Vampire Transgression --A Novel-- Author: Michael Schiefelbein Rating: Two Thumbs Down

I had taken too many months to read this book; probably because I’m not one for a “Vampire” story. Towards the end I was getting into it and when it came to the end I was like… NAH! It didn’t just end like that! And unfortunately it did. I don’t know if it is to make a sequel book but it didn’t look like it would end a way to do one. I was very disappointed and let down after all the lead up it just left one hanging. Like a 90 year old mans penis, (no offense, I’m headed that way). The detail for imagery is fine although I have never been to the places described but the author was really descriptive. He tried to make it a little erotic but he was too quick to get the act over with. I wonder if that’s how he is in real life.  In my opinion pass the stake; this vampire book needs to be obliterated.

Join our Community Engagement Team and spend time each month giving back to Central Valley nonprofit organizations and representing the LGBTQIA community! We will spend one day a month volunteering to improve the lives of others, as a team alongside others in the Fresno area who are making a difference. Team Members will receive a free Gay Central Valley tee shirt to wear at volunteer events. Gay Central Valley  will do the leg work to set up volunteer days with friendly organizations and send you a reminder to attend and help. Our second volunteer day will be  September 25th, staffing the Family Fest for Gay Visalia on September 25th, where they are excited to managing activities, working a booth, setting up, etc. Because of the distance to Visalia and in order to make sure that everyone participates who wants to, if we get at least 10 people to make firm commitments to go, I will rent a van and drive us down.  GCV will bring your tee shirt and  we will all have a fun evening getting to know one another while doing some good. For more information and to sign up today to be a team member (and give us your shirt size!), send an email to our volunteer coordinator at kate@gaycentralvalley.org .

Photos from August's activity:

**Author's note:  I've heard it said on more than one occasion that the current equal rights movement is similar to that of the plight of women in this country before the 1920s.  As my great great grandmother was a teenager during one of the most troubling and horrifying times for women in the United States, I can tell you, her story is nothing less than a tragedy turned miracle.  I can only pray that the current movement learns from those women, and that we, as the LGBT+ community, can enjoy the same outcome. For those of you who don't know much about the Women's Rights movement, allow me to relate some of the history my maternal progeny experienced first hand.

If you think its tough being gay in the 21st century, you couldn't have survived as a woman before 1920. Women back then, were more or less, still considered property.  It wasn't until one group of women stepped up and said, enough is enough. Suffragists began picketing the White House during the Wilson Administration, stating emphatically that President Woodrow Wilson was against women.  This, of course, came after they protested his campaign for president and his election.  Many of you remember people like Susan B. Anthony, Joan of Arc, and Lady Godiva as popular icons of Women's Liberation, but do you remember Lucy Burns?  She was a friend of my great great grandmothers during the late 1910s, and was one of 33 women who were later imprisoned for their protest of Woodrow Wilson.  She (great great grandmother) wasn't with them, she was fighting her own battles in rural west Tennessee, but their story is one my great grandmother remembered well.

I have to admit, there are very few TV shows that I care to pay attention to these days. In fact, I can think of only two and one is on hiatus. Real Time with Bill Maher, and the current sensational season of True Blood, on HBO. I've been into vampires my entire life, but this Alan Ball HBO series is beyond engaging, especially with the knowledge that the show is an allegory for the gay rights movement.

Charlaine Harris, the author of the books the series is based on, said her initial characterization for the vampires was "...a minority that was trying to get equal rights." Ball has stated that is the take he chose for the series, which has included phrases with a similarity to those uttered within the LGBT rights movement, such as "God Hates Fangs" instead of "God Hates Fags" and "Coming Out Of The Coffin" instead of "Coming Out Of The Closet". Ken Tucker, of Entertainment Weekly, wrote that the show is built "around a series of metaphors: Vampire rights stand in for gay rights".

(click on the picture to enlarge)

The picture attached is what may be a controversial cover for an upcoming issue of Rolling Stone.

Faced with regular questions about the graphic nature of the show and the amount of sexuality seen in virtually every episode, Ball says, "The idea of celibate vampires is ridiculous, True Blood creator Alan Ball says. "To me, vampires are sex," he says. "I don't get a vampire story about abstinence. I'm 53. I don't care about high school students. I find them irritating and uninformed."

I've watched since the beginning, and I can say, in my opinion, the series has only gotten progressively better with each year. True Blood is broadcast on HBO every Sunday at 9pm. As of this writing, there are only 3 episodes left in the current third season.

