There is no doubt that candidates for public office are afforded a bit more opportunity to be heard than the rest of us. Getting on the ballot as a candidate in a local or regional election draws the attention of the media and of the many groups and organizations that are involved in the social and political issues that confront us. In spite of this, we see few people exploring becoming a candidate as a method of raising awareness of alternative positions and ideas. This is unfortunate because becoming a candidate for public office is not as difficult as one may think.

In 2010, there are no less than 22 political offices in Fresno County that will be filled in the Primary election in June or the General election in November:

 

• U.S. Representative for the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st districts

• State Senator for the 14th and 16th districts

• Member of the State Assembly for the 29th, 30th, and 31st districts

• Fresno County Supervisor for the 1st and 4th districts

• Fresno City Council Member for the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th districts

• Assessor-Recorder

• Auditor-Controller/Treasurer Tax Collector

• County Clerk

• District Attorney

• Public Administrator/Coroner

• Sheriff

• Superintendent of Schools

 

Some of these offices—such as Sheriff, District Attorney, Auditor-Controller/Treasurer Tax Collector, and

Assessor-Recorder—require that the candidate meets certain qualifications to be eligible but other offices do not. The other offices, mostly legislative, merely require that a person be registered to vote and be a resident of the district the candidate wishes to represent to be qualified.

 

The NATIONAL EQUALITY MARCH is approaching fast, taking place on Saturday, October 11th in Washington DC. Some of the latest NEWS & UPDATES on the march...

Cleve Jones recently sent a letter to President Obama, urging him to join them at the rally. There is also a posting of the latest list of EVENTS to be taking place during the weekend. Having received their official permits, an official march route has been designated and released. You can check it out here: MAP OF MARCH ROUTE. Through the website you can take advantage of SPECIAL AIRLINE DISCOUNTS FROM JET BLUE

There are various SOLIDARITY RALLIES planned throughout the country and around the world, including a Solidarity Event in Visalia. MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA is hosting the San Francisco Bridge Walk For Marriage Equality on the same day, October 11th. In Fresno you can hook up with the group heading up by clicking here: FRESNO GROUP - SAN FRANCISCO BRIDGE WALK OCT 11

If you would like to donate to the march, you can by clicking here: NATIONAL MARCH DONATIONS

There's been a good deal of conflict over the National March, on all sides of the issue. We have to remember that although we call ourselves one community, we remain individuals with different opinions. However we're after the same goal, equal civil rights for all LGBT Americans. Clearly, none of us knows the answer as to how to obtain those rights, as we've faced failure on so many fronts. But I hope at this point we can put aside current arguments and wish nothing but success for the March. Because this March is not just about the people who are organizing it or the people that can be there. This March is for all LGBT Americans, and was always intended as such. This March, as with other efforts on a National level, demonstrate to the opposition that we won't play State by State forever.  It says loud and clear that we're willing to up the ante.

We are not who the opposing side paints us to be. We know that. Many of them know that. Still, we're forced daily to be verbally abused and debased by hateful words and lies. We are confronted by physical and emotional abuse. Yes, it's painful. Yes, it wears you down. Yes, we thought this would be over by now. But YES, our rights WILL be granted. We may not be able to say when, but they will be granted, and the National March, as all efforts which will come after it, are working toward that goal. This is America, and even faced with another day of injustice which has become difficult to understand, we must continue standing with confidence that eventually, we will have our equality.  

As it's been said many times for many years, the single most important action for any LGBT American is to come out into the open, to be who we are in all aspects of our lives. For some of us there's not a lot of sacrifice to being out. For others, the sacrifice is great. But sacrifice, on various levels, is necessary to move ourselves forward. Visibility is our strongest weapon in tearing down this inexcusable tyranny our community lives through every day.

 

As a liberal, I think I try to look at other viewpoints than my own. I don't mean that I always agree with them, but I look at them. If they feel like they might have some truth, I look again. And if I find something in them that IS true, I admit it. But, sometimes I look at it, see it's full of shit and I say so. But, I DID look at it. I just don't feel the need to pretend I agree with it.

That being said, I don't think that all viewpoints are valid. I think some ARE full of shit. For instance, teabaggers are full of shit. What are they upset about? They say it's taxes and debt, but you know part of the reason we have all this debt? A war. A war that these SAME PEOPLE called us liberal whackos and un-American for opposing. So, it was okay to run up a stomach-churning debt in the name of killing people, but not for making sure that people, working people, can have access to health-care? Oh no, well health care? That's just like Hitler!

