Dear friends, Well, it finally happened. Family Research Council's Tony Perkins finally got something right.

In a recent press release, Tony got all hot and bothered that GetEQUAL DC organizers decided to call out Bancroft PLLC -- the bigoted and discriminatory law firm that has taken up the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) case -- after another law firm, King & Spalding, decided it was too hot to handle:

[G]roups like GetEQUAL and others are forming what is basically a mobile protest unit. [Monday], its activists rallied outside the offices of King & Spalding--only to learn that its attorneys had bailed on the case. So what did they do? Hopped in the car, drove across town to Paul Clement's new firm, and started demonstrating there.

I don't know if Tony's ever encountered discrimination in his life, but I can assure you that spending the night in jail is not for the faint of heart...and attacking brave equality activists via a press release doesn't sound very lion-hearted to me. And, if Tony had any idea what he was talking about, he'd know that we didn't jump into a car and drive across town -- we walked a few blocks.  :-)

All that being said, here's where Tony is right -- we are, indeed, creating the "mobile protest units" that he references, organizing in states across this country from North Carolina to Texas to Wyoming. After launching our Organizing For Equality campaign, we've seen incredible organizers spring forward in Ohio, Georgia, Arizona, and more -- and we're just getting started.

But we need your help.

Watch this video explaining Organizing For Equality (OFE), then pick a state that you want to support financially. We'll split your donation 50/50 between our national organizing and the organizing happening in the state of your choice, supporting the "mobile protest units" that can form rapid response teams when groups like the Family Research Council decide to stand in the way of our equality.

We're going to get equal, whether Tony Perkins likes it or not. But we need your help. Watch the video, pick a state, and help us get there.

Get Out! Get Active! GetEQUAL!

Robin McGehee, Director

The Express brings back the HIP-HOP Room in Starrz Lounge this and every Friday.

FREQUENCY FRIDAYS!
2 Room - Main (Dance, House, Top 40) - & Starrz (HIP-HOP/R&B)
3 Bars - Main, Starrz, Patio

1/2 off drinks all night long

Doors open @ 8pm
$6 Cover begins at 9pm

The Fresno Rainbow Pride Parade & Festival is the Central Valley’s largest LGBT event of the year. Every year approximately 3,000 people – all ages of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight allies converge on the Tower District in Fresno to march and celebrate the diversity of our community. June is Pride month and celebrated as such the world over.

The first Pride march was in June of 1970, commemorating the one year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, widely considered to be the start of the modern gay liberation movement, and regarded as the single most important event that led to the modern movement for LGBT civil rights.

We all enjoy this incredible event every year and in these tough economic times, Community Link, which organizes and produces Pride every year, needs your help in raising funds.

This Saturday, the North Tower Circle is hosting a Fresno Pride Fundraising Party and we urge the community to come out and support this cause…

@The North Tower Circle…Party starts at 10PM…

A Fresno Pride Fundraiser...Hosted by DivaLicious...$5 Donation for Fresno Pride Parade & Festival...Exclusive Drag Performances – including DivaLicious * Margo Starr & Jerry Empress 9...NTC GoGo Dancers...Drink Specials & Giveaways...Win a Personal GoGo Dance by playing GoGo Musical Chairs...DRAG TAG competition - Share the Wig and Sing the Song...DJ Chris...Come and party with us as we prepare for the next Fresno Rainbow Pride Parade & Festival...

RAFFLE PRIZES SO FAR…

Starbucks Gift Basket...Starbucks Gift Certificate...2 Director's Passes to Reel Pride Film Festival...Reflections Salon Gift Certificate...Indulgence Fresno Gift Certificate...North Tower Circle Gift Certificates...and more to come...

FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE

In New York State Planned Parenthood has set up billboards which declare support for LGBT citizens and show images of same sex couples with such phrases as “Someone you know is in love.”

Well, could conservative objection be that far behind?...

While Planned Parenthood says the billboards aim to engage isolated rural LGBT people in managing their health, state senator Thomas O’Mara, a Republican who represents the area, interprets the billboards as a state-sponsored advertisement for marriage equality. WETM TV, which first reported on the controversy, included his comments about one of the billboards on Route 352 in Big Flats near Elmira.

“I object to this message that seems to be in support of same-sex marriage and using taxpayer dollars to support that political agenda,” he told the station.

The conservative battle against Planned Parenthood continues…

Indiana may become the first state in the country to ban Medic aid reimbursements for low income people seeking the services of Planned Parenthood.

The bill specifically targets abortion rights, even though there is already a federal law on the books which prevents tax funds from being used for abortion.

House Bill 1210, introduced by state Rep. Eric Turner (R-Cicero) in January, takes a number of swipes at abortion rights and includes a provision that would prohibit the state of Indiana from contracting with "any entity that performs abortions or maintains or operates a facility where abortions are performed." While the provision does not name a specific health provider, it effectively singles out Planned Parenthood, which receives $3 million dollars a year from the state.

Planned Parenthood Indiana currently serves about 22,000 low income patients.

Opponents of the bill say costs for the state will go up if low income funding is cut off, due to increased pregnancy and the care provided for those cases. Republicans have decided that analogy is false. Additionally, since Federal Medicaid prevents states from provider discrimination, the passage of the bill could result in the restrictions of other funding to the state.

READ MORE HERE

Check out the first photo of Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin in the upcoming HBO film, Game Change.

The actress nails Palin's look with a bright suit, patriotic flag pin and similar glasses. She also ditched her trademark red hair for Palin's brown style, which she wears in a look-alike updo.