We could all probably use a laugh or two with the marriage stay being upheld until an appeal, so why not laugh at some Christian album covers. After all, they're the reason we're in this mess...Click on the images to enlarge...Courtesy of Funny Album Covers

No same sex marriages in California for now. So don't rush off to the County Clerk's Office this Thursday. The court has issued a ruling to have the appeal in this case heard quickly, with the hearing scheduled for the week of December 6th. The ruling is below...

I read an interesting theory on this issue today. Seems some right wingers are presenting the opinion that it might be better to let California have legal same sex marriage since an appeal would eventually take the issue to the Supreme Court. If the appeal had been denied and same sex marriage was legal in California, it might have been better for our opponents since the issue would not be taken to a national level nearly as fast. But it looks like that's exactly where this is headed now...

Filed order (EDWARD LEAVY, MICHAEL DALY HAWKINS and SIDNEY R. THOMAS) Appellants' motion for a stay of the district court's order of August 4, 2010 pending appeal is GRANTED. The court sua sponte orders that this appeal be expedited pursuant to Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 2. The provisions of Ninth Circuit Rule 31-2.2(a) (pertaining to grants of time extensions) shall not apply to this appeal. This appeal shall be calendared during the week of December 6, 2010, at The James R. Browning Courthouse in San Francisco, California. The previously established briefing schedule is vacated. The opening brief is now due September 17, 2010. The answering brief is due October 18, 2010. The reply brief is due November 1, 2010. In addition to any issues appellants wish to raise on appeal, appellants are directed to include in their opening brief a discussion of why this appeal should not be dismissed for lack of Article III standing. See Arizonans For Official English v. Arizona, 520 U.S. 43, 66 (1997). IT IS SO ORDERED. [7441574] (JS)

My headache is back. Not because the final court filing by Protect Marriage to keep the marriage stay in place until an appeal holds any water, but because it goes over the same landscape as before, with some new twists.

They start off by saying that it simply isn't true that proponents of traditional marriage are restricting that civil right simply out of disapproval. Their reason? Well, "there are millions of Americans who believe in equal rights for gays and lesbians, but who draw the line at marriage". No kidding. So these millions of Americans want us to have "equal" rights, just not "totally equal" rights. How fair and American of them.

And of course, it's still all about the children. Who are these people who think that people are going to stop having children if gays can get married? Are you kidding me? I even heard a woman on a YouTube video say this weekend that if same sex marriage is allowed, then our species will "become extinct". Seriously? Children are a fairly hot commodity right now. Seems that's all anyone talks about anymore. I mean, even gays and lesbians are raising kids now. America is based on what's best for children. Censorship has done nothing but increase in recent years in order to protect the children from hearing a dirty word or seeing an accidental nipple in the middle of the barbaric game of football where men violently attack each other. And given that the world population never comes close to decreasing, but only increases, this is a pretty insane argument to start.

But I digress...kids do it to me every time...

So, according to Protect Marriage, since heterosexuals can produce children "often without forethought, through casual sex", then they must have legal, sanctioned marriage so that when the irresponsible father walks out on the irresponsible mother and she is forced to care for the child on her own, then the state steps in and helps out. I'll point out that they don't bring up the situation of a single straight father raising a child, because I guess that doesn't exist, or maybe they don't see their own misogyny when they imply that only a woman would be left alone by an irresponsible man and would need state assistance since apparently women can't take care of themselves alone like men can. Hmmm...

They point out a couple of places that straight people are subject to "accidental" children. Have they ever seen a condom? They also stick to their argument that infertile couples should be allowed to marry since in their opinion only one person in the couple is infertile and that protects the fertile member, always a man in their scenarios, more misogyny, from straying and fathering children out of wedlock. Yeah, because THAT never happens. Hold on, I'm getting a call from JOHN EDWARDS...

Easily the most insulting passage in the document is on the subject of whether the defendants are operating through the morally judgmental eyes of religion. They are not, they say, but they welcome those voices in their alliance. The religious and "moral" opinion on same sex marriage is just as useful to them as it is in matters of...get ready for this..."prostitution, gambling, capital punishment, physician assisted suicide, abortion funding, and other public policy issues that are inextricably entwined with moral values".

A decision is expected by the Ninth Circuit as early as Monday, August 16th.