Uh huh. Full 'o shite.

By Dan Waterhouse, “Queer Eye....”

Community Alliance Newspaper, Fresno

“Queer Eye…” learned on Thursday that the first effort to hire a permanent police reviewer for the City of Fresno failed. A second search effort is reported to be underway.

The source, who was close to the process, revealed the first search could find just one potential candidate. “We had a highly-regarded firm helping; we made phone calls, trying to get people to interview. We could only find one person.”

He said that, despite an offer from the City to raise the salary, the sole candidate finally said “no.” He added there are very few people experienced in auditing law enforcement agencies; it’s a new area of auditing.

The source also said no one was that interested in the Fresno job. Doing police review is difficult in the best of circumstances, even more so in a conservative community like Fresno . People in the community say it would be hard to convince anyone to leave where they’re at already, to take a job where there was little support for it behind closed doors in the local City Hall.

The auditor position is being filled on an interim basis by Robert Aaronson, from Santa Cruz , where he is the city’s police auditor. He also serves as police auditor for the City of Davis .

(click on image to enlarge)

Christians, as leaders, both in politics and political activism...

There are so many ways for me to finish that sentence. Most of them, though, after years of frustrated debating, would be rather harsh. Harsh, only because Americans remain, to this day, programmed into acquiescing to quiet respect for those of faith. For the most part. Even for those who enter the public arena, dragging their mythology along with them.

It's still controversial to confront the insanity which is faith mixed with politics. Despite our claims to the separation of church and state, Congress still utilizes the Bible, even drags preachers in to lead prayers. All of our Presidents, including Obama, consistently include God in their speeches, make sure they're recorded in church, and invite priests to speak at their events. Obama included one homophobe preacher and one gay preacher in his inaugural proceedings. Is that progress? I don't know, but I doubt it. I guarantee you though, that not all politicians are Christians, far from it. They're simply managing their job security, pacifying their base. Why can't America keep religion out of government? And why are Americans who are the most flag waving and patriotic the same ones who scream when someone suggests taking "God" out of the pledge of allegiance? Rhapsodize all you want, but religion and faith entangled in virtually every aspect of our government and politics is a direct assault on everything this nation supposedly represents.

When are we going to learn? We're losing ground regularly, with everything from restricting abortions, to Pharmacists able to deny medication based on their beliefs, to the current threats to the latest LGBT marriage victories in...well, everywhere. The responsibility for all backward evolution in America when it comes to rights and freedoms lays at the feet of religion and faith. Yet the LGBT equal rights movement, for example, continues to this day to covet more and more religious influence. Condemning those of us who denounce religious intervention or choose occasional vocal confrontation over silence or prayer, is now common, even routine. Meanwhile, religious Americans spew fabricated lies all over us and have, for the most part, been quite successful by doing so.

From the New York Times: Austin didn’t know what to wear to his first gay dance last spring. It was bad enough that the gangly 13-year-old from Sand Springs, Okla., had to go without his boyfriend at the time, a 14-year-old star athlete at another middle school, but there were also laundry issues. “I don’t have any clean clothes!” he complained to me by text message, his favored method of communication.

When I met up with him an hour later, he had weathered his wardrobe crisis (he was in jeans and a beige T-shirt with musical instruments on it) but was still a nervous wreck. “I’m kind of scared,” he confessed. “Who am I going to talk to? I wish my boyfriend could come.” But his boyfriend couldn’t find anyone to give him a ride nor, Austin explained, could his boyfriend ask his father for one. “His dad would give him up for adoption if he knew he was gay,” Austin told me. “I’m serious. He has the strictest, scariest dad ever. He has to date girls and act all tough so that people won’t suspect.”

Austin doesn’t have to play “the pretend game,” as he calls it, anymore. At his middle school, he has come out to his close friends, who have been supportive. A few of his female friends responded that they were bisexual. “Half the girls I know are bisexual,” he said. He hadn’t planned on coming out to his mom yet, but she found out a week before the dance. “I told my cousin, my cousin told this other girl, she told her mother, her mother told my mom and then my mom told me,” Austin explained. “The only person who really has a problem with it is my older sister, who keeps saying: ‘It’s just a phase! It’s just a phase!’ ”

Read the rest of this story HERE

 

Fred Karger is the man behind the boycott of the Manchester Hotel in San Diego, motivated by the hotel owner's donation in support of Prop 8. He moved on to 3 other boycott campaigns for the same reason, and then went after the Mormon Church and the National Organization for Marriage. Lastly, he filed a complaint in Maine regarding the organizations and monies used to fund the campaign to ban same sex marriage.

