Last year I highly recommended the HBO Documentary, "MIDDLE SEXES - REDEFINING HE & SHE". The film explores all forms of human sexuality and gender identity. Narrated by Gore Vidal, it's forthright, honest and revelatory. These issues have become commonplace in the media over the last few years, and although I'm constantly doing research for pieces I write on Gay Fresno, I wasn't finding the answers I needed on subjects such as being transgendered or on the topic of sexual reassignment. I simply didn't understand the layers of complexity involved with the human nature between heterosexuality and homosexuality.
This documentary, for me, was a crash course in how it all works. When it was over I no longer felt confused by these issues. While I'm not suggesting one film can answer all questions, this one covers enough to bring these issues into focus.
Today I accidentally stumbled upon a YouTube User channel which has uploaded this documentary in several short videos. For those who've either been unable to see the film on HBO or find the DVD, this is an easy, free opportunity to see this incredible work. Simply click on the following link...YouTube User - Middle Sexes Documentary
"Middle Sexes" is also available on NETFLIX , or it can be purchased at the HBO STORE or at AMAZON
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 marked the one year anniversary of the brief legalization of same-sex marriage in
California. Same-sex couples and their supporters met at the historic Water Tower in downtown
Fresno to renew their vows and take group photos. The celebration continued throughout the night at the popular North Tower Circle club and bar where guests were offered complimentary flowers, appetizers, champagne, & cheesecake courtesy of various organizations in the community that support marriage equality. It was a well planned event complete with entertainment by singer Lily Dale Murray and Andalee's Eastern Sun Dancers.
The history of The North Tower Circle club and bar was a common topic as guests who hadn't been to the club since its reopening in October of 2008 spoke of the hate inspired arson that literally burned the club to the ground, and remarked at how the establishment has flourished since then. Couples came from all over to share their stories and in that intimate setting, the tales of love, marriage, hurt, pain, and redemption caused one to remember exactly why we as a community continue to come together. One couple drove out from Lemoore and told the story of how they met only two years ago. When asked why they chose to get married the gentleman replied, “We felt like it was now or never, you never know when you are going to get an opportunity like this again.”
Indeed, those words could not be closer to the truth for what was meant to be a joyous occasion could not escape the gravity of the plight of our fellow members in the LGBT community who are still fighting for civil rights. This event will go down on the books as a great success, as the night drew to a close, it left individuals wanting more. Many couples commented on how much they enjoyed the social gathering and expressed the need for more couple oriented events in the future. “This is an awesome anniversary party,” one woman commented, “but it's not enough to just get together once a year, my wife and I go to bars but we want more couple nights like bowling or movie night and stuff.”
Hopefully, that eager woman will get her wish. Oftentimes in the struggle for our dreams, we forget about the simple moments in life that carry us through the trials and tribulations we undoubtedly face in this current battle for marriage equality. This anniversary event inspires us to take a moment to value the relationships that we have whether legally married or not, while remembering all who are still denied that right. For us, success is not an option, it is the standard to uphold for all who are willing to accept the challenge.
Protest In Fort Worth Over Gay Bar Raid & Injuries
Police say 7 arrested for public intoxication; one man remains hospitalized with brain injury incurred during incident
Between 150 and 200 people gathered on the steps of the Tarrant County Courthouse Sunday, June 28 — the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion — to protest a police raid on a Fort Worth gay bar, The Rainbow Lounge, at about 1 a.m. that day. Gay Fort Worth City Councilmember Joel Burns told the protesters he has called on Police Chief Jeffrey Halstead to conduct a thorough investigation into allegations of harassment and police brutality against bar patrons during the raid. One man remains hospitalized with a brain injury after, witnesses said, several officers threw him to the ground while arresting him. TAMMYE NASH/Dallas Voice
WASHINGTON - President Obama launches a fence-mending offensive today with a deep-pocketed and well-organized gay and lesbian community divided over whether the White House is moving fast enough to keep its campaign promises to fight for gay rights. Obama invited hundreds of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community to a first-of-its-kind East Room reception marking the 40th anniversary of the start of the gay rights movement.
"To me, today's event is more than just a reception honoring LGBT Pride Month," said Brian Bond, the openly gay deputy director of the White House Office of Public Engagement in a message posted on the White House blog. "It is an opportunity for the Administration to provide the world with a snapshot of the real heroes across the country that do the day-to-day work fighting for equality," Bond added.
