PARENTS, FAMILIES, AND FRIENDS OF THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDERED AND QUESTIONING COMMUNITY
PFLAG TULARE & KINGS COUNTIES
Next Meeting
When: Sunday, April 18, 2010, 3:00pm—5:00 pm
Where: 305 E. Center St., Visalia (corner of Bridge)
Program: Video: "Holding Families Together" is the story of three families and how they cope, or fail to cope, with having an LGBT family member. Ray is kicked out of his home. Danny is accepted by one parent and rejected by the other. Jonathan is accepted by his entire family.
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 was very caught up in the illusions these men transform into when doing “Female Impersonating” (doing drag), in a competition for the crown and title of Miss. Gay America. I thought when I competed for titles here in
Fresno
was stressful as well as time and money consuming, running for this title is almost the cost of a down payment on a house and a car and raising a child for one year. PHEW! I had better work the streets now just to earn enough to compete in twenty years.
PAGEANT takes you behind the scenes as 52 ordinary gentlemen go to extraordinary lengths to be crowned Miss Gay America. The contest celebrates the art of illusion, so enhancements such as hormones are forbidden. Instead, the men work their magic by using make-up and costumes, and performing stunning musical numbers. PAGEANT follows five of the most talented and beautiful female impersonators, and reveals their hopes, dreams and amazing talents.
“**** Critics Pick!” – Metroweekly
“A+ … It has so much heart, love and acceptance.” –Pegasus News
“Entertaining…Colorful Acts and Personalities Are Well-Captured!’ -- Variety
For a murder mystery I thought that it would be a great read. It reads as if a high school student wrote it. It has a simple formulated plot. Not many characters and not very many different scenarios. For a book that had received many awards, I was sure it was going to be more elaborate, but it wasn’t very complicated to follow. I thank god this book was given to me; I would have been more disappointed had I bought it. If you need a book just to pass the time like at the DMV or the line for paying a traffic ticket at the court house, then this would be the book.
While cleaning out is ex-lover Ronnie’s apartment, staid history professor Michael Dunn-Barten makes a grisly discovery- a mummified corpse in a trunk. Suddenly Michael must travel back 25 years to find the answers by revisiting everyone who knew Ronnie. Back to the 1960’s, back to the realization of his sexuality and the boy he loved. Back to the troubling time when his wife threw him out and his family disowned him. Back to uncover disturbing answers amidst drag queens and murky memories- and to reveal whether or not his first real love was truly a twisted killer. DRAG QUEEN in the COURT of Death is a taut thriller about a man who needs to face his past in order to forge a future. He must unravel a mystery that’s a quarter century old- no matter how painful the truth may be
--“A First Rate Mystery…A great read and well worth a special trip to the bookstore.” -- Mark Zubro, author of the Tom and Scott mystery series
--“A Seductive Blend of
Camp
Humor
, Pathos, and Anticipation”–Anthony Bidulka, author of Russell Quant mystery series
--“Be Prepared to Clear Your Schedule for a Few Days…This is one of Those Books That Once Begun, Can’t Be Put Down”
–Marcy Scheiner, author of Sex for the Clueless & Perfectly Normal: A Mother’s Memoir
Wed. April 26th:
Afternoon Session: LGBT+
Allies Network Training (Learn about the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual,
transgender+ community and gain strategies/resources to help you be an
effective ally)
SAVE THE DATES
Details to Follow---Watch for Updates
Diversity Awareness Week
2010
April 26 - May 1
"Leading with
Diverse Voices"
SCHEDULE
Monday:
Noon Opening Ceremonies Location
to be announced ------- Tuesday: 1
p.m. - 3 p.m. An Interactive Process: Assessing Our Campus Commitment
to Social Justice and Inclusion UC200
(Call 278-6946 if you are interested in participating. Faculty, Staff,
Students, and Administrators are all welcome.)
-------- Wednesday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 5th Annual Diversity Conference
HML2206 (Call 278-6946 to register) Morning Session: "Honoring the Japanese American
Experience in the San Joaquin Valley" Afternoon Session: LGBT+
Allies Network Training (Learn about the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual,
transgender+ community and gain strategies/resources to help you be an
effective ally)
------- Thursday: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. Latina Leadership Conference
HML2206 ------- Friday and Saturday: 2010 Cesar Chavez Conference "Literacy
and the Role of the Professional Teacher" SSU
(For details go to the Kremen School of Education at http://www.csufresno.edu/kremen/home/documents/ChavezflierwT.pdf or contact Dr. Glenn DeVoogd @ gdevoogd@csufresno.edu or (559) 278-0279. )
------- Saturday: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 a.m. "Welcoming Diversity
Workshop" UC200
An upbeat interactive skill building workshop. No costs for Fresno State
students, faculty, and staff. Call 278-6946 to pre-register)
Support Gay Central Valley without
spending a cent!
GoodSearch is a search engine which
donates 50-percent of its revenue to the charities and schools designated by
its users. It's a simple and compelling concept. You use GoodSearch exactly as
you would any other search engine. Because it's powered by Yahoo!, you get
proven search results. The money GoodSearch donates to your cause comes from
its advertisers — the users and the organizations do not spend a dime!