Production begins on Wednesday for the movie, directed by Jay Roach and written by Danny Strong. Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman are executive producers.

Ed Harris plays John McCain in the film, which follows the Arizona U.S. Senators failed 2008 Republican presidential bid. Woody Harrelson plays Steve Schmidt, McCain's senior adviser. Temple Grandin’s Melissa Farman will play Bristol Palin, The Hollywood Reporter first reported Tuesday.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Fri. May 20th

Please join family, donors, alumni and friends in honoring two-time Bulldog Pride Fund scholar Julia Scott on Friday, May 20th at Black Angus Steakhouse (Cedar & Shaw Avenues; Fresno, Calif.) from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. (21+ only). A short program begins at 6:15 p.m.

A Dean’s Medalist nominee from the College of Arts & Humanities, Julia Scott will be conferred a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Art at Fresno State’s 100th Commencement Ceremonies held at the Save Mart Center the following day.

Give today. For tomorrow and beyond.

www.bulldogpride.org

A case of arson connected to a hate crime in Ohio, has killed eight horses. "FAGS" and "FREAKS" were spray painted on the property where an ignited barn fire killed the helpless horses.

Seven adult horses and one foal died as a result of an arson fire at 874 West Richards Road in McConnelsville just after 11:30 p.m. on Sunday. Owner Brent Whitehouse said he woke to discover the barn engulfed in flames and immediately called 911, but it was too late.

"I couldn't get the door open I could still hear the horses kicking and I tried as hard as I could to get them out and I just couldn't get them out in time," he said.

An investigation is in process...

READ MORE HERE

From the Associated Press

NEW YORK – Phoebe Snow, a bluesy singer, guitarist and songwriter who had a defining hit of the 1970s with "Poetry Man" but then largely dropped out of the spotlight to care for her disabled daughter, has died.

Snow, who was nominated for best new artist at the 1975 Grammys, died Tuesday morning in Edison, N.J., from complications of a brain hemorrhage she suffered in January 2010, said Rick Miramontez, her longtime friend and public relations representative. She was 60.

Snow's manager, Sue Cameron, said the singer endured bouts of blood clots, pneumonia and congestive heart failure since her stroke.

"The loss of this unique and untouchable voice is incalculable," Cameron said. "Phoebe was one of the brightest, funniest and most talented singer-songwriters of all time and, more importantly, a magnificent mother to her late brain-damaged daughter, Valerie, for 31 years. Phoebe felt that was her greatest accomplishment."

Known as a folk guitarist who made forays into jazz and blues, Snow put her stamp on soul classics such as "Shakey Ground," "Love Makes a Woman" and "Mercy, Mercy Mercy" on over a half dozen albums.

Not long after Snow's "Poetry Man" reached the Top 5 on the pop singles chart in 1975, her daughter, Valerie Rose, was born with severe brain damage, and Snow decided to care for her at home rather than place her in an institution.

READ MORE HERE

King & Spaulding, the legal firm that had agreed to take up the defense of DOMA in federal courts, has backed out of the deal with Congress.

"Today the firm filed a motion to withdraw from its engagement to represent the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group of the House of Representatives on the constitutional issues regarding Section III of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act," King & Spalding chairman Robert D. Hays, Jr. said in a statement. "Last week we worked diligently through the process required for withdrawal."

“In reviewing this assignment further, I determined that the process used for vetting this engagement was inadequate," he continued. "Ultimately I am responsible for any mistakes that occurred and apologize for the challenges this may have created."

Paul Clement, who would have led the defense for King & Spaulding, immediately resigned after the decision and joined another firm , Bancroft PLLC. Clement has vowed to carry on the case within the new firm. Clement's letter of resignation contained the following explanation...

"Please accept my resignation from the firm effective immediately.

My resignation is, of course, prompted by the firm's decision to withdraw as counsel for the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group of the United States House of Representatives in defense of Section III of the Defense of Marriage Act. To be clear, I take this step not because of strong held views on the statute.

My thoughts about the merits of DOMA are as irrelevant as my views about the dozens of federal statutes that I defended as Solicitor General," he wrote in the letter. "Instead, I resign out of the firmly-held belief that a representation should not be abandoned because the client's legal position is extremely unpopular in certain quarters. Defending unpopular positions is what lawyers do."

Courtesy The Huffington Post

The lead sponsors of the Respect for Marriage Act to repeal DOMA -- Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jared Polis (D-CO) and John Conyers (D-MI) issued a statement on King & Spalding's announcement:

King & Spalding's withdrawal from their representation of the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group of the House of Representatives is yet another blow to House Republican Leaders’ efforts to defend DOMA in court. Whatever the firm's reasoning -- whether they now agree with the President and Attorney General that the law is legally and factually indefensible or have decided that defending DOMA is unacceptable to many of their partners and employees -- their withdrawal confirms what is increasingly obvious: it is patently wrong to defend this harmful law. Congress should pass the Respect for Marriage Act and repeal DOMA once and for all.

READ MORE HERE

I used to say "What's wrong with Texas?" since the conservative landscape there is hard to take. Now, unfortunately, I tend to say that about the whole country, as we continue to slip farther and farther back in time and logic.

But Texas is heading up the pack again. Now, Republicans (who else?) there are doing their best to overturn a 2009 law which allowed transgendered persons to marry a person of the opposite sex as long as they had obtained a court ordered re-designation of their gender. Now, Republicans in Texas want to declare that whatever gender you're designated at birth is a done deal and there is no re-defining it.