But the gathering also comes as many in the gay community are angered over seeing little movement toward doing away with the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, or the Defense Of Marriage Act which says states don't have to recognize same-sex marriages consummated in other states.
Obama plans to tell the group his administration is currently working on an effort to repeal DOMA. But there is still much anger among many in the gay and lesbian community over the language Obama's Justice Department used in a legal brief filed this month in support of the act. The Justice brief argued that DOMA should remain in force because heterosexual marriages are the "traditional and universally recognized form of marriage."
New York Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who is attending the Obama event, called the Justice Department's legal brief "inexcusable," but said she is confident Obama's top legal minds are working on legislation to repeal DOMA. "I take President Obama and his administration at their word," Quinn told the Daily News. "If he says he is working to reverse DOMA, I believe him."
Polls show Obama received the support of more than 70% of openly gay and lesbian voters in the presidential election.
As much as LGBT Americans have against them in 2009, it seems almost insignificant compared to life in the 1960's. Social repression in the 1950's and before resulted in a wave of rebellion in the 1960's. LGBT Americans migrated to larger cities, and established a sizable population in Greenwich Village, NY. The city had laws against homosexuality in public and private business, but policing all places of business was a strain on authorities. Since there were few places LGBT people could gather safely, bars were the hangouts.
A harsher crackdown on homosexuality began with the approach of the 1964 World's Fair. Wanting the city to appear pristine, the mayor ordered authorities to clean up the streets. Police worked to entrap homosexuals as often as possible, posing undercover in parks and public places. Raids on gay bars were frequent. Police seized alcohol, lined up customers and demanded IDs. Men dressed in full drag were immediately arrested. Women not having at least 3 pieces of feminine clothing on were arrested. Bars were so used to the procedure that they often kept more alcohol hidden, sometimes in a car down the street, so they could re-open. Homosexuals were arrested simply over a perception they could become disorderly. Coming out in 1969 was virtually unthinkable.
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Gay Fresno is happy to help sponsor The Fresno Skittles, a local LGBTQ softball team. The skittles play other teams locally at the Regional Sports Complex , located 1707 West Jensen , on Jensen just past West Avenue. Their games are an hour in length. The game schedule is:
June 3, 2009 8:00PM - June 10, 2009 6:00PM - June 17, 2009 7:00PM - June 24, 2009 8:00PM - July 1, 2009 6:00PM - July 8, 2009 8:00PM - July 15, 2009 BYE (no game) - July 22, 2009 7:00PM - July 22, 2009 9:00PM
We encourage all to come to the games to show support for this local LGBTQ team.
Seen some wild outfits in Pride parades over the last few years? As Pride month comes to a close, check out a slide show of some of the wild attire of Pride participants by clicking HERE
Kathy Griffin will be performing her hilarious stand up once more in Fresno on Saturday, July 25th at the William Saroyan Theater. Check out tickets here: Kathy Griffin Tickets
Both The Fresno Express and The North Tower Circleare throwing Kathy Griffin After Parties the same night, after the show. Click on the flyers to enlarge for all the details, or click on each bar's name to visit their website.
My name is Chris Jarvis and I'm beginning a project which requires the participation of the Central Valley's LGBT community. "The Project", as I'm currently calling it, involves documenting the history of the LGBT community in Fresno and the Central Valley. I feel we may lose our history if it's not recorded. While the scope of the project will be determined by the information I find, I hope to at least focus on the Central Valley from the 1950's to the present.
At this early stage, I'm unsure what the result of this effort will be. My hope is to end up with a written history as well as a short film. The written portion of the project may end up in the form of a book, or at the very least, a series of essays or articles. The short film is something I am equally passionate about, and hope to submit to film festivals. I can't anticipate at this point which parts of my research and interactions will be included in the film portion of my plan. This project is a labor of love and passion on my part, and offers no financial compensation for participation. I'm doing this on my own, at my own expense and labor.
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These are the photos taken during the Anniversary Party at The North Tower Circle on Wednesday, June 17th. These are not the full size files. If you would like a copy of any of the pictures seen here in their full size format, please copy the pictures (right click and save to your computer) then email them to Chris Jarvis at ckjarvis@pacbell.net and full size copies will be returned to you via email.
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FRESNO HOSPITAL BARS LESBIAN FROM VISITING PARTNER
(San Francisco) After a lesbian was barred from visiting her partner and giving advice about her treatment at a Fresno hospital, the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Center for Lesbian Rights sent a letter to the hospital today urging that it adopt policy changes respecting same-sex relationships.
