trevor Project as a Lifeguard Workshop facilitator. This wonderful program takes volunteers into schools to assist youth in better understanding the negative consequences of their language and actions on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people, as well as train the youth about the warning signs of suicide and what they can do as youth lifeguards to help. Through our partnership with county agencies and the Suicide Prevention Task Force, we look forward to launching this program in the summer of 2010 and expanding over the following school year.
To those ends, if you are interested in being part of our dedicated corps of Lifeguard Workshop Facilitators, please read over the attached position description. If this volunteer opportunity seems like a good fit for your interests and talents, please submit a resume/CV and a cover letter outlining why volunteering in this program at The Trevor Project interests you to me at Dave.Reynolds@TheTrevorProject.org. The deadline to apply is 10 July 2010.
Upon receipt of your resume/CV and cover letter, the application process to enter the training class is as follows:
(1) Our program staff will review your letter and resume/CV to ensure on our end it is a good match for the program
(2) A member of our Program Staff will call you in the coming weeks to set up a phone interview that will last approximately 30 minutes
(3) The interview will be completed
(4) Following the interview, we will let you know if you’ve been accepted to the training class
(5) If you are accepted into the training class, please block out the evening of Wednesday July 21 from 6:00 pm to 7:30pm and Saturday July 24 from 10:00am to 6:00pm
Please forward this welcome letter to all you know who might be interested and share this widely. Thank you again for your interest and I look forward to hearing from you,
Dave
Dave Reynolds, MPH, CPH
Advocacy and Education Manager / The Trevor Project
9056 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 208 / West Hollywood, CA 90069
310.271.8845 x258 p / 310.271.8846 f Dave.Reynolds@TheTrevorProject.org / www.TheTrevorProject.org
Slew of recent reads make young people feel less ‘alone’
By Leanne Italie
updated 12:43 p.m. PT,Wed., June 23, 2010
At his Kentucky elementary school, kids taunted Brent on the playground about being gay, whatever that was. By eighth grade, he realized what they meant and came out to a friend — and vice versa.
She was an avid writer, he a voracious reader. They headed to their school library in search of stories that spoke to their lives: gay, gay in the South, gay and fearing stereotypes like "disgusting" and "worthless."
"There were tons of books about gangs and drugs and teen pregnancy and there were no LGBT books. I asked the librarian about it and she was like, 'This is middle school. I can only have appropriate books here,'" said Brent, now 15 and heading into his sophomore year of senior high.
PARENTS, FAMILIES, AND FRIENDS OF THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDERED AND QUESTIONING COMMUNITY
PFLAG TULARE & KINGS COUNTIES
Next Meeting
When: Sunday, July 18, 2010, 3:00pm—5:00 pm
Where: 305 E. Center St., Visalia (corner of Bridge)
Program: Video: We will be viewing a collage of pictures of Visalia Pride in the Park, Fresno Rainbow Pride and San Francisco Pride. If you missed out on any event join us to see what you missed out on!
Phone: 559 579-1101
Web site www.PFLAG-Tulare-Kings.org
E-mail Info@PFLAG-Tulare-Kings.org
MySpace www.MySpace.com/PFLAGTulareKingsCounties
PFLAG’S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY TO
ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY IN A SAFE AND NON-JUDGMENTAL
I keep getting questions pertaining to Visalia Pride so I want to offer some clarification to you all now. As you know, last year Gay Visalia hosted Family Fest, a festival celebrating our community. We will be doing it all again bigger and better this year on September 25th. Like last year, we will have events and activities for kids. We will also have planned activities for the adults, like relay races and other contests. Family Fest will continue to have booths and vendors and be appropriate for all ages and all lifestyles.
On that same day, in the same park, Visalia Pride will be happening. They have formed a committee and are trying to hold the very first “official” Pride Visalia has ever had. They asked to join forces as this was the first attempt to make it happen. I agreed, so we are sharing the location and date. Please know that Gay Visalia, a division of Gay Central Valley, is in no way affiliated with this event. Although we are doing what we can to ensure it is a success, it will remain as two separate events. Therefore, if you have questions or want to be involved with Visalia Pride, please email them at visaliapride@yahoo.com.
I hope this has helped clear the air. You may continue to contact me for anything related to our organization, the website or Family Fest. Thank you all for your support!
On Wednesday, more than four months after a two-week trial the captured national attention (despite a last-minute bar to its broadcast from the Supreme Court), Judge Vaughn Walker will hear closing arguments in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, the federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8. Last week, Judge Walker issued an order detailing a list of questions he wants both sides to answer either before or during their closing arguments. With the questions he has put forward, and the powerful case put forward by plaintiffs’ attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies, Wednesday’s arguments will no doubt hammer home what we know to be true – Proposition 8 denies same-sex couples the fundamental protections of the U.S. Constitution and cannot stand.
When I heard the news yesterday, I couldn't believe my ears.
Rep. Ike Skelton, a Democrat from my home state of Missouri and the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said he was against the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" because he is worried it would force parents to explain homosexuality to their children and would open up a national discussion. "What do mommies and daddies say to their 7-year-old child?" Mr. Skelton asked reporters at a news media breakfast. [1]
It would be bad enough if Ike Skelton were just pretending that DADT still makes sense. But based on his comments yesterday, Skelton wants to pretend that LGBT people don't even exist!
From anyone, these comments are uneducated and unfortunate; from a U.S. Congressmen, those kind of statements are simply unacceptable. That's why we're calling on Skelton to offer a full public apology to the LGBT people in his district, and across the country. Join us in demanding a public apology! http://www.getequal.org/missouri.php
Sadly, Ike Skelton has a history of actively working against our civil rights. He was one of the original authors of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" legislation 17 years ago. [2] And it's long been clear that the law needs to end. In fact, a 2010 poll found that 60% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans believe that being gay or lesbian "has no bearing on a service member's ability to perform their duties" and 73% say it is "personally acceptable to them if gay and lesbian people were allowed to serve openly in the military." [3]
That's why I'm asking you to sign this petition to call on Rep. Skelton to apologize for his remarks. Democrats and Republicans alike need to understand that our community is everywhere, and it is not okay to continue with this type of political homophobia.
I hope you'll join me in signing this petition. Help us hold Rep. Skelton (D-MO) accountable by demanding that he represent the full diversity of his community and of communities across the country.
Sign the petition here! http://www.getequal.org/missouri.php
Get out, get active, GetEQUAL!
Created in 1992 by Stepping Out Studios of New York, OUTdancing is a
comprehensive same-sex Latin, swing, and ballroom dance program. The Valley’s
own Franco Peraza now brings OUTdancing to Fresno!
BallroomLIVE encourages students to lead or follow, regardless of gender and
sexual orientation. At BallroomLIVE it's common to see both gay and straight
students and teachers dancing outside of traditional gender roles. The decision
to lead or follow is your own. For beginners, we suggest you stick with either
leading or following. Once you have the basics, you can try the other, or start
switching back and forth!
BallroomLIVE invites you to join them for an LGBT OPEN HOUSE & DANCE
CLASS at their studio on Saturday, June 19th, 2010 from 3:30 to 4:30PM.
The cost is $10 per person and includes an LGBT Latin Rhythms Dance
Class.
Check out this video from this year's Rainbow Pride Festival, and see just a
taste of what you can learn and enjoy by signing up for OUTdancing at
BallroomLIVE. BallroomLIVE is located at 5721 N. First Street in Fresno.
Their phone number is 559-435-5678. Visit the studio's website here... BallroomLIVE
On Wednesday, more than four months after 