Most states allow transgendered people to get married using a court order that also allows them to change their driver's license, experts said. Some advocates for the transgendered say the Texas proposal would not only prevent future transgendered marriages but also open up the possibility that any current marriage could be nullified.

"It appears the goal is to try to enshrine a really horrifying ruling and making it law in the state of Texas," said John Nechman, a Houston attorney whose law firm does work for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community.

READ MORE HERE

If you weren't able to attend the Fresno Stonewall Democrats 10th Anniversary Celebration at the Tafoya Gardens on April 16th, you can now listen to the audio portion of the program, which includes speeches by Robin McGeHee, co-founder and Executive Director of GetEQUAL and San Francisco Superior Court Judge Kevin McCarthy. Also included are speeches by Jay Hubbell and Chuck Krugman of the Fresno Stonewall Democrats.

Photos are coming soon...

Visit the Fresno Stonewall Democrats Website and click on EVENTS at the top of the page...

Watch Stonewall Uprising on PBS tonight, Monday, April 25th at 9PM...

Through eyewitness interviews and archival footage, documentary filmmakers Kate Davis and David Heilbroner recapture a pivotal moment in time that mobilized a generation of gay activists and marked the dawn of the modern Gay Rights Movement. Much like Rosa Parks's symbolic refusal to move to the back of the bus, gay bar patrons' refusal to comply with a police raid at Greenwich Village's Stonewall Inn in 1969 would change the course of history.

When police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in the Greenwich Village section of New York City on June 28, 1969, the street erupted into violent protests that lasted for the next six days. The Stonewall riots, as they came to be known, marked a major turning point in the modern gay civil rights movement in the United States and around the world.

This documentary will also be available on Netflix starting April 26th. You can purchase the DVD HERE

WARNING: The attached video is very violent and difficult to watch but illustrates the violence trans people face every day. Use the link in the attached text from Bilerico Project to contact McDonald's about this incident.

Courtesy Bilerico Project...

This is absolutely disgusting. After an unidentified transwoman tried to use the bathroom at a Baltimore McDonald's, two patrons started attacking her in full view of other customers and employees. What did the employees do? They filmed it on their phones.

While you can see the manager yelling stop at the two women attacking the customer, none of the other employees even try to intervene or keep the women from dragging the victim across the restaurant floor. Instead, it's the elderly female customer that seems to do the most to help. The manager and employees simply watch as the victim starts to have a seizure and offer no help whatsoever.

You can let McDonalds know how you feel about their employees reprehensible actions - especially since they filmed it and promptly put it on the internet to degrade the victim further.

The video is after the jump. Trigger Warning: The video is extremely violent.

UPDATE: County police have confirmed that the attack happened April 18 at a McDonald's in Rosedale, in the 6300 block of Kenwood Ave.

Just as California sits on the edge of becoming the first state in the country which will mandate the inclusion of LGBT Americans and their contributions during school history classes, Tennessee is heading in the opposite direction. A bill, the so called Don't Say Gay Bill will make it illegal to discuss any sexuality with students other than heterosexuality. It's now passed the Tennessee Senate.

Tennessee already has a "family life" policy at schools, making it a misdemeanor to discuss sex at all in their schools prior to the eighth grade. That made for some conflict as the bill made its way through, since some pointed out the sort of "protections" the bill seeks are already in place. After the bill passed the Senate, Senator Brian Kelsey (also Republican...I know, I don't really have to point that out, do I?) proposed explicitly excluding homosexuality from the state's family life curriculum, because, you know, we don't have families...

All of this comes from Senator Stacey Campfield, a 43 year old, unmarried Republican, who describes himself on his blog as "Just an average guy with a real cool job". And, oh, of course, his favorite book is the Bible. Campfield is a real winner, stating things on his website like banks are not evil and don't want people to lose their homes to foreclosure. Who's the real winner in the foreclosure crisis? According to Campfield, it's the newspapers (media) which gets paid for the foreclosure notices they list. Who knew all this time the newspapers were the real demon behind failed mortgages and foreclosures?

As far as this issue, he posts...

"Don't teach gay" bill passes senate ed

The bill saying parents, not teachers, should be the one deciding what and when a child (Pre k - 8) is prepared to learn about homosexuality passed the full senate education committee today.

7 years in the making and it finally gets out of the first subcommittee or full committee.

There was some twists and turns but in the end it came out in a very acceptable form.

Grammar isn't his strong suit...

He's also for issuing death certificates for aborted fetuses and permitting guns on college campuses.

I don't know about you, but I see an airport bathroom or a truck stop in "Campfield's" future...

What a difference a high profile case makes...

King & Spaulding, an international law firm, has stepped right in the middle of controversy, and is receiving a lot of grief from the LGBT Community because of its recent decision to take up the defense of DOMA in a federal court case. In February the Obama administration decided to stop defending in court the parts of DOMA it deems unconstitutional. This left a void in DOMA defense in at least a couple of federal court cases, rightfully so.

Then comes John Boehner, Speaker Of The House. He decided that Congress would step in to defend the indefensible DOMA, and to also hire King & Spaulding to the tune of $500,000.00 in taxpayer dollars.

What's odd is that, at least until now, the law firm has been so supportive and responsive to the LGBT community that it received a rating of 95 out of 100 from the Human Rights Campaign on its Corporate Equality Index. The law firm has also been a national sponsor of the Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund, provided pro bono work for Lambda, sponsored the organization, works to connect LGBT law students to law firms and even has an LGBT Lawyers page on its website where they post the following mantra...

