Hi Everyone!
Just wanted to invite you to check out Episode 3 of my vlog at http://www.afterellen.com.  It posted today. My vlog is called "What's Your Problem?" and Episode 3 is entitled "Embracing the Weirdness" My guest is actress Thea Gill, (Queer as Folk, Dante's Cove) In addition to chatting about Golden Compass animals, Cathy's seasonal affective symptoms and Thea's long journey to labeling her own sexuality, the two actors discuss freeing yourself from your own oppression, how to decipher if you are gay, straight or bisexual, and just who came on to whom on the couch...The closing song is "Hope & Faith" by last week's guest, musician Janet Robin. A new episode posts every Thursday on Afterell.com.  Next week, my guest is comedian Suzanne Westenhoefer.
Enjoy!Cathy www.cathydebuono.com  www.myspace.com/cathydebuono 

The estate of alumnus William N. Beck has conveyed a $100,000 bequest to the Bulldog Pride Scholarship Fund, whose annual competitive awards are presented under the aegis of the Fresno State Alumni Association. The Beck bequest is the biggest to an alumni association scholarship endowment at any of the California State University ’s 23 campuses, said Peter Robertson, director of annual giving at California State University , Fresno.  

PHOTO GALLERY JUST ADDED...I’m happy to report that the Imperial Dove Court’s Closet Ball 2008 - “Hollywood Comes To Fresno - A Night On the Red Carpet”, was a huge success.  With nearly 100 people in attendance and outstanding performers a wonderful night was a sure thing.

Last night I had visitors that informed me that at the Wal-Mart on Herndon and Ingram (Not sure this is the correct spelling) there are people gathering signatures for an anti gay marriage ballot/initiative/constitutional amendment. I just received a phone call from another member of our community to voice his concern regarding this activity. I called to complain about this situation and the acting store manager informed me that even though Wal-Mart does want this happening on their property, the petitioners have a RIGHT to be there. I informed them that they did not considering they are on their private property and not on public property. I then called and lodged a formal compliant with their corporate offices at 1-800-WAL-MART. They informed me that my concerns would be passed up the chain of command and that I could expect a response back with in 5 days.

While none of the current Presidential candidates has the guts to speak the truth on the issue of gay marriage, Al Gore, who unfortunately is not running, has done just that. Even Hillary, who I think we all assumed would be behind us on this issue, is not, claiming her position is "personal". It's stunning to see any Presidential candidate in 2008 state that their "personal" beliefs should be allowed to restrict the civil rights of millions of Americans by upholding hundreds of years of prejudice and bigotry. Add to that the fact that denying gay people marriage rights is unconstitutional and it's easy to scoff at the phrase "greatest country in the world". So while we wait once again for Americans to put down their mythological bibles and support the United States Constitution, which they claim to be so proud of, we at least have these words from our recent Nobel Peace Prize winner... Al Gore Speaks Out On Gay Marriage (Video) 

Heath Ledger, who starred in Brokeback Mountain and who will be the Joker in the next Batman film, was found dead today, January 22, at his home, surrounded by pills. Read the developing story here

 

Music Video - "Imagination"
I created this music video out of my anger at the path America and Americans have taken over the past few years, particularly during the Bush administration.

Mike Huckabee, a viable Republican Presidential candidate, has invoked God in an extreme way in his campaign. He falls in line with George Bush as he suggests revising the United States Constitution to bring it in line with “God’s standards”. Watch the video here … If that's not enough, Huckabee Compares Gay Marriage to Bestiality

A new, drug-resistant strain of the “flesh-eating” MRSA bacteria is spreading quickly among gay men in Boston and San Francisco and soon could pose a wider threat, according to an article in The New York Times. Read the story here … or you can listen to an audio report at the following link...NPR Audio

By now, most of the gay community is familiar with the antics of the Rev. Fred Phelps and his family circus known as the Westboro Baptist Church.  Being a native of Topeka, Kansas, I got to watch from the front row as their picketing evolved from hand written signs for pickets at a local park to their nationwide crusade of insanity.  As such, I usually keep an eye on their antics out of sheer morbid curiosity.

 

I want you to ask yourself this question, when was the last time you’ve seen a HIV prevention commercial and for that matter, when have you seen an advertisement for any HIV medications on television?  As far as the HIV prevention commercial, I’m sure you would say a long time ago if not at all.  And in regards to the HIV medications advertisements, it hasn’t happened and probably will not!

KVPT, Valley Public Television, is hosting a special viewing and discussion of the PBS documentary Anyone and Everyone. A preview of the film can be viewed at www.anyoneandeveryone.com.

The event will be held at the new Unitarian Universalist Church on Chestnut and Alluvial on January 25^th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. That evening KVPT would like to invite interested organizations to host an informational table to offer resources to the community. We would also like to hold a panel discussion with representatives from the community.