Now Karger has been subpoenaed in a federal case brought by ProtectMarriage.com against California election officials, in an attempt to end reporting of contributor names in the state of California. Karger is simply an individual, a citizen activist, who felt a responsibility to fight for justice. With the cost of a lawsuit in California, he faces a difficult road, although he's already being reached out to by many people who want to help, including Cleve Jones.

Read his story  HERE

Has the town hall fervor gone farther than we thought? Has the crazed, irrational rhetoric we've all seen recently directed toward the Federal Government sparked murder? A census worker was found hanged in Kentucky, with the word FED scrawled on his body. The FBI is investigating, and while the crime scene is described as "disturbing" and all census taking in the area has ceased, there still is no word on whether this is a murder motivated by hate. Just how far have things gone?

The first video is the brilliant testimony by Barney Frank. The second is the touching testimony by Vandy Beth Glenn, who was fired from her Georgia state legislative job when she told her supervisor she was transitioning from male to female.

(SACRAMENTO - September 24, 2009) - Today, a diverse group of Californians filed ballot language with the State of California for an initiative to repeal Proposition 8 in November 2010, and restore equal marriage rights for same-sex couples.

“Starting today, there is new hope for committed gay and lesbian couples who want to get married,” said John Henning, Executive Director of LOVE HONOR CHERISH, a grassroots group that is spearheading the effort to place the measure on the 2010 ballot. “We’re back on the path toward full equality.”

Love Honor Cherish is one of more than 40 groups that support repealing Prop 8 at the next general election in November 2010. The groups include Stonewall Democrats, the Latino Equality Alliance, the Mexican American Bar Association, and the San Diego Alliance for Marriage Equality, among others. For a full list, go to www.RepealProp8.com.

Today’s filing is the first step in a process that will place the measure on the November 2010 ballot. In November, the broad coalition of groups supporting the initiative will begin circulating petitions to gather the 1 million signatures needed to qualify the initiative.

The proposed measure reads as follows:

This amendment would amend an existing section of the California Constitution. Existing language proposed to be deleted is printed in strikeout type. Language proposed to be added is printed in underlined type.

Section 1. To protect religious freedom, no court shall interpret this measure to require any priest, minister, pastor, rabbi, or other person authorized to perform marriages by any religious denomination, church, or other non-profit religious institution to perform any marriage in violation of his or her religious beliefs. The refusal to perform a marriage under this provision shall not be the basis for lawsuit or liability, and shall not affect the tax-exempt status of any religious denomination, church or other religious institution.

Section 2. To provide for fairness in the government’s issuance of marriage licenses, Section 7.5 of Article I of the California Constitution is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 7.5. Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Marriage is between only two persons and shall not be restricted on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or religion.

For more on this story, or to make a donation or offer assistance to this effort, follow this link... REPEAL PROP 8

I'm telling you, Christians consistently provide a never ending source of material for me, but this week is a bonanza. Check out the first video from Kirk Cameron, you know, the actor from the TV show "Growing Pains". After being an atheist for most of his life, a friend convinced Kirk he was guilty of "sin" and he'd face harsh punishment if he didn't make the shift from atheist to Christian . (Kirk actually says in his testimony that he turned to God to "take the punishment for him", so he wouldn't have to take it himself) He's become a Christian sensation, spouting PCP (Pure Christian Propaganda) on the internet, in books and on television and in movies. And by the way, just as so many Christian videos have started to do recently, Cameron doesn't allow any comments on his video. How brave, how very brave.

The second video is from a young Romanian woman, Christina, (my new hero) who hilariously yet  seriously rebuts all the points in Cameron's video, which, of course, is incredibly easy to do. The videos will explain everything, but basically Cameron has set November 19th of this year as the date he will be passing out free copies of Darwin's "Origin of Species" at 50 colleges across the country. Oh, I almost forgot, a friend of his has added a 50 page introduction to the book, in order to decimate Darwin personally, so that, of course, college students will see that the theory of evolution is all a big hoax. Enjoy...

You can download the "special introduction" to Cameron's version of the "Origin Of Species" here: 50 PAGE INTRODUCTION

And remember, all those invested in the fight for LGBT equal rights in America, Christians are the leaders in our discrimination and injustice. Just a heads up...