King & Spalding is committed to having the brightest and most diverse lawyers it can find, including members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community. We work hard to foster and maintain an environment where our lawyers can provide the highest level of legal service while being true to themselves in the process. The firm's non-discrimination policy prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Further, domestic partner benefits are offered for same-sex couples.

Now, due to the law firm's decision to take on the case defending DOMA, the ramifications have already begun. Lambda Legal and the National LGBT Bar Association are considering breaking ties with King & Spaulding. Many of the top law schools in Washington D.C. are prepared to respond to student complaints about the law firm and expect protests when the firm shows up for annual activities.

How does a law firm apparently so devoted to LGBT equality turn in an instant and take on the defense of such an unconstitutional and prejudiced based law? At this time, no one knows, because King & Spaulding simply aren't talking...

READ MORE HERE

Greetings from the Outreach Department of Fresno Reel Pride Gay and Lesbian Film Festival! I just wanted to take a few moments to introduce myself as Reel Pride's new Student Outreach Representative. I am honored and very excited to get the chance to work with you, and youth across California for this years festival.

Many of you may already be familiar with the Reel Pride Film Festival, but for those of you who are not, let me take a moment to take you through the astonishing history that Reel Pride has. Fresno Reel Pride Film Festival is the sixth oldest gay and lesbian film festival in the United States. Started in a classroom at California University, Fresno in 1990, five to ten films were previewed for the community to come see. In 2011, Reel Pride celebrates it's 22nd annual film festival located in the historic Tower Theatre, known as a celebration of gay and lesbian cinema and is a premiere cultural event in the Central Valley.

For 2011, the Reel Pride Film Festival will run from Wednesday, September 14 to Sunday, September 18. All you youth out there: a special youth screening and party will be held just for you! From now until September, I will be sending periodic email updates about this years festival to keep you up to date about the happenings here at Reel Pride. Be sure to keep your information current with me so I can continue to do so! Wouldn't want you to miss out on the fun!

As always, if you ever have any questions about the Reel Pride Film Festival, never hesitate to ask! I am only an email, a phone call, or a "Tweet" away! Below in my signature you will find information on how to contact me, as well as access to the Reel Pride website and Facebook page where updates are periodically sent out.

I look forward to working with you very soon! See you at the festival!

Justin Kamimoto, Student Outreach Representative

Reel Pride Film Festival Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

PO Box 4646, Fresno, California 93744

mobile: 408.857.3524

The Huffington Post has added a page specifically tailored to report on bullying...

Check it out HERE

Courtesy The Advocate...

Filming of new episodes of the British cult hit Absolutely Fabulous has been confirmed by one of the stars, Joanna Lumley, according toThe Guardian.

Lumley will again play Patsy Stone opposite Jennifer Saunders as Edina Monsoon in the enduring comedy series, with three new episodes scheduled to being shooting this summer. Lumley ignited speculation about a new season last year, when she told a reporter that Saunders had written her about relaunching the series.

A statement released by the BBC reads, "We're putting the finishing touches to the deal to bring it back and as soon as we're in a position to confirm it we will."

AbFab, as it was dubbed by fans, was first broadcast in 1992 and was a huge hit among gay audiences. New seasons and occasional specials were filmed periodically until 2005.

Source

Here comes the first major threat to iPhones (well, not the first, the Droid by Motorola is already performing impressively against the iPhone, and in many areas surpassing its initial breakthrough). It appears the phones track your every movement and it doesn't take much for someone else to get that information. Android devices are riddled with a similar tracking capability. Will it effect anyone? Who knows? When was the last time you didn't know where anyone was? People now "check in" at McDonalds. Despite the obvious factor of "Who cares?", these people better hope they locked all their doors and windows, since everyone on Facebook and Twitter now knows where you aren't, namely, home...

Al Franken is pushing Steve Jobs from Apple for an answer...here's a piece of his official letter to Jobs...

Dear Mr. Jobs,

running the iOS 4 operating system-sometimes logging their precise geo-location up to 100 times a day. The researchers who discovered this file found that it contained up to a year's worth of data, starting from the day they installed the iOS 4 operating system. What is even more worrisome is that this file is stored in an unencrypted format on customers' iPads, iPhones, and every computer a customer has used to back up his or her information. See Alasdair Allen & Pete Warden, Got an iPhone or 3G iPad? Apple is Recording Your Moves (Apr. 20, 2011), available at http://radar.oreilly.com/2011/04/apple-location-tracking.html.

READ MORE HERE

Okay, at least there are some women in the latest lip synch from American troops, because I've never understood men lip synching to a woman singing...but all I can say is DADT better end soon, cause they're busting out at the seams...

After local bar THE DEN was forced close last year due to a devastating fire, plans immediately started to take shape to re-open the historic location with new owners and new name, which is aptly, The Phoenix. Bryan Beckstrand, one of the new owners, keeps the community up on progress through their blog as well as their status page. Here are the latest developments...

Over the weekend, we got the siding put up.
First, the old falling away, burned stucco was removed:

The going theory is (I haven't bothered to verify for certain) the bar used to be some sort of housing for agriculultural employees back when it was built. We believe it was built in the 1950's. The somewhat bizarre door-shaped and window-shaped framing lends creedence to that theory so we'll go with it.

