Click on "Read More" below for the Mr. Golden State Bear 14, 2008-2009 Application Form

BEAR FRENZY 14 - "BEAR ROUND-UP"

Bear Frenzy 14 is just around the corner, and as plans are being made ready for a fun-filled week-end August 15-17, we are looking for contestants for Mr. Golden State Bear.  Contestants will be judged in "Everyday Bear Wear, Bear Minimum, Cruis Wear and also undergo a screening process by a panel of judges.  Contestants must reside in valley or mountainous areas from Stockton to Bakersfield.  For more information on Bear Frenzy please see the Golden State Bears website at www.goldenstatebears.net, or by e-mailing events coordinator Larry at bootblacklarry@aol.com

 

The number of young homosexual men being newly diagnosed with HIV infection is rising by 12 percent a year, with the steepest upward trend in young black men, according to a new report. The double-digit increase in young gay men is about 10 times higher than in the homosexual community overall, where the number of new infections is going up about 1.5 percent a year. Read more of the story here 

 

By: Eva Falk

So Fresno State won another big sports event. That may have been an exciting evening for some, but not so much for me. I will however make exceptions for the right crowd and some cold beer on a rare occasion. I have a deeper appreciation for the arts, and CSU’s summer arts program turns out some amazing performances every year. Plus it gets me out of the house and still out of the heat. Alix Olsen, a witty and amusing folk poet will be performing on July 8th with Kimberly Dark at the Wahlberg Recital Hall at 7pm for only 10 bucks. Not only will this be an evening of passion, art, and politics being expressed, but also plenty of intellect and insights to go around. Heated topics that will keep you thinking and discussing for weeks. Topics like consumerism, hairy armpits, and plenty of references to female genitalia, pubbies, and sex toys...yay! Very liberating! This is the kind of evening that makes the perfect date or an outing with a group of friends who enjoy having their views challenged. I’ve never seen Alix Olsen perform in person but I did watch her on Def Poetry several years ago. I loved her work so much I bought her album, Built Like That. On Built Like That, Olsen tackles topics like lesbianism, defying traditional feminism, The Walmart generation, and even sexual orientation in the military. But don’t assume Olsen is your typical anti-establishment lesbian activist artist. She will surprise you when you least expect it and all while entertaining you and subtly seducing your mind with her charming personality and highly developed rhyming skills. Olsen also has a dvd called Left Lane On The Road, which is still on my amazon's wish list. Anyway, I have not watched it yet so i’ve attached the product description from amazon.com below. Alix Olson is an internationally touring folk poet and progressive queer artist-activist. One part peace vigil one part protest rally and one part joyful raucous concert Alix ignites audiences everywhere as she performs. LEFT LANE chronicles life on the road with Alix Olson and her road manager/filmmaker Samantha Farinella as they tour the country connecting the dots from a high school visit in Lincoln Nebraska to a CD release party in New York City. LEFT LANE highlights spoken-word performances from around the country and a plethora of behind the scenes glimpses at the search for independent thought grassroots defiance passionate connection organic food and clean laundry. Sounds enticing, I just ordered it. I love the freedom to shop without dealing with crying kids and crowded lines.

The FX series 30 Days is embroiled in controversy over false, anti-gay rhetoric spouted on the show by Peter Sprigg, of the Family Research Council. During the recent episode, where a woman who is against gay parents raising children moves in with them for a month, Sprigg rattles off the dangers of homosexuality, all manufactured lies to demonize gays. The FX network was approached by GLAAD prior to the show’s airing to urge either editing the comments or adding an expert to refute the falsehoods. FX refused. Click here to read GLAAD’S statement and read more on the story. You can watch the controversial video clip from the show here

I’m the first to challenge any awe directed toward celebrity.  To anyone paying attention, it should be clear that any version you have of a celebrity is, at best, a produced image. So when celebrities pass away, as they do, I’m usually no more than mildly affected. I may have enjoyed their work, but I didn’t know them, and so while I may miss what they did in terms of their profession, I don’t have a lot invested otherwise. This week, for me, was another matter. George Carlin died. It isn’t often when hearing about the death of someone I didn’t know that I'm deeply effected, but this one brought tears to my eyes.