God, Christians make this all so easy...

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Moral Kombat
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Healthcare Protests

San Francisco Bridge Walk - Oct 11 - Round Trip from Fresno to SF Space is Limited! Snacks Provided! No cost Sunday, October 11, 2009 5:00am - 5:00pm   Pickup location provided via email after RSVP RSVP via email, via facebook or call/text (559) 862-4559. (please provide name, phone number and email of each person in your party)   Join us for an exciting time! We have passenger vans to transport you from Fresno to San Francisco for the 6th annual BridgeWalk on October 11th. This is a great event for kids, grandparents and the whole family. We will have speakers and cake to toast our efforts thus far and a short conference call with the National Equality March happening simultaneously in Washington D.C. - Leave Fresno at 5:30am (don't worry, you can sleep on the way) - Arrive in San Francisco at 9:30am to Crissy Field and together we will march the span of the Golden Gate Bridge. - Leave SF at 1pm and arrive back in Fresno at 5pm We are looking for donations of food/water for passengers All monetary donations for gas/van rental costs are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible. But, no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Seeking individual, company and group sponsors. A BIG thank you to The Express for their sponsorship of an entire Van and snacks/water for the passengers

I came across a couple of video clips from "Screaming Queens: The Riot at Compton's Cafeteria", a documentary directed by Victor Silverman & Susan Stryker, about a San Francisco transgender uprising that predated the New York transgender uprising at the Stonewall Inn. The documentary was released in 2005, and you can purchase a DVD here... Frameline - "Screaming Queens"

This year we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, but check out other Pre-Stonewall LGBT Actions In The United States

Who was the driving force behind California Prop 8. Well, what a surprise, it was the Catholics. The Catholics, who've violated more morality than you can imagine throughout the centuries. The Catholics, who've condoned child molesting and protected the molesters for who knows how long now (and continue to do so to this day). The Catholics, who's current leader has ties to the Nazis. Yes, I know their ceremonies are "beautiful", blah, blah, blah...and I know that's why so many people I've talked to still go and support this regime of violence and hatred. High standards, people. Here's the story of the genesis of Prop 8 in California and one Catholic in particular who delights in his leadership on that issue...Chris Jarvis

From the East Bay Express...

"Proposition 8, the California constitutional amendment that deprived gay men and women of the right to marry one another, was perhaps the ugliest and most divisive electoral moment since Proposition 187, which denied illegal immigrant children access to health care and public education. All across the state, gay men, lesbians, and their friends picketed hostile churches and boycotted businesses that backed the amendment. And as they contemplated their fate, they asked themselves: Who did this to us? Was it the Mormons? The National Organization for Marriage? Black voters? White evangelical mega churches?

Now, eight months after the election that broke so many hearts, the truth has come out. It was the new Catholic bishop of Oakland."

Read the rest of the story here...THE FATHER OF PROP 8

On Sunday, Sept. 20, I had signed up with Courage Campaign to volunteer with Anthony Ash’s group; starting at 4 pm. I had a great time. I got to meet more people who volunteered as well, and in chatting with them; we got to become more acquainted than just another face/person in the group. Jessica, The leader for Porterville’s group was a riot. She can talk about incidences or issues that aren’t even newsworthy but have come to pass. She is very knowledgeable and I hope to one day sit and talk more with her regarding such cases. Gavino, was very quiet but very alert and friendly. He greeted every movie go-er with a smile.

 

Jason and Jackie, the two leaders of the night were very helpful in getting the information to those who weren’t aware of Courage Campaign and even acquired some appointments to be speakers to some classes at Fresno State. (Good Going Guys). Solomon, very outgoing and cheerful had a smile and joke for everyone. I hadn’t seen him in over four years so it was nice to sort of catch up with him and other friends I hadn’t seen in about the same time; who came to see certain movies during the day. Bev and Rosa were very friendly and helped a great deal in getting people to sign a promise to repeal prop 8 at the next election and even received some contributions for C.C. GOOD JOB!

There were a few others there who volunteered and it seemed to me that everything went off smoothly. There were smiles and laughter in abundance from everyone. I hope to volunteer again for next year. (First group photo: Bev, Rosa, Gavino. Second group photo: Ghost, Daina, Charles)

The Values Voter Summit 2009 Conference, which just concluded its run in Washington DC, was filled with what you'd expect from conservative, "faith based" Americans. Take a look at their List of Exhibitors and you can see the focus of this farce. Or check out their List of Speakers and you may need a shower. They openly state on their site that "The war is raging..." and see a path to Christians "taking back this country". You can call this a conservative gathering, but as we've all noticed, it's much more accurate to call it a "faith based" gathering, as most conservative gatherings have become.