And, now the siding:

This isn't quite what we expected even though it matches exactly what our engineered plans show. We thought it would be vertical rather than horizontal. We're not complaining -- the siding is a lot more secure than the plain wallboard you see in the "Before" picture -- but it really does make the bar look like a barn. A bright, sunshine yellow barn.

Next on the list: Buy paint that isn't bright, sunshine yellow.

(The grey paint on the door is covering even more graffiti. It was just a tag and nothing like the graffiti that brought ABC 30 out earlier.)

Bryan Beckstrand

Dear friends,

Over the past week, GetEQUAL organizers have been busy!

We confronted Maggie Gallagher, founder of the anti-LGBT National Organization for Marriage, to present her with the "First Annual Anita Bryant Award for Unbridled and Unparalleled Bigotry." (If you haven't seen the video, you should join the 12k+ folks who have watched it: http://www.youtube.com/getequal.)

We also organized Tax Day actions across the country at post offices and other locations to draw attention to the 1,138 rights that LGBT Americans are denied while paying the same amount in taxes each year as heterosexual Americans.

And, complementing the momentum we're seeing on the ground for marriage equality, we also saw a CNN poll that -- yet again -- indicated marriage equality is still rising in public opinion…meaning that groups like the National Organization for Marriage and others are on their way to extinction.

However, when we looked at the CNN poll, we saw something weird -- Americans under the age of 35 weren't polled. That's right -- in a national poll of likely 2012 voters, not one person under the age of 35 -- the most progressive and LGBT-friendly generation in history -- was included in the poll results!

What does that mean? It means that the 51% of Americans who favor marriage equality are actually -- if CNN had bothered to ask enough young people for a representative sample -- more like 54% or 55%. Why didn't CNN ask people under 35 what they thought? Who knows -- but we're tired of seeing media outlets continue to peddle a narrative that says that LGBT equality is a "controversial" issue.

Tell CNN that equality isn't divisive -- let young people be heard!

We're heading into an election season that will undoubtedly use LGBT Americans as a convenient "hot button issue" rather than respecting us as people who deserve more than headlines and poll numbers. It's time to start pushing back on outlets like CNN who continue to foster the notion that equality is a divisive, controversial issue.

To get ahead of this before the 2012 election begins dominating the news 24/7, we're partnering with Our Time to make sure that CNN doesn't undermine our community by making equality a more divisive issue than it actually is. Our goal is to collect 5,000 signatures demanding that CNN include the 60 million Americans under 35 in their polling. Once we've made our goal, Our Time will send 17 cell phones to CNN -- one to call the 18-year-olds they ignored, one for the 19-year-olds they ignored, etc. Snarky, right??

Help us make sure that millennials -- the most progressive generation ever -- aren't cut out of the political narrative. And help us make sure that media outlets like CNN don't get away with under-representing the vast majority of Americans who support equality. We deserve better than that!

Media outlets shouldn't be screening out progressive millennials -- tell CNN that we deserve better!

Thank you!

Get Out! Get Active! GetEQUAL!

Robin McGehee, Director

“Celebrating Local Heroes”

(Fresno, Calif.) – The Central California Alliance and the Bulldog Pride Fund proudly present “Celebrating Local Heroes” on Wed. May 11th at the Smittcamp Alumni House on the Fresno State campus. The evening’s activities begins at 5:30 PM with a reception, which will be followed by the presentation of heroes – Robin McGehee (Meet in the Middle + GetEQUAL), Matthew Mazzei (Rainbow Delegation) and Andrew McIntosh (NCAA athlete, coach and educator).

Tickets are available for purchase now at the Fresno LGBT Community Center, located at 1055 N Van Ness Avenue, Fresno, CA 93728. At the Community Center we accept cash or checks.

Current ticket prices are

Advance Tickets:

$5 Student / $10 CCA Members / $15 Non CCA Members

Event Day Tickets:

$10 – Students / $15 CCA Members / $20 Non CCA Members

You can also purchase tickets online at either…

www.ccafresno.org  OR  www.bulldogpride.org

FREE WORKSHOP

at Fresno LGBT Community Center

1055 N Van Ness Ave., Suite C
April 30th - 10:30am to 12:00pm

Tapping into Your Best Self: Discovering Emotional Freedom

• Do you find yourself thinking about the past and holding onto negative emotions like sadness, hurt, anger, or fear?

• Do negative emotions keep you from feeling good?  Would you like to learn a quick and simple practice that allows you feel better in minutes?

• In this introductory workshop, you will learn what the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is and how to use it to free yourself from emotional blocks that keep you from being your best self. There will be an opportunity to try EFT and experience the benefit of this practice.

About the Presenter:  Leslie Weiser, Psy.D.  is a Clinical Psychologist in practice at the Student Health Center, California State University Fresno (CSUF). Leslie earned a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology in 1986 and a doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 1999. She has previously worked in college counseling centers and in community mental health clinics serving low income people with serious mental health issues. Leslie currently provides services for students at Fresno State, including an LGBT+ personal growth group called Common Ground; she is also chair of the Allies Network Task Force, a group working to create safe space on campus for LGBT+ students.

Do you or someone you know want to do a workshop, regular activity or have suggestions for the center?  Please let us know!

I can't say enough about this article. Keli Goff nails the advanced and increasing claim by the rich and powerful that hard work is what got them where they are and that the rest of us just aren't doing enough to further ourselves. In a country more and more controlled by corporations and a government focused on making the rich richer and the poor poorer, it's amazing so many wealthy people, like the vacuous Gwyneth Paltrow continually bitch that others are just "jealous" of her...wow...

