Members of Fresno's community respond to a recent article published in the April 22nd edition of the Fresno Bee

Original Article: Girl who would be a prom king loses

Good for Fresno High

The April 22 article about the transgender person at Fresno High School running for prom king was very disappointing. It seems the media was unhappy with being shut out of the proceedings and focused on her loss, as reflected in the headline, rather than the fact that she was able to run at all in her chosen gender.

Throughout the recent years I've heard many straight people casualy use the word "gay" while describing something undesirable or of less importance. Many times I've tried to look the other way or even put on an expression as if I didn't hear it.  I did hear it, we all heard it.

These are photos from Fresno City College's 2nd Annual Pride Day, celebrated on Tuesday, April 24th. Local groups and organizations manned booths and tables. There were also mock marriage ceremonies, poetry readings, music and dance and LGBT speeches. The event celebrated the common humanity of Fresno City College GLBT students and their straight allies. For additional information contact club President Katrina Rios @ 559-519-0470 or advisor Jerry Thurston @ 559-442-4600 ext 8455.

I suspect most of us recall the rhyme, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”. Like much of what we’re force fed as children, Americans abandon the message in favor of political and social control. Other lessons are equally false, such as “all people are created equal” and “let he who is without sin cast the first stone” or even “all good things come to those who wait”. American history literally overflows with adages we inflict on undeveloped brains to foster the illusion of a perfect country. It’s easier on the heart than the truth, but it’s misinformation, nonetheless.

The Bulldog Pride Fund, a scholarship fund at Fresno State, recently announced receiving anonymous donations totaling $625 in honor of Eric Alva, a soldier wounded in Iraq. The following story about Alva and his coming out is provided courtesy of Bulldog Pride. As always, for more information or to make a donation to the scholarship fund, visit Bulldog Pride

Reel Pride’s next Night OUT! will take place at the Tower Theater at 8pm on Friday, April 20th. The film being screened is the comedy “Gray Matters”, with a cast that includes Heather Graham, Tom Cavanaugh, Molly Shannon and Alan Cumming. A summary of the film follows, as well as a link to watch the trailer for the film. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Reel Pride Website.

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Back in October of 2006, the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center launched an advertisement campaign targeting MSM's (Men Who Have Sex With Men) which had a message that "HIV is a gay disease".  Now I knew back then that this sort of campaign was going to stir up some type of controversy.