I can't say it enough, and I won't stop saying it, that we must work diligently to purge our government of "faith", as it relates to the work of day to day governing. The real problem is that faith based Americans are not just filling up the base for conservative America, they've also merged into our own political actions and groups, groups committed to securing equal rights for all LGBT Americans. How did this happen and how is it continuing? I'm not saying Christians or any other people of faith shouldn't be involved in the fight for equal rights. Quite the contrary. What I'm saying is that within that battle for rights, that portion of any activist, their faith, should remain silent. It works against us, holding up the arguments of the other side. And frankly, as I've said before, I look at anyone who constantly promotes themselves as "a person of faith" as someone not playing at the adult, rational table of dialogue. Keep that for your church group. We're dealing with reality here.

"Faith" is defined in the dictionary as "a belief in something for which there is no proof". Again, fine for anyone in America to choose that method of thinking, but it has no vocal place in our government or politics, where reason and logic are the steadfast building blocks of debate. We're working on factual, concrete issues of a rational nature, yet we continue to fluff up our ranks with the voices of Americans whose primary system of day to day operation is driven by "a belief in something for which there is no proof". Forgive me, but in a battle which must operate from a foundation of reason and logic, I'm not comfortable with those who might make decisions based on faith. If you think these faiths don't color every other motive in a person's life, take a look at the following videos.  

The first video is from Lila Rose, who says that abortions should be conducted in the public square until we're so horrified that we see (what else?) angels. Then there's an incredibly twisted interpretation of the Constitution's separation of church and state. Finally, there's Carrie Prejean, displaying what little brain power she has to make her right foot follow her left on a daily basis. Another example of how faith twists a person's reasoning. How does she not see the unbelievable irony in her statement about intolerance? Delicious? Yes. But if there's one thing people of faith have taught us historically, it's that no matter how crazy it sounds, these systems of belief can, and do, easily restrict the civil rights of others.

 

This video is from a recent appearance by Charlize Theron on ABC's THE VIEW. Toward the end of this piece, she's asked about marriage plans and explains, as she has courageously done in the past, why she has no current plans to marry Stuart Townsend.

Gay Central Valley and Gay Fresno are happy to once again 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. Games are an hour in length, played weekly on Wednesdays.

Their current schedule is as follows: (all in field 4)

Sept 2 6:00PM - Sept 9 8:20PM - Sept 16 6:00PM - Sept 23 7:10PM - Sept 30 7:10PM - Oct 7 7:10PM - Oct 14 6:00PM - Oct 21 7:10PM - Oct 28 8:20PM - Nov 4 8:20PM

We encourage all to come to the games to show support for this local LGBTQ team. (Group photo courtesy Eva Falk)

 

Surprise, surprise, the very same lies used in the past are being rehashed in an effort to stop the movement toward legal, same sex marriage. The group, Stand For Marriage Maine, a group fighting to strip Americans in Maine of their equal rights, released an ad filled with lies and misinformation, just as we've seen before. Today, the group Protect Maine Equality, a group working to maintain the equal rights of Americans in that state, countered with an on the mark, direct commercial which tells the truth. Watch them both, below.

 

Gay Central Valley has a supply of DOG TAGS left over from this year's Pride Festival, and we're offering them for sale to those who are interested. You can see the 12 different dog tags that are available in the pictures attached to this article. All tags are original designs of Gay Central Valley and come with a silver chain attached.

Our DOG TAGS are $3 each and are available at one location only, The North Tower Circle. We have a limited supply, so if you'd like to purchase one or more, visit the North Tower Circle at 2777 N Maroa Avenue, Fresno, CA 93704 (559) 229-4188 on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday, anytime after 7pm, starting this Friday, September 18th. Ask for the manager, James, and he can get the tags you're after.

All proceeds go to Gay Central Valley, and are used to fund our efforts in the Central Valley for the benefit of the LGBT Community. Gay Central Valley and affiliated websites are strictly not for profit operations. All money goes back to the community. (Click on images to enlarge)

 

Video of a speech and protest in Atlanta, Georgia, over the recent event of an Atlanta bar The Eagle was raided by police.