Sometimes the truth hurts -- especially when it's an embarrassing truth and someone calls you out on it in public. Gwyneth Paltrow, whose image, particularly in cyberspace, has taken quite a drubbing in the last year or two, recently called out her critics (or anyone who doesn't appear to be her biggest fan) with her version of truth telling.

In an interview with Popeater, Paltrow addressed just why she believes she has so many critics by saying:

"I think my work ethic is the reason why I'm successful. I think that a lot of people don't want to put in effort and it's easier to not change, not do something good for you... [They're just] pissed off at someone else doing that. Everything in my life that's good is because I worked my ass off to get it and to maintain it."

Who can argue with that logic?

Actually allow me to do just that.

Let me start by saying that I happen to be someone who does not hate Gwyneth Paltrow or "GOOP" (whatever that is). I think she's pretty and talented, and on a side note her Oscar gown this year happened to be one of my favorites, but this interview finally made me understand why she engenders such enmity among so many. It's not because she's pretty and talented (okay, that may be part of it). It's because, like a lot of privileged people, she's under the delusion that she earned everything that she has, and then has the audacity to gloat about it.

In an age in which America's class-divide is greater than it's ever been, our patience has simply waned for the George W. Bush's and Gwyneth Paltrow's of the world -- people who were born on third base and act like they hit a triple. America was founded on the idea that everyone has equal opportunity to carve out their piece of the American Dream, but increasingly that's becoming less and less of a reality. And there's something infuriating about listening to people born into the Dream -- silver rattle in one hand, silver spoon in the other -- lecture the rest of us on how easy it is to obtain -- if we're just willing to "work our asses off" like they do.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE BY KELI GOFF HERE

Our government is one fu**ed up piece of work. We all know that the Obama Administration recently stated they will no longer defend parts of DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) in federal courts because it's unconstitutional. Then tanned tool John Boehner declared that he'll (congress) defend it for the administration.

Now, in the midst of some of the worst economic times this country has faced (unless you're a CEO or in the top 2% of America's wealth structure) Boehner has hired a legal team to the tune of $500,000 (to start with) to defend the unconstitutional law...

WASHINGTON -- House Republicans plan to pay former Solicitor General Paul Clement and his legal team from King & Spaulding as much as $500,000 of taxpayer money to uphold the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on behalf of House of Representatives, according to a document obtained by the Huffington Post.

"The General Counsel agrees to pay the Contractor for all contractual services rendered a sum not to exceed $500,000.00," the Contract for Legal Services obtained by The Huffington Post says. The cap could be raised "by written agreement between the parties with the approval" of the House, the document states.

The hourly rate that King & Spaulding will be receiving a "blended rate" of $520 per hour -- which could actually be considered a deal. Some reports say that the firm's top attorneys receive as much as $900 per hour. It will also be getting "75 percent of the Contractor's usual and customary rates for all reasonable non-attorney time expended in connection with the Litigation," as well as reimbursements for "reasonable expenses" related to the case.

READ MORE HERE

6th ANNUAL DIVERSITY CONFERENCE
California State University, Fresno

April 29, 2011

8:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Henry Madden Library Rm. 2206

Theme: Campus Activism: 40 Years of Struggle, Setback, and Triumph

DETAILS: http://www.csufresno.edu/cvchi/ # # #

PDA (Progressive Democrats of America) is bringing its road show to Fresno, Santa Rosa, and Sacramento

Fresno, Apr 27, 2011, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Denny's Meeting Room
1110 E. Shaw Ave, Fresno CA 93710

Join National Director Tim Carpenter and Field Director Conor Boylan as they stop off in Fresno during their Healthcare NOT Warfare road show through California. This is in anticipation of the upcoming State Democratic Convention in Sacramento. They will have an open discussion about organizing inside and outside the party, talk about PDA’s plans in Sacramento and hear from you about organizing in Fresno.

Please RSVP here
http://www.pdamerica.org/events/view/california-healthcare-not-warfare-roadshow-comes-to-fresno

In light of the recent news that the Fair Act, which will include the contributions of LGBT Americans in school studies should it pass the State Assembly and is signed into California law by Governor Brown (it's already passed the State Senate), a Columbia University study came out today which shows that teen suicides are more common in conservative parts of the country. This means, more specifically, that school in such areas, which tend not to have programs supporting gay rights, contribute to a higher rate of teen suicide. The study takes into account already known factors such as depression and bullying, and still, in conservative areas, the suicide rate is higher, even among straight identifying teens.

So when Mark Leno, the author of the current bill weaving its way through California, states that teaching about LGBT Americans can help decrease bullying and teen suicide rates, he knows what he's talking about.

The study's social index rated counties on five measures: prevalence of same-sex couples; registered Democratic voters; liberal views; schools with gay-straight alliances; schools with policies against bullying gay students; and schools with antidiscrimination policies that included sexual orientation.

Gay, lesbian and bisexual teens living in counties with the lowest social index scores were 20 percent more likely to have attempted suicide than gays in counties with the highest index scores. Overall, about 25 percent of gay teens in low-scoring counties had attempted suicide, versus 20 percent of gay teens in high-scoring counties.

READ MORE HERE...

READ STUDY DETAILS HERE...

Queerty, an internet website posting news and entertainment focused on the LGBT Community, and often a source of controversial commentary, has shut down after 5 years...the following message is from Queerty...