Those wacky, magic underwear Mormons are at it again...The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is asking California congregants to join the effort to amend that state's constitution to define marriage as being between a man and a woman. A letter sent to Mormon bishops and signed by church president Thomas S. Monson and his two top counselors calls on Mormons to donate ''means and time'' to the ballot measure. A note on the letter, dated June 20, says it should be read during church services on June 29, but the letter was published Saturday on several websites.  Read the rest of the story here

(London) Heinz Co. said viewer complaints prompted it to pull a British television advertisement for mayonnaise that showed two men kissing. Read the story here and click on the following link to watch the commercial Heinz Ad (Video)

Gay rights activists asked California's highest court Friday to keep off the November ballot a citizens' initiative that would again ban same-sex marriage. Lawyers for Equality California filed a petition arguing that the proposed amendment to the California constitution should be invalidated because its impact was not made clear to the millions of voters who signed petitions to qualify the measure before the state supreme court legalized same-sex unions. ''This court has recognized that gay and lesbian couples have a fundamental right to marry, and as of June 16 such couples have been getting married across the state,'' the petition states. Read the story here

"Ladies and Gentlemen, you are about to see a story of murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery, and treachery...all the things we hold near and dear to our hearts..."

How can you not want to see a play based on that story?

We’re thrilled to announce that Roger Rockas Dinner Theater is going to be showing one of the most popular plays ever, Chicago ! The return of this jazzy musical has produced some of the best songs in theater including my all time favorite: “All That Jazz.”

Directed by Scott Hancock, this play has an amazing cast and crew aboard. Featuring Julie Lucido returning as Roxie Hart (she played her back in 2002); this play is bringing jazzy back. More of the cast includes: Kat Dorian, Anthony and Ashley Taylor, and the very talented Pete Allwin as Billy Flynn. With a cast like this we are definitely in for a treat!

Pete Allwin, who plays the smooth talking Billy Flynn, tells us what makes the musical worth skipping a lame night at the movies:

“It's got great singing, fantastic dancing, and hot people in very little clothing. How can you beat that?”

I just checked off every single item on my ‘What I want in a good show’ list. See you there!

The show opens on July 24 and runs through September 14 at Roger Rockas Theater in the Tower District. Tickets for the show only are $25, and can run from $40 to $45 for dinner and show tickets depending on the day and time. Tickets should be purchased before the show, but you can buy them the day of. Call the Box Office at (559) 266-9494 or go to the theater’s website: www.gcplayers.com for more information.

After the long wait, the Grey’s Anatomy 2-hour finale premiered not too long ago and ended with a kiss that will be replaying over and over in my head until the 5^th season begins.

The foreshadowing of Dr. Callie Torrez (played by Sara Ramirez) and Dr. Erica Hahn’s relationship being more that “just friends” has been so intense for the past couple of episodes. From Callie’s noticeable uneasiness when Hahn (played by Brooke Smith) is around to Hahn kissing Callie “for show” to get McSteamy all hot and bothered, the tension has been building up. Obviously these little steps toward an intimate relationship led up to the finale, where in the last scene Callie plants one of the most passionate kisses I have seen on primetime television since… well since forever!

Many conservatives have been complaining that “Grey’s” has a social agenda these days. In fact, when Ramirez appeared on The View, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, a well-known conservative, actually asked her if her character on the show was “going to switch teams and go for the lady.” Ramirez responded:

About 20 new Gay Pride Videos have been added to our ongoing compilation. Check them out here...

With so many articles and a large amount of information, here you can find links to all of our coverage and links regarding Junes same sex marriages:

Fresno Bee Multi-Media Coverage

A Day In History

Witnessing History - 06.17.08

Couples Celebrate Marriage @ Thaiphoon

Local News Coverage of First Day of Gay Marriages

Gay Pioneers Kick Off Legal Gay Marriage In California

Kern County Public Debate On Same Sex Marriage

Butte County Clerk Ends All Marriages

Advocate Letters Regarding Kern County Clerk

FAQ - Same Sex Marriage Questions & Answers

Kern County Clerk Defies Same Sex Marriage Ruling

States Request Delay In CA Supreme Court Decision

Local Media Regarding Impending Same Sex Marriage

Poll: California Majority Backs Gay Marriage

Fresno Bee Letters On Court Decision

California Supreme Court Decision Document

Local Media Coverage of CA Supreme Court Decision

Check out the videos and the coverage by the Fresno Bee of the events at the County Clerk's Office on Tuesday...

Fresno Bee Multi-Media Coverage of Gay Marriages

 

As a writer for Gay Fresno, and someone who religiously follows LGBT political news, I knew about the California case before the Supreme Court regarding same sex marriage. I’d posted the details of the story as it started to happen, and an update here or there afterwards, but in reality, it ended up slipping my mind. For years, I’d tracked court case after court case on the constitutionality of denying LGBT Americans equal marriage rights, and case after case was ruled against us. So I wasn’t registering internally with every step as I’d done so often before. It’s almost as if I knew the end before it happened.