And how the police explain the incident

Do you know someone who makes assumptions, particularly tired, cliche assumptions about homosexuals and our "lifestyle"? We've all heard the same ones, like "we chose to by gay" or "how do you know you're gay if you've never had sex with the opposite sex?"...Well, copy this questionnaire and take it to them, or mail it to someone who refuses to evolve. In my opinion it's brilliant, and the truth in it cannot be refuted...Let's see how many of us can get a copy of this to Jim Franklin over at

Cornerstone Church...1545 Fulton Street  Fresno, CA 93721 Phone: 559-442-0122 Fax: 559-442-3068

In fact, let me challenge you to print copies and spread the word around, paper up a few parking lots, other churches, Republican headquarters...the list goes on and on...

Chris Jarvis

The Heterosexual Questionnaire was created back in 1972 to put heterosexual people in the shoes of a gay person for just a moment. Questions and assumptions made of Gays and Lesbians that are unfair, are reversed and this time asked to the straight people:

HETEROSEXUAL QUESTIONNAIRE

( ©1972, Martin Rochlin, Ph.D.)

This questionnaire is for self-avowed heterosexuals only. If you are not openly heterosexual, pass it on to a friend who is. Please try to answer the questions as candidly as possible. Your responses will be held in strict confidence and your anonymity fully protected.

1. What do you think caused your heterosexuality?

2. When and how did you first decide you were a heterosexual?

3. Is it possible your heterosexuality is just a phase you may grow out of?

4. Could it be that your heterosexuality stems from a neurotic fear of others of the same sex?

5. If you’ve never slept with a person of the same sex, how can you be sure you wouldn’t prefer that?

6. To whom have you disclosed your heterosexual tendencies? How did they react?

7. Why do heterosexuals feel compelled to seduce others into their lifestyle?

8. Why do you insist on flaunting your heterosexuality? Can’t you just be what you are and keep it quiet?

9. Would you want your children to be heterosexual, knowing the problems they’d face?

10. A disproportionate majority of child molesters are heterosexual men. Do you consider it safe to expose children to heterosexual male teachers, pediatricians, priests, or scoutmasters?

11. With all the societal support for marriage, the divorce rate is spiraling. Why are there so few stable relationships among heterosexuals?

12. Why do heterosexuals place so much emphasis on sex?

13. Considering the menace of overpopulation, how could the human race survive if everyone were heterosexual?

14. Could you trust a heterosexual therapist to be objective? Don’t you fear s/he might be inclined to influence you in the direction of her/his own leanings?

15. Heterosexuals are notorious for assigning themselves and one another rigid, stereotyped sex roles. Why must you cling to such unhealthy role-playing?

16. With the sexually segregated living conditions of military life, isn’t heterosexuality incompatible with military service?

17. How can you enjoy an emotionally fulfilling experience with a person of the other sex when there are such vast differences between you? How can a man know what pleases a woman sexually or vice-versa?

18. Shouldn’t you ask your far-out straight cohorts, like skinheads and born-agains, to keep quiet? Wouldn’t that improve your image?

19. Why are heterosexuals so promiscuous?

20. Why do you attribute heterosexuality to so many famous lesbian and gay people? Is it to justify your own heterosexuality?

21. How can you hope to actualize your God-given homosexual potential if you limit yourself to exclusive, compulsive heterosexuality?

22. There seem to be very few happy heterosexuals. Techniques have been developed that might enable you to change if you really want to. After all, you never deliberately chose to be a heterosexual, did you? Have you considered aversion therapy or Heterosexuals Anonymous?

SACRAMENTO , Calif.-- (Business Wire)--AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the operator of the largest non-government HIV testing program in California , today praised the California Legislature for its passage of Assembly Bill 221, which cleared the Assembly on final concurrence (61-0) today and moves on to the Governor`s desk. AB 221 updates and streamlines the training of counselors for rapid HIV testing by exempting persons administering finger stick rapid HIV tests from the requirement for certification as a limited phlebotomy technician (LPT).It is widely expected that Schwarzenegger will sign the bill. However, as AB 221 has been designated an urgency bill and will go into effect as soon as the Governor signs it rather than early next year, AHF is reiterating its call on the Governor to swiftly sign the bill.

The bill, authored by Assembly Member Anthony Portantino (D-Pasadena) and co-sponsored by AIDS Healthcare Foundation and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, eliminates barriers to expanding access to HIV rapid screening by reforming outdated, unnecessary and excessive training standards for HIV counselors who administer the finger stick rapid test.