A message from Queerty

After more than five years of serving the LGBT community with news and entertainment, Queerty has come to a close. The decision to shutter the site was not an easy one to make, and it is with great pain that we say goodbye to our loyal readership. From all of Queerty's writers and contributors, from our first unto our last day, thank you for spending some time with us.

—Queerty and 353Media

Delaware's House of Representatives voted 26-15 Thursday night to grant legal status to same-sex civil unions, giving those couples the same rights, protections and obligations now granted only to married couples.

California may soon require the inclusion of the historical contributions of LGBT Americans to classroom teachings.

A California education bill requiring that notable gay, lesbian, bisexuals and transgender persons be added in social studies lessons under a landmark bill has passed in the California Senate. The legislation, called the Fair, Accurate, Inclusive and Respectful Education Act passed on a 23-14 party line vote.

As sponsor Mark Leno points out in the attached video, "Since the 1970's, our education code has required that the role and contributions of women, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, European Americans be included in our history studies."

Leno also cites the current rash of LGBT teen suicides as a result of the lack of inclusion of LGBT Americans in the discussion of Americans and their contributions.

The bill still has to clear the State Assembly and be signed by Governor Jerry Brown, which seems like a slam dunk as far as Brown is concerned. The bill may be signed into law by the end of the summer.

READ MORE HERE

Gay Central Valley was pleased to present Peter Robertson (BA '92, MA '95, MBA '05) with the "Spirit of Caring Award", sponsored by James & Coke Hallowell, at the HandsOn Central California Volunteer Of The Year Awards ceremony, held on Wednesday, April 13th, 2011. He also received a Volunteer Service Award from President Barack Obama.

Robertson was nominated by Gay Central Valley, who also nominated volunteer Jaymi Morgan and the volunteers of the Gay Central Valley Community Engagement Team.

Peter Robertson was presented with the award by Chris Jarvis, Vice President of Gay Central Valley, during the luncheon awards ceremony.

Peter Robertson was a founding member of United Student Pride and co-founder of Fresno Reel Pride. He also founded the Bulldog Pride Fund, an endowment that provides student scholarships at Fresno State. A member of the Central California Alliance, Peter has been a board member and editor and currently serves as its secretary. He has held positions on many non-profit boards including Tree Fresno, the Fresno Ballet and the Fresno Grand Opera.

Peter is currently the Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Programs for Fresno State, as well as the coordinator for the nationally and internationally recognized and award winning "I am Fresno State" social media and video project.

During his introduction, Chris Jarvis said, "I've known Peter for 20 years, but it's only been in the last 6 years that I've come to know Peter on the level of a volunteer and activist. When HandsOn asked who we'd like to nominate, I could think of only one person, Peter Robertson. He gives everything he's got, every day, to a variety of volunteer and nonprofit efforts."

Gay Central Valley is proud to see all of our nominations honored.

The Fresno Stonewall Democrats present…

“MOVE FORWARD FRESNO – TOLERANCE THROUGH EQUALITY” Campaign Launch

Spring Brunch – Saturday, April 16^th 2011

VIP Reception – 10:30AM  Main Event – 11:30AM

Special Guests: Judge Kevin McCarthy & Local Activist Robin McGeHee

1044 N Van Ness Avenue Fresno, CA 93728

Purchase Tickets & Advertising ONLINE by visiting the

Official Fresno Stonewall Democrat Website

http://fresnostonewall.com/wordpress/

• Robin McGehee: Meet in the Middle + GetEQUAL
• Matthew Mazzei: Rainbow Delegation
• Andrew McIntosh: NCAA Athlete, Coach & Educator

Wed. May 11th • Smittcamp Alumni House • Fresno State
5:30 PM Reception • Appetizers provided • Wines by the glass available
6:30 PM Introductions & Presentations • 7:00 PM Q & A Session

Advance tickets:   $05 students • $10 CCA Members • $15 Guests
Event Day tickets:          $10 students • $15 CCA Members • $20 Guests

Purchase tickets online: www.ccafresno.org • www.bulldogpride.org

(Fresno, Calif.) – The Central California Alliance and the Bulldog Pride Fund proudly present “Celebrating Local Heroes” on Wed. May 11^th at the Smittcamp Alumni House on the Fresno State campus. The evening’s activities begins at 5:30 PM with a reception, which will be followed by the presentation of heroes – Robin McGehee (Meet in the Middle + GetEQUAL), Matthew Mazzei (Rainbow Delegation) and Andrew McIntosh (NCAA athlete, coach and educator).

“Fresno is lucky to have three nationally-recognized heroes,” said Gary Mykins, CCA president. “Each has made positive impacts on behalf of the GLBTQ community.”

Advance tickets are priced at $5 for students, $10 for CCA members, and $15 for guests. Ticket prices are increased by $5 on the day of the event. Purchase tickets online @

About ROBIN McGEHEE
Robin McGehee is a transplant from Jackson, Miss. who received her M.A. in human communication, with an emphasis on public speaking, interpersonal and intercultural communication, from Fresno State. She is an instructor at College of the Sequoias and believes that “When We Speak, We Shape the World!”. She received the Martin Luther King, Jr. award for her work with Youth Empowerment, as well as a Freedom of Speech award from the Fresno Free College Foundation which operates KFCF 88.1 FM. She worked for four years with the GSA Network and Fresno Reel Pride Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.