 It all started at 7:00am when I mounted my bike to head down to the county clerk’s office. I had no idea what to expect, so I was kind of excited and scared at the same time. The night before, my friend, who just moved back to the Bay Area, asked me if I would be safe out there. I told him I would, that nobody was going to come and threaten our safety because this fight (the fight for our equal human rights) is a war of words being fought in the courts and at the polls. It’s possible that conversation left me a bit unnerved as I headed downtown, but I shook it off because I knew I needed to be there for my friends (old and new) today regardless.

A reception was held at 6pm Tuesday night at the Thaiphoon Restaurant in the Tower District. Thaiphoon provided free appetizers, with Spin This DJ in the booth, and incredible support from Central California Alliance. It was standing room only as couples and supporters toasted with champagne (courtesy of Courtyard by Marriott @the Fresno Yosemite International Airport) cut into wedding cakes (provided by CCA and Chiffonos Gourmet Desserts - http://chiffonos.biz/ ), and celebrated this monumental, historic day in LGBT history and the state of California. 

Watch local news coverage of the reception here, ABC 30 Local Coverage Of Wedding Reception and here,  CBS 47 Local Coverage of Wedding Reception

Click on Read More to see the photo gallery...and check back, as we're still adding photos from various sources...more photos just added...

Click on the following links to view local news video regarding the historic first day of legal same sex marriages in California and the Central Valley…

CBS 47 News - Gay Marriages Performed Across The State

ABC 30 Local News - First Gay Marriages Performed

NBC 24 Local News Same Sex Marriage

Fresno Local News Univision 21 Gay Marriage

(San Francisco, California) Dozens of gay couples were married Monday after a landmark ruling making California the second state to allow same-sex nuptials went into effect. At least five county clerks around the state extended their hours to issue marriage licenses, and many same-sex couples got married on the spot. Del Martin, 87, and Phyllis Lyon, 84, pioneers in the gay rights movement, and in a decades long relationship, were married by SF Mayor Gavin Newsome. Read more of the story here: CA Gay Marriage Now Officially Legal

Kern Supervisors Hear Public Arguments On Gay Marriage
The public gave their input at the Kern County Supervisors meeting held Tuesday, June 10.  Ann Barnett was both praised and criticized for her decision to halt civil marriage ceremonies in her office.  People also spoke out in favor and against a proposed ordinance that would ban handing out licenses to gay couples wanting to get married.

It all started with a pretty cool morning as apposed to the last several years we have celebrated pride in June. The atmosphere was light and airy. I had parked between the Post Office and the Dollar Tree to insure that my car would be in the shade by the time the entire event was over. As I walked along Olive Ave to get to the beginning of the parade route I (by force of habit) braced myself for all the snide remarks, ridicule and insults that were (under normal circumstances) unavoidable. Much to my surprise I was greeted, by strangers, with smiling faces and friendly nods. I returned the same friendly greetings. Some even stopped me to compliment me on my choice of pink T-shirt, (A big rainbow on my chest) “Smile If Your Gay!”

After the first day of same sex marriages has completed please gather on June 17th at Thaiphoon at 609 E. Olive Ave., Fresno, CA 93728 at 6PM to celebrate the couples who have married, will marry or spent the day out supporting those who were.

Free appetizers provided by Thaiphoon

Free wedding cake

DJ will be spinning from 6pm to 11pm provided by A Spin This DJ

Free Champagne provided by Courtyard by Marriott Fresno Yosemite International Airport

See the Flyer HERE

OROVILLE, Calif.—Couples can no longer tie the knot at the clerk's office in Butte County. Butte County Clerk Candace Grubbs says the county can't afford to continue performing wedding ceremonies. About 200 couples a year marry at the clerk's office. Read the story here

(Oslo) The gallery at the Norwegian Parliament erupted in applause and cheers on Wednesday with the passage of legislation allowing same-sex couples to marry. Read the story here

The Advocate has received a rush of letters concerning the actions of Kern County Clerk Ann Barnett. Barnett has stated her office will cease performing all marriages, both heterosexual and homosexual on June 13^th. Read the letters here  

The North Tower Circle, located at 2777 N Maroa in Fresno, will be re-opening for business in July. The nightclub is currently seeking applications for the following employment positions:

Bartenders / Bar Backs / Security / Door Persons / DJ

Anyone interested please apply in person any day after 2PM at The Red Lantern, located at 4618 E Belmont in Fresno (559)251-5898.