In addition to the regular offer by
GoodSearch, which is to donate 50% of earnings back to nonprofits, they are
running a SPECIAL OFFER between April 6th at 9am Eastern and April
9th at 9am Eastern. During that
period they will donate $1 for every toolbar downloaded. So if you download and
install the toolbar on those days, Gay Central Valley will receive an
additional $1 donation for each one.
On
April 6, 2009, Carl chose to end his own life rather than endure more of the daily harassment and bullying he suffered at school. He was just 11 days shy of his 12th birthday.
I am writing you today because my son's story must not be forgotten. I want you and other Members of Congress to look at Carl's photograph and ask, "How could such a beautiful, precious life be lost so needlessly," and "What can Congress do to prevent more such tragedies from happening in the future?"
To read the rest of the letter and sign the petition CLICK HERE.
Dinuba High School's Gay Straight Alliance will be hosting a fashion show on May 7th ,2010 at Dinuba High School's Auditorium and everyone is invited! This means you do not have to attend Dinuba High School or even live in Dinuba! Tickets will cost $5 dollars (or $8 for front row seats) and 20% of the proceeds will be donated to the Trevor Project. The show starts at 6 P.M. and ends at 8 P.M.
The fashion show will feature designs by Dinuba's own Jessie and Alexa. After the fashion show there will be a silent auction where you can buy the clothes featured in the show. Male and Female clothes will be featured in this auction.
In addition to seeing great designs there will also be local indie bands playing between different sections of the fashion show.
PreShow Sales have started, physical ticket sales will start April 9th. Just leave message/comment this myspace page leaving your full name and phone number and we will sign you up for a ticket.
Visalia's newest and hottest Gay and Lesbian night. DJ Papi and DJ Morena in the mix. Wednesdays Starting in April. Gogo boys and girls. Drink specials all night. $5 cover. The SIC Lounge on Mooney and Caldwell next to Rogers Jewelry. 21+ only with valid ID.
Recently I traveled to Berkeley to hear a speaker covering "Reconciliation & The Bible".
He, Joseph Pearson, an author, lecturer and retired Pastor is versed in both Hebrew and Greek (possessing a PHD in linguistics) and Theology & Biology.
Okay, the dude spent some years in school. And oh, he is openly gay and in a long-time loving relationship of 34 years. Imagine that, he was able to "retire" as a Pastor of a Baptist Church, not be asked to leave but Retire....
He tore apart the Old Testament (Torah) and the New Testament (Gospel), honing in on the scriptures we are all too familiar with.
No not the ones that focus on how we are all loved but in ............you know, those ones...
The workshop was comforting and lifting. There were about 25-30 present with 4 (Scott and I included) coming from the PFLAG (ally) camp. Most in attendance were LGBT+ people in search of reconciliation and peace.
Come beginning May, I will be traveling to Irvine to see him again while attending a T.E.N. (The Evangelical Network) seminar. This seminar is a CA regional effort to continue opening up the dialogue among clergy, faith groups and people.......... covering LGBT+ reconciliation.
I am also talking with T.E.N. (who sponsors Pearsons tours) to underwrite a visit here. Thats right, bring J. Pearson here to speak in 2 workshops. One to target local clergy and the other to members of the LGBT community that want to ask questions and get answers!
I am interested in having you guys email me any comments, suggestions, worries ... etc. about having Pearson come. I am hoping to be able to provide community feedback to T.E.N. and Pearson on what the community here needs (or precursory thoughts are) in the workshop.
I do not know for sure that Pearson will come. We are entertaining his visit to be sometime late July to early August. Please email me any comments and such to... scottandhope@sbcglobal.net.
The Visalia Skittles softball team will make their debut this Friday the 26th at Plaza Park. The game starts at 9:30 pm and will be played on Field #1. Yes it's a late game and next week too, but if you are a night owl, come out and cheer us on!
If you can't find us, just look for all the colorful t-shirts!! Support us and root for the rainbow, that is your Visalia Skittles team!!
Don't forget this Sunday the 21st at 3:00 is your monthly PFLAG meeting.
Next Sunday the 28th is the Dining Out for Equality, here are those details:
Join us again in Kings County for reasonably priced Italian food at Vida's Pasta House at 133 N. 11th Ave in Hanford. Bring a friend, show your true colors in an equality-oriented T-shirt.
Dear Friends and Supporters of The Trevor Project,
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth—and adults—are virtually invisible in the federal government’s eyes. You and I know we exist, but they really do not as no federal health and demographic surveys collect data on sexual orientation or gender identity. Until they do, we’re missing out on research, programming, funding, and advocacy opportunities.
Please see the action alert below from our partners at the National Coalition for LGBT Health. Increasing the visibility of our underserved population is a top advocacy priority for The Trevor Project, so I hope that you can take a few minutes to call your representative and ensure the addition of a question about sexual orientation and gender identity onto the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), the federal government's most comprehensive and influential survey.
I just took the pledge with GetEQUAL to demand equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. Check out this video from 10-year-old Will Phillips and join me in signing the call to action. http://getequal.org
