If you didn't get a chance to see the President's speech at HRC, you can read it HERE.

Some are saying this was the best speech at the NEM in DC. You can read it HERE.

Hip Hip HooRobin!

2009 Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2009

CONTACT: Vaishalee Raja
PHONE: (916) 284-9187 EMAIL: vaishalee@eqca.org

Governor Signs Harvey Milk Day and Marriage Recognition Bills
Sacramento -- Today Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law two historic LGBT
rights bills -- recognizing the contributions of slain civil rights leader
Harvey Milk and a bill that underscores that same-sex couples married before the
passage of Proposition 8 are entitled to full recognition as married spouses in
California, regardless of whether they married in California or out of state.
Both bills were sponsored by Equality California (EQCA) and were introduced by
Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco). The bills were the top priority of EQCA,
the state's leading LGBT rights organization and were targeted by right wing
anti-gay groups who worked to defeat the bills first in the legislature and then
by urging the Governor to veto the measures.

"We are grateful to the Governor for signing these critical and groundbreaking
measures into law and rising above partisan politics to improve the lives of
LGBT Californians," said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors.

The Harvey Milk Day bill marks the first time in the nation's history that a
state will officially recognize and celebrate the contributions of an openly
LGBT person with an annual "day of special significance."

"Californians will now learn about Harvey's amazing contributions to the
advancement of civil rights for decades to come," Kors said. "He is a role model
to millions, and this legislation will help ensure his legacy lives on forever."

The Marriage Recognition and Family Protection Act, also signed today, holds
that same-sex couples married before the passage of Proposition 8 must be
recognized as married spouses in California, regardless of whether they married
in California or in another state or nation. In addition, the new statute also
confirms that same-sex couples married outside of California after November 5,
2008, must be given all of the rights, protections and responsibilities of
married spouses under California law, with the sole exception of the designation
of "marriage."

"We are grateful that the Governor has signed this critical bill, which provides
much needed protections for same-sex couples who have legally married out of
state, or will in the future, and who deserve to be treated like any other
married couple," Kors said. "This bill will allow same-sex couples to get
married in other states and countries and ensure they are treated equally under
the law when they return to California. Ultimately, however, restoring the
freedom to marry is the only way to ensure that all Californians receive the
dignity and respect that comes with marriage."

"When California offered marriage licenses to same-sex couples in 2008, spouses
who were already married in another state or country were prohibited from
re-marrying in California," said Senator Leno. "Now those couples and their
families are in limbo because their rights and protections under law are not
clear. This new law will ensure that same-sex couples are protected by existing
California law that recognizes all marriages equally, regardless of where they
are performed."

The Governor also signed EQCA-sponsored legislation by Assemblymember John A.
Pérez to help leverage funding for same-sex domestic violence services and
vetoed two bills on the grounds that existing law and policy already provided
the protections the bills sought to put into statute: the Equal ID Act, allowing
transgender people to obtain new birth certificates and the LGBT Prisoner Safety
Act, considering sexual orientation and gender identity to safely house
prisoners.

"While we believe it is important to have these protections in statute rather
than just as policy or court precedent and are disappointed by the vetoes, the
Governor's reaffirmation of these policies will hopefully help ensure they are
enforced," Kors said.

For more information about EQCA's legislation, visit
http://www.eqca.org/legislation.

Equality California (EQCA) is the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender-rights advocacy organization in California. In the past decade, EQCA
has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal
protections for LGBT individuals to a state with some of the most comprehensive
civil-rights protections in the nation. EQCA has passed over 60 pieces of
legislation and continues to advance equality through legislative advocacy,
public education and community empowerment. www.eqca.org

*and:

Governor Signs Bill Expanding Resources for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender Survivors of Domestic Violence

http://www.eqca.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter2.asp?c=kuLRJ9MRKrH&b=4869041

I’ve finally gotten the chance to sit down and write about Family Fest. I think it was a great success for the first time holding it. I see areas where I need to improve for next year and promise it will be even better in the years to come. I’m very open to any comments and suggestions you want to make so don’t hesitate to contact me. Brooke@GayVisalia.com

I’m honored to have had such a great turnout! We had people from Fresno , Hanford , Porterville and all areas around and in between. There were singles, couples, families, straight allies and more. It was such a great mix of people our diversity really shown through. I would like to share a comment I received. This made the whole day worth it to me. Every stress to pull it off, every late night, every dollar spent, etc. was whisked away by this single comment:

“Brooke, We as a family, my spouse Peter and my niece Mitzi, had a great time being together at Family Fest and this a comment I made to them and wanted to pass along to you to let you know how great I think the event was for us.