"Over the past three years, the California Legislature and the Governor have led the charge to foster widespread routine HIV screening. One after another, barriers to screening have been erased so that California can ensure an optimal environment for people to learn their HIV status and get into life-saving treatment. AB 221 removes yet another barrier," said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, co-sponsor of the bill. "We encourage Governor Schwarzenegger to quickly sign this pragmatic and money-saving bill into law." 

A gay-straight alliance in our Central Valley is a dream we are trying to make a reality. A dream that we hope one day will consume our entire nation and, ultimately; the world. This alliance isn’t just a desire, but a necessity in order to establish equality and freedom from intolerance and bigotry for all. Our central valley has numerous GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) clubs dispersed throughout it. The purpose of these clubs is to do just what it says; form a gay-straight alliance by extinguishing hate and homophobia by promoting love, acceptance, and equality for all. More so, GSA clubs benefit our youth that suffer from hate and homophobia each day, whether it is at school, at home or anywhere else for that matter. These clubs establish a group of youth both straight and gay that gather together not to change the world, but to influence each other’s lives. This is a sort of haven where our LGBT youth could meet, interact, share their stories, help each other and just be themselves. In a complex world it’s nice to interact with people that share the same struggles as you; this is why it is important to keep the GSA network alive and active in the Central Valley.

Recently, Robin McGehee stepped down as the administrator of the GSA network in the Central Valley. Our community had no choice but to stare at one another and ask, “What now?” Many of us were concerned that the position may not be filled, as we should be in an area like Fresno. Back in March proponents for marriage equality “met in the middle,” which landed them in Fresno; the center of the “Yes on 8” territory. They did this because they understood that our full attention should be given to conservative areas like Fresno that forget views will and do differ from their own. With Robin gone, how are we to ensure that our LGBT youth receive our full attention, in such a conservative area, during a time they may need it most? Not to worry, the position has been filled; and in a very timely matter.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler will introduce legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act next week.

By Kerry Eleveld

The Advocate has learned that Democratic representatives Jerrold Nadler of New York, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, and Jared Polis of Colorado will be introducing legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act next Tuesday. A Democratic aide confirmed that a press conference to announce the bill will be held September 15 at 11 a.m. at the House Triangle.

The source said the bill currently has just over 50 cosponsors, but Congressman Nadler’s office has not yet officially circulated a letter to his fellow House members.

Nadler told the Bay Area Reporter in July that the bill would amount to a full repeal of DOMA, including Section 2, which advises states to disregard same-sex marriages that have been legally performed in other states, and Section 3, which prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages.

President Barack Obama supported full repeal of the legislation as a candidate and has reiterated that support in the White House. “I believe it's discriminatory, I think it interferes with states' rights, and we will work with Congress to overturn it,” Obama said of the 1996 law during an Oval Office signing ceremony in June.

Eleveld is The Advocate's Washington correspondent.

Original Story

 

To anyone who challenges you on the rights of LGBT Americans, anyone who says that we are able to obtain the same legal, undeniable rights that straight couples have, rights which are PROTECTED by law, wave them over to this story. Until LGBT Americans are protected from discrimination on a FEDERAL level, these kinds of things will continue to happen, with or without the "law"...Chris Jarvis - Gay Fresno

(Phoenix, September 8, 2009) — Lambda Legal is profoundly concerned and disturbed by a move by Arizona lawmakers on Friday to strip health benefits from the domestic partners of state employees.

State legislators for months had taken aim at the equal benefits plan approved last year by former Governor Janet Napolitano, now Department of Homeland Security Secretary. On Friday, current Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed a budget bill with the provision revoking the health insurance coverage for domestic partners.

The elimination of vital benefits for a small, politically vulnerable group of public workers emerged from a protracted and bruising battle over the state budget. The new law strips gay and lesbian state employees of the ability to obtain health benefits for an unmarried life partner. Because health coverage for an employee’s committed life partner can be a critical lifeline for family stability and financial security, this budget denies 'equal pay for equal work' and inflicts severe hardship upon a targeted group of Arizona families.