“We just couldn’t believe this was happening to us. This was the nightmare that we hoped we’d never have to live through,” said Teresa Rowe, who grew up in Clovis, California, but now lives in the Bay Area with her partner of four years, Kristin Orbin.
California HIV Emergency - Large Rally Held In Sacramento
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed, and the California Legislature is considering, draconian cuts to all types of HIV-related funding in the near-bankrupt state.
In the worst-case scenario, which is still not off the table, slashes to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program could result in thousands of Californians who make less than $41,600 per year losing access to the state-provided drugs that suppress HIV and keep them alive.
In the apparent best-case scenario, not all HIV drugs would be available via ADAP and patients would have to pay part of the cost of the ones they could get. That is problematic because some HIV-positive people have developed resistance to some HIV drugs, and need access to the full arsenal of therapies to stay alive.
June 10, 2009 (AP) LOS ANGELES - Miss California USA Carrie Prejean, who stirred up trouble for herself when she said gays shouldn't be allowed to marry, got two dreaded words from pageant poobah Donald Trump on Wednesday: "You're fired." Trump and other pageant leaders said Prejean was being sacked not because of the remarks but because she hadn't been holding up her end of the agreement she signed when she entered the pageant.
[Semi-nude photos of Prejean, a self-proclaimed born-again Christian, that turned up online were also a controversy for her]
"Carrie is a beautiful young woman and I wish her well as she pursues her other interests," Trump said. Prejean spokeswoman Melany Ethridge declined to comment, saying she hadn't been able to reach the former beauty queen since the announcement of her ouster.
"This was a decision based solely on contract violations, including Ms. Prejean's unwillingness to make appearances on behalf of the Miss California USA organization," the California pageant's executive director, Keith Lewis, said in a statement.
He had complained at a news conference last month that Prejean was skipping Miss California USA events while speaking out against gay marriage at unsanctioned appearances. After the complaints reached Trump, who owns Miss California USA's parent organization, the mogul decided to give her a second chance and keep her on. On Wednesday, he changed his mind.
"I told Carrie she needed to get back to work and honor her contract with the Miss California USA Organization and I gave her the opportunity to do so," Trump said in a statement. "Unfortunately it just doesn't look like it is going to happen."
Pageant officials said Prejean would be replaced by the Miss California pageant's first runner-up, Tami Farrell, 24, who was crowned Miss Teen USA in 2003. They had announced last month that Farrell was being named a special ambassador to fill in for Prejean at any events she didn't attend.
During the Miss USA competition, Prejean was first runner-up after answering a judge's question about gay marriage by saying wedding vows should be reserved for men and women. "No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised," she said.
After the response drew heavy criticism she began speaking to crowds opposed to gay marriage, violating a section of her contract that required she clear unsanctioned appearances with pageant officials. About the same time, seminude photos of her began to surface on the Internet.
Although the photos were mild, pageant officials said she also violated her contract by not disclosing their existence to them.When Trump initially decided to keep Prejean on, Lewis' co-executive director, former Miss USA Shanna Moakler resigned in protest.
"My faith has been restored in the Miss Universe Organization and with Donald Trump," Moakler said in a statement after Wednesday's announcement. She didn't say whether she planned to return to the organization.
Following is the list of winners of raffle prizes offered by Gay Fresno this year at the annual Fresno Pride Festival. We will be contacting the winners about getting their prizes to them. If you are a winner and you think we may not have the information to contact you, please use the ABOUT US page to contact us.
We thank all the local businesses who generously donated for our raffle, and encourage all our readers to patronize these businesses. You may visit their various websites by clicking on the links provided in the list below.
PRIDE PHOTO GALLERY: Andrew Christian - Underwear Models - The Circle & The Red
Pictures from the Fresno Pride Parade 2009. The North Tower Circle & Red Lantern parade float, with special guest Andrew Christian and his troup of underwear models. PHOTOS BY DAVID SCOTT.
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gay fresno, gayfresno, gay, fresno pride, parade, queer, fresno, lesbian, california, tower district, tower, Fresno, reel pride, central california alliance, CCA, Dove Court, Knights of Malta, North Tower Circle, Red Lantern, The Cave, queer fresno, DejaVu
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We've uploaded all video from the 19th Annual Fresno Pride Parade to our 