Look around the group here, in the past we have had family events but it was mainly adults without children, now look around us, there are kids with single parents, adopted parents, parents and/or aunts and uncles.  How wonderful this is!  Thanks for creating an event that give us all the opportunity to bring our family unit no matter, how big or small and just be able to celebrate our families and community.

Next year, more of our family will be with us to celebrate!!!”

I hope everyone who attended can relate to this comment. I hope this comment will encourage others to come out next year. YOU the community are why I am here and do what I do. I want our community to have activities and events where we can all meet and just be ourselves, to feel safe, comfortable and proud. I hope myself and Gay Visalia can continue to provide this for many years to come. Also, if you know of a “friendly” event happening you can always let us know and we will do our best to spread the word. Anyone is welcome to use the site to promote our community or other worth while cause, just get in touch with me.

I will see you all next year for an even bigger and better Family Fest!

I wouldn’t be myself if I didn’t end this by saying: Although it is extremely important we gather in celebration of our diversity on a social level, it is equally important that we don’t forget that we are living in this world as separate people. Our rights and our lives do not hold the same value as most others and this is not acceptable on any level. As we head for another battle at the ballots in 2010, I urge all of you to step up with conviction and help us fight for you and for everyone else who is made to feel less worthy than the other humans we live amongst. To help fight for those kids and teenagers who feel hopeless and take their own lives. Those people who lose their lives to violent hatred because they choose to openly live as who they are. I hope I can count on you to get involved. I will be thinking of all of you this Sunday as I head to San Francisco to march the Golden Gate  Bridge for your equality and of those people making the long journey to DC to march for the equality of every person living in this country. Together we can make a difference. Together we will make a difference. Together we are the difference.

2010 AIDS LifeCycle09 - Kick-off Meeting
If you are interested in riding or being a roadie, be sure to come to the next upcoming PFLAG meeting. October 18. Immediately following that meeting will be the 1st meeting to register and discuss 2010 AIDS LifeCycle.

We will cover:
1) Team Naming (come with some ideas)
2) Roadie and Rider requirements
3) Fundraising goal and tactics.
4) Complete Information/contact Sheet(s). I hope to have received all registration forms (or instructions for us) by then.

Meeting will only be about 15-30 minutes in length. If you have any questions contact me at scottandhope@sbcglobal.net. Thanks and I look forward to sharing this journey with you all.

Due to an excellent response to the invitation to form a GLBT Lions Club, an Orientation meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, October 15th at 7:00 P.M. at the Visalia LampLiter Inn, 5500 West Mineral King, in the Cambridge Room.   Coffee, tea, and a light dessert will be provided. 
 
Officials from the Lions Club, District 4A-2 will be in attendance to make a presentation and answer any questions you may have. 
 
We are very excited and are very hopeful to get this club officially formed and on the road to community service in Lionism.
 
Lions International is the world’s largest service organization, and you can be proud to become a charter member of this organization, Membership Applications will be available and there is a one-time fee of  $30 for membership. Checks should be made payable to Lions Clubs International.   Annual dues will be established once the club is officially formed. 
 
For further information, please contact Sbei at 713-1969 or Georgia at 733-0894.

Don't forget the monthly PFLAG meeting, Sunday the 18th.

GET THE INFO HERE!

I was blown away by all of the COS Pride Club members at Family Fest. Let me just say that this group is up and coming fast and I see great things in their future. They are organized, spunky and just have really good energy. They are definitely going to be a force to reckon with. They are beginning to do great things on campus for the community but as humanitarians they need some help with something outside of the community. The following is a message from the club President, Julius:

"As a club, we've decided to also help out others in need (not just the GLBT community). And we've decided to sponsor a food drive for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines. We are collecting non-perishable food and clothing. People could also donate money to the Red Cross. We will have a box in our next meeting Thursday @ Noon 727 B Kern Building at COS. We will hopefully have a box near Alicia & Gaylerd's office where people can just drop off their donations. I am also willing to pick up donations around town if people can't get to COS".

Please support this great club and even greater cause. THANK YOU!

I want to inform everyone of a few events our PFLAG has cookin'. These events are very beneficial and very tender. Mark your calendars for October 16th. They will be holding a remembrance ceremony for all people who have lost their lives due to hatred, bigotry, etc. You can even add names to the list if you know someone who was taken too early. Please get more information HERE.

In addition to that wonderful service, they will be collecting canned food to donate to Food Link. So when you come to the ceremony please go through your cupboards first or stop by a store and donate what you are able. Cash donations will also be accepted. Please get more information on that HERE.

PFLAG does wonderful things for our "community" and is run by caring, dedicated people. Each and every one of you should show your gratitude and take part in these meaninful events. Thank you.

Contact    William.VanLandingham@PFLAG-Tulare-Kings.org  for more information or with questions.