Target just keeps getting deeper and deeper...This is just the beginning of what may backfire for a lot of corporations as a result of the January ruling by the Supreme Court which insidiously granted corporations the rights of citizens, allowing them to make unlimited donations in the political arena. This "ruling" by the Supreme Court is one of the greatest blunders of all time. It has the possibility of closing what small gap may have existed between corporate America and our government. If you're not aware of this tragedy, start to look into it. Examine how many companies control how much of our lives. While monopoly laws used to be something politicians enforced, there's little of that left. In the end, how many corporations will there be to control virtually all access and content to information, legislation and goods? Big Brother is not just a television show anymore...

Target is currently at the forefront of LGBT protest when it comes to corporations that financially support anti-equality candidates, but they will certainly be joined by a host of others as these new corporate rights are utilized to influence the very fabric of the country. But wait, democracy isn't quite dead, and there's only ONE THING corporations ultimately care about, and it isn't workers rights or what's best for the environment. It's money. So the people, as this video demonstrates, can still have an impact.

Target made a $150,000 donation to the campaign of an anti-gay candidate for Governor in Minnesota, Tom Emmer. Target says they donated to the campaign because Emmer is "pro-business". (Are there candidates anywhere that are "anti-business"?) Target also recently issued an apology and said they'd enter into discussions about making donations to pro-LGBT and workers candidates. It doesn't seem to be helping. Last week 250,000 people pledged to boycott the retail giant, and now one of their stores has been hit by a Flash Mob with a very creative and well written version of "People Are People" by Depeche Mode. Take a look... 

UPDATE: Target has announced it will not make counter donations in response to their support of Tom Emmers.

Fresno's own Reel Pride Film Festival is kicking off its 21st year (running September 15th-19th at the Tower Theater & Starline) with a Members Only event on the patio at the Fresno Express on Wednesday, August 25th from 6-9PM. Enjoy a summer barbeque, complimentary cocktails and a Silent Auction of exciting prizes to benefit the Reel Pride Film Festival. There are over 50 films scheduled for this year's festival.

This event is only for Members of Fresno's Reel Pride. Membership forms are available online HERE. You can also visit the event's Facebook Page

Shortly after the appeal in the Prop 8 case was filed by the proponents of the law, the plaintiffs filed their own brief with the Ninth Circuit Court, countering the appeal for a stay with their own take on the matter. They've stated that the defendants plea "does not come close to showing they have a strong chance of winning on appeal".

They go on to argue that...

• Proponents cannot possibly make a “strong showing” that they are likely to prevail in their appeal.

• There is significant question as to whether Proponents even have standing to pursue an appeal.

• Proponents have failed to establish that they will likely suffer irreparable injury in the absence of a stay.

• A stay will cause substantial irreparable harm to Plaintiffs.

• The public interest favors immediate enforcement of the judgment.

And it looks like the Ninth Circuit Court is paving the way to rule on the stay before Wednesday, August 18th, which is the date (at 5PM) that Judge Walker's stay expires, opening the door to legal same sex marriage in California. They've set a deadline of 9am on Monday, August 16th, for the defendants to respond.

Meanwhile, State Attorney General Jerry Brown has repeated his request that the legalization of same sex marriage begin "immediately" in California.

It's going to be an interesting week.

Well, the appeal has been filed in the Prop 8 case, and it's something to read. Facts? They don't need to refute the facts in Judge Walker's case, since they will do enough just by telling you how his opinion runs contradictory to so many court opinions before him. (Way before him). They offer quotes and cases all way back to the 1600's. How progressive.  

Their "dictionary" argument is embarrassing, to say the least. They claim that since dictionaries have long "understood" the definition of marriage to be between a man and a woman, then hey, that's what it is. Okay, forget about societies maturing and making some changes, let's just look at the fact that they're implying that dictionaries decide what words mean through some philosophical meditation on the matter, rather than just writing down what the word means. AT THE TIME!. Wow.

At one point they quote John Locke from, get ready, 1690, who explained that marriage was vital for, of course, the "continuation of the species". It's so strange to me that the opposition continues to argue this matter as if legal same sex marriage means that straight people have to stop having kids. Not to mention all the children that same sex couples will have, adopt and take care of. There will, be, uh, you know, probably, like, more kids if same sex marriage is legal, not less.

On the subject of infertile straight couples being allowed to marry and how that undermines their argument that marriage is about procreation? Well, you've got to read it for yourself...

And even where infertility is clear, usually only one spouse is infertile. In such cases marriage still furthers society’s interest in responsible pro-creation by decreasing the likelihood that the fertile spouse will engage in sexual activity with a third party, for that interest is served not only by increasing the likelihood that procreation occurs within stable family units, but also by decreasing the likelihood that it occurs outside of such units.