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This video, from host Tucker Carlson, concerning a recent battle between LGBT community members and conservative community members, is one of the best examples I've seen of the way that LGBT issues are twisted and misrepresented by not only the people of the community, but the media. A couple of minutes in, Carlson puts up some statistics which he uses to represent the integrity of a speaker on the LGBT side of the issue, but which have absolutely nothing to do with it. He quotes BIAS statistics, while the issue is BULLYING. Then, at a town meeting, a black pastor stands to declare he's not requiring the school to use certain learning guides to help his daughter avoid being harassed, completely ignoring the fact that children in schools are already learning about black history, and that black Americans are not hidden from the conversation, as LGBT Americans are. We all know LGBT kids and children of LGBT parents don't get harassed, right? And certainly they would never get harassed by their own teachers. And of course, WE have the agenda, not THEM. Take a look at the blatant misdirection and manipulation of this issue by the townspeople and Carlson...

By Andrea Stone, USA TODAY

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Judy Shepard steps to the ballroom lectern, dangles her reading glasses and waves a folding fan. Necessities, she explains, for "a woman of a certain age." The state employees chuckle.

Soon they — and their guest speaker — will weep.

The story of how Shepard's son Matthew was beaten, tied to a fence and left for dead near Laramie on a clear October night in 1998 is well-known. The murder of the college student sparked protests, vigils and calls for legal protections for victims of anti-gay violence. Shepard says she became "a mom on a mission."

Some 500 speeches later, Shepard has rarely cried in public, but on this day, she does.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," she says as she clears her throat. "There's a hole in my life," she sobs. "Deep breath, everybody." The 150 people in the room inhale as one.

One of the most approachable faces of the gay rights movement may finally see her mission fulfilled this year as Congress moves closer to passing the hate-crimes bill she has lobbied for a decade to pass. The Matthew Shepard Act would extend federal protections to people victimized because of sexual orientation. To give lawmakers an added push, Shepard begins a tour this month to promote her book, The Meaning of Matthew: My Son's Murder in Laramie, and a World Transformed.

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BURLINGTON, Vt.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ben & Jerry’s, known for its euphoric ice cream flavors and dedication to social justice, celebrates the beginning of the freedom to marry for gay and lesbian couples in Vermont with the symbolic renaming of its well known ice cream flavor "Chubby Hubby" to "Hubby Hubby" . In partnership with Freedom to Marry, Ben & Jerry’s aims to raise awareness of the importance of marriage equality and, to show its support, will serve “Hubby Hubby” sundaes in Vermont Scoop Shops throughout the month of September.

Ben & Jerry’s has a long history of commitment to social justice, including gay rights. Its partnership with Freedom to Marry, a national leader in the movement for marriage equality, aims to raise awareness of the importance of marriage equality and to encourage other states to follow the blazing trails of Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, and Maine. Freedom to Marry promotes the national conversation about why marriage equality matters and brings together partner organizations into a larger whole – a shared civil rights campaign.

“At the core of Ben & Jerry’s values, we believe that social justice can and should be something that every human being is entitled to,” said Walt Freese, Chief Executive Officer of Ben & Jerry’s. “From the very beginning of our 30 year history, we have supported equal rights for all people. The legalization of marriage for gay and lesbian couples in Vermont is certainly a step in the right direction and something worth celebrating with peace, love and plenty of ice cream.”

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A Scarecrow’s Bible

Author: Martin Hyatt

Review By: Leon Velasco

Rating: One Thumb Up, One Thumb Down

I had read this book and somehow would get lost in text. In some parts I would read 2-3 times just to make sure I had read it right to get it to connect with the next topic matter. A small book but if you get side tracked, you’re lost. With that in mind, it took me a little longer than normal to read 201 pages. Unless you’re a very avid and focused reader then I’d say go for broke; but if not, try a different one.

In a house trailer in rural Mississippi, Gary, a married Vietnam veteran, addicted to drugs, haunted by memories of the past, is on the brink of collapse. Just when he thinks the dream of another life is over, the unspeakable happens. He falls in love with a frail, ghostly younger man who reminds him of youth, beauty, and the possibility of a life beyond the prison he has created for himself. A Scarecrow’s Bible is about what happens when love occurs at the most unexpected moment. It is the story of how working-class men and women in a small town adapt to changes that somehow seem impossible. It is a novel of hope and transformation that challenges our ideas about diversity and social change, breaking your heart all the way.

Michael Steele, the Chairman of the Republican Party, and, at best, a disjointed and self destructive politician, has been caught, yet again, spewing the ramblings of a mental patient, this time on the subject of health care. Watch Rachel Maddow's report...