Here are a few questions and answers and more information about the marriages that will begin next Tuesday, June 17th.  * Please do not download the marriage application on the county website, this is an old version and will not be accepted on the 17th. *  Doors open at 8:30AM until 5PM.  You’ll need to pay a license fee, ($49 for public license or $69 for private license in Fresno County) and if you  have your marriage ceremony performed at the office, there is a fee of $21.  They accept: Cash, Visa or MasterCard (NO CHECKS).

FRESNO COUNTY CLERK 2221 Kern Street Fresno, CA 93721

YOU MUST HAVE A VALID: Drivers License, Passport, or ID with photograph and birth date. Naturalization certificates OR a valid DMV issued identification card.  IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE ABOVE, YOU MUST PROVIDE US WITH: A certified copy o/your birth certificate. adoption papers or baptismal certificate and a picture ID (for example: School or Employee ID).

“While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It’s about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect.” — Senator Barack Obama

Check out Obama’s Pride page here 

More lines are being drawn in the battle for legal same sex marriage in California. Now, county clerk's and others are doing all they can to block access to marriages for same sex couples.

In what has become a national news story, making an appearance on The Today Show, Kern County Auditor-Controller-County Clerk Ann Barnett has created a controversy with her announcement that her office in Bakersfield, California will cease performing any marriages, heterosexual or homosexual, as of June 13^th, 2007, just before the implementation of legal, same sex marriages takes effect.

In emails, it’s indicated that the office requested support from the Alliance Defense Fund in regards to the original cut off time of 5pm on June 16^th, just before same sex marriage becomes legal. Barnett, who was elected in 2006, is not required by law to perform marriage ceremonies, only to administer marriage certificates; however her offices have been performing marriages until the announcement of the legalization of same sex marriage. Barnett’s personal emails have been obtained, as well as others involved, shedding some light on the controversial move. The latest news, as of Monday night, is that an Anti Same Sex Marriage Meeting will be held in Kern County tomorrow, Tuesday, in support of denying same sex couples marriage at the County Clerk's Office, and it promises to go further, with groups now stating they want to deny the Supreme Court Ruling completely...

Click on the following links for the latest on the story… 

Kern County Clerk Dodges Questions (Video)

Bakersfield Californian Story 1 (Including Video)

Bakersfield Californian Story 2

Kern County High School District Trustee Ken Mettler appeared on
Channel 17 at 5pm (6/09/08) to encourage his followers to appear at the County Supervisor Board meeting on June 10.  Here is a YouTube clip:

Anti Same Sex Marriage Meeting Planned (Video) 

Channel 23 reports that Kern County High School District Trustee Ken Mettler has sent out requests to all his supporters to pack the meeting to demand that NO civil marriage licenses even be ISSUED to same gender couples. Watch it all on YouTube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IN1dw-xKsc

Following is the Gay Fresno Photo Gallery for the 2008 Fresno Rainbow Pride Parade & Festival.

Click on the following links to access local media coverage of Fresno Pride... 

Local News KSEE24 Pride Coverage VIDEO

Local News CBS Pride Coverage VIDEO

FresnoBeeHive Coverage PHOTO GALLERY 

While this has nothing, at all, to do with gay rights, it does concern human rights.  We have our very own immigration drama playing out right here in Fresno, and it is vital that the voices of every concerned citizen be heard by our elected representatives. 

Hollywood stars such as Jay Leno and TR Knight came out Wednesday night in West Hollywood for a wild party, kicking off Pride month and more importantly, celebrating the legalization of gay marriage in California starting June 17^th. Judy Shephard, mother of slain Matthew Shephard, was one of the speakers. Click on the following link for the full story and photo gallery…West Hollywood Gay Marriage Pre-Party

The effort by several anti-gay groups to get enough signatures to put the issue of gay marriage to California voters has officially qualified for the November ballot. Therefore, this November, California voters will have the chance to restrict California marriage to one man and one woman, despite the recent Supreme Court decision to legalize gay marriage. Theoretically, if voters restrict marriage, the legalization of gay marriage will be overturned; however members of the Supreme Court have stated that the courts may step in again at that point to overturn the vote, since it clearly violates equal civil rights. Read the story here

May 30, @ 9:00 pm, the Knights of Malta had a Beer Bash along with a Memorial Day/Gay Pride 2008-09 show at 10:15pm. The Knights of Malta had hosted a great show. The producers of the show were Ms. Lisa Marie LeGrand and Ms. Paris Nicole. A little before the event, Ms. Lisa had called me to join her for the event in a performance. We both settled on a duet by "England's Fabulous Fag", Elton John and Kiki Dee; Don't Go Breaking My Heart. I was very thrilled and honored and couldn't wait for show time. Photos By Kirk - Newslink