I'll wait while your head explodes.

Ready?

They go on to argue that since no biological reason for homosexuality has been found then of course, we aren't necessarily who we are. Riddled at great length, probably the bulk of the document, is that marriage is about children. They say that it's okay for gays to adopt children because they're taking care of children who'd been abandoned by their parents. The "threat" to traditional marriage, in this case, is on a few levels. Gays are using it to be "subversive", the "unknown" long term effects, the weakening of the meaning and importance of marriage to (again) have children. It's all the same argument, all baseless, all idiotic, but still, fascinating. It definitely shows how a lawyer's mind works, in twisting and manipulating irrelevant facts to make them seem relevant. They're basically saying that since Judge Walker didn't agree with judges of the past, nothing should change. You know, like they argued all civil rights cases in the past, "this is the way it is and that's all there is to it".

That's how it feels to me. After the last few years of constant stress over the issue of marriage equality, it's as if I'm in some movie where the smoke clears, the sun comes out and the air is once again breathable. And that's just the last few years of battling actively, not to mention all the years of my life spent living as a second class citizen for no reason other than prejudice.

On Wednesday, August 4th, we got the news that Judge Vaughn Walker ruled to overturn California Proposition 8. That same evening we held a Decision Day Rally in front of Fresno's City Hall, as so many other cities across the nation did. It was glorious to have such a celebratory gathering after so many defeats brought us together only to share grief and to discuss moving forward. The same day Walker issued his clear, considered and powerful ruling, he also issued a stay for same sex marriage until the opposing side could present their case for appeal.

**To see complete video of the Decision Day Rally in Fresno, click on YouTube link in the menu on the main page of GayFresno.com

On August 12th, Walker issued his next ruling, ending the stay and allowing legal same sex marriages to begin in California, even though he added a short waiting period, until August 18th, so the opposition could make their case for a stay to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Judge Vaughn Walker has ended the temporary stay on legal same sex marriage in the state of California. It's expected that the opposition will attempt to have this overturned in the next few days but the merits of that plea may not hold up for the 9th District Court.

Judge Walker has ruled that same sex marriage will once again be legal on August 18th at 5pm.

LET'S GET MARRIED!

Read the ruling here: Judge Walker Lifts Stay On Marriage

Judge Vaughn Walker, the federal judge who issued the monumental ruling last week which overturned CA Prop 8, says he will issue his decision by Noon on Thursday (August 12, 2010) as to whether the stay he placed on the ruling will remain in place or will be removed. 

Currently same sex couples are not allowed to marry in the state of California, despite the ruling. A stay was placed by Walker so that the opposing side could convey their case for appeal. In the meantime, both Governor Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown have filed court papers requesting that the stay be lifted and that marriages could begin immediately. Recently the ABA, the American Bar Association, the largest legal group in the world with over 410,000 members, have come out in favor of marriage equality.

If Judge Walker removes the stay tomorrow, then same sex marriage will be allowed to start in California immediately.

There should be a great uproar of joy today as another federal judge in California has come to the aid of the state's citizens. District Judge William Alsup went as far as to accuse Wells Fargo Bank of "profiteering" in his class action ruling against the banking giant.

The issue was a change in Wells Fargo policies, when the bank made it the rule to process customer's checks, debit card charges and bill payments each day from the highest amount to the lowest amount, rather than chronologically. This practice resulted in a huge increase in overdraft charges for customers, who, after a large debit was posted, could then be subject to $35 in overdraft charges for purchases of miniscule amounts. Not only that, but the practice virtually assured that customers who went over the amount in their account for any given day would be subject to multiple overdraft charges, at over $30 per charge. Use your debit card to charge $5 and it would cost you $40.

The Judge found that customers were not made aware of the change in policy, especially since their online statements listed charges in chronological order. The ruling will cost Wells Fargo upwards of $200 million dollars, as the ruling orders overdraft charges to be returned to customers who suffered because of this policy, from November 15, 2004 to June 30, 2008.

Wells Fargo vows to appeal, and states that the bank changed its policy earlier this year. According to the bank, customers can now face four overdraft charges per day at the most. Let's remember that an overdraft does not incur any charge to the bank. Nothing is different for the bank in processing whether your account covers the amount or does not. The only difference is that the bank, which could be reasonable and charge $5 for a matter which does not inflict them in any way. They, however have chosen to charge $35. It's fairly apparent that if they appeal they'll lose. For now, I'm just pleased that more of these blood sucking banks are being punished financially for preying on American citizens.

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