McGehee helped organize Meet in the Middle for Equality, a statewide reaction to the passage of Prop 8; and co-directed the successful National Equality March in Washington D.C. Recently, she co-founded GetEQUAL – a direct action organization. She has been arrested twice after being handcuffed to the White House fence as a way to draw attention to the needed repeal of Don’t Ask; Don’t Tell. In her free time she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family. Robin McGehee may be contacted via GetEQUAL @ www.getequal.org.


About MATTHEW MAZZEI
Matthew Mazzei, a native of Fresno, is the founder of the Rainbow Delegation, a campaign which has quickly become an international effort to provid pport for the LGBTQ community by wearing rainbow-colored wristbands. Since the fall of 2010, the Rainbow Delegation has managed to provide, free-of-charge, more than 45,000 wristbands to people in some 50-plus countries. He has been selected by Advocate magazine as “A reason to have pride” and will be featured in the June 2011 issue.

“The rainbow is a universal symbol of pride, strength and community,” says Mazzei. “Simply wearing a rainbow wristband shows others d that they belong.”

He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in music at Fresno State. When he is not focusing his   efforts on the administration of the Rainbow Delegation, Mazzei performs his duties as concertmaster of the Fresno State Symphony Orchestra, and as a violinist in the Fresno Philharmonic and Fresno Grand Opera. See Matthew Mazzei and the Rainbow Delegation @ www.rainbowdelegation.org.

About ANDREW MCINTOSH
Andrew McIntosh graduated from State University of New York College at Oneonta with a B.S. in adolescence education. As a student, he was a co-captain on the Men’s Lacrosse Team.
During his senior season he “came out” on an online essay featured on OutSports.com. This essay touched the hearts of many people across the world and he was featured in many notable publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post.

In June of 2010, Andrew was featured in Advocate magazine as “One of 150 reasons to have pride.” This was followed by being named to Out magazine’s Out 100 list – an honor that recognized “100 influential men and women that have inspired, changed and shaped the world in 2010.”  Currently is a teacher, coach and professional speaker. This fall, McIntosh will pursue a master’s degree at Fresno State for counseling.  Andrew McIntosh is represented by CampusSpeak @

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday in welcoming the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, those who donated sponsorships, prizes and especially our wonderful Volunteers.

Channel 30's clip of the event:

Today's the day!

The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus will be performing at

Fresno State this Sunday, April 10^th at 2:30 PM

Tickets are available at the Satellite Student Student Union box office on Sunday starting at 1:45pm

$15 for Students, $25 General Admission and $40 Front of House VIP Tickets

Parking is relaxed (FREE) that day, too. The closest parking lots are LOTS O and P, which are located behind the Satellite Student Union. Enter the campus from either Barstow and Cedar or Barstow and Chestnut: http://www.csufresno.edu/ucomm/maps/pdf/CampusMapLTR.pdf

Time is RUNNING OUT! If you'd like to get your advanced tickets to see the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus THIS SUNDAY at Fresno State, visit GayCentralValley.org right now...Currently ticket prices are $10 Student, $20 General Admission and $40 VIP (Premium Seating)...Those prices are only in effect for TWO MORE DAYS...the prices GO UP on the day of the event...

So many humans spend their lives working to promote their frame of reference, their belief system, their thought processes and the way they think others should behave. Why, on this one planet, are we as humans, a single species, so inept at accepting each other?

Watch the attached video and imagine yourself on Earth, even your own particular corner of Earth. Watch as the camera pulls away and moves farther and farther away from our home planet. Watch and revel in just how vast a universe we are lucky to live in, to survive and even thrive in.

This is the opening to one of my all time favorite movies, CONTACT. The opening is built off of scientific study of the universe. It's backed up by fact, and although it's created digitally, it's an accurate depiction of our known universe.

After watching it, try to rationalize to yourself the inequity of our world. Reason through the injustices, the hatred, the prejudice and the economic and political imbalance mired in the foundation of America and other countries. See if you can explain to yourself why we are so divided when in fact, we are very much alone.

We are an un-noticed speck buried in a vast expanse. We are, as it stands now, insignificant, at least in terms of the whole. It's hard to fathom, since the volume of space is literally too complex for the human brain to comprehend.

So how do we, being such an insignificant speck of dust, work so hard at destroying those who are different than us?

It tends to give you a good dose of perspective...

Visit The Rainbow Delegation Facebook Page

Dear friends,

We did it!!

I just got off the phone with Petty Officer Derek Morado, the servicemember who was facing discharge today in California despite "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" having been repealed 100 days ago.

In short, I have great news to report -- by a vote of 3-0, Derek was recommended for retention. With your help, Derek gets to not only save his career, but walk prouder -- without the burden of discrimination on his shoulders.

This is good news for a few reasons -- it shows the power of grassroots efforts to apply pressure and the reality that, when we expose the truth and stand up for our dignity, we win. We don't know how many other servicemembers are facing discharge, but we will not rest until all Americans -- LGB and T -- are free to serve their country freely, openly, honestly, and without danger of discharge.

Today was a victory, and we're grateful to Derek for lending his story and his voice to highlight the fact that servicemembers are still facing the discharge process, even 100 days after the law was repealed. We're also grateful to our friends at AMERICAblog Gay, who partnered with us to send Derek into the courtroom with the names of thousands of supporters who were unwilling to let this happen without pushing back.

This was a good day and I thank each of you who supported this effort. The GetEQUAL community means the world to me, and I know that, tonight, Derek will hit the pillow with a lot less stress and a lot more PRIDE because of you. Thank you!

Get Out! Get Active! GetEQUAL!

Robin McGehee, Director