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pdf format - Community Link
NEWS LINK Project of Community Link, Inc. GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATION October 21, 2011 Issue II, Volume XVII, Number 194 FREE monthly GLBT publication * Since 1995 * www.CommunityLinkFresno.com Community Link would Thank the Imperial Dove Court’s Regent Empress Margo Starr for her charity allocation to Fresno Rainbow Pride of $2,230. LHC Takes Prop 8 Back To The Ballot Box Chris Jarvis - GayFresno.com While Equality California has decided to not move forward with a repeal Prop 8 ballot measure for 2012, the group Love Honor Cherish, which helmed an unsuccessful signature gathering campaign in 2010, has decided to submit ballot language and start the process of getting a repeal Prop 8 measure on the ballot for 2012. Currently, Prop 8 is in the hands of the courts in California. Most recently the California Supreme Court heard the case for whether Prop 8 supporters have standing to appeal Judge Walkers ruling to overturn the proposition. We're still awaiting their decision. If they find no standing exists then Prop 8 goes away forever. If they find Prop 8 supporters have standing then the appeal case goes back to the courts to decide if Walker's ruling will stand. It's possible the court case will be over by the end of this year and the likely outcome is that Prop 8 will indeed be overturned by upholding Judge Walker's historic ruling, and that legal same sex marriage will become enshrined forever in the state of California. Certainly Love Honor Cherish is acting now because of pending deadlines and time frames which will permit them to proceed with a signature gathering process if this all falls apart in the courts. The real question remains, do we want to continue to vote on our civil rights? I stand by my position, which is no. I won't say I'm certain Walker's ruling will win the day, but I can say for certain that dealing with this travesty of equality by putting it in the voters hands seems to be a losing battle. Remember, we put it on the ballot, then they put it on the ballot, and over and over and over again. We have much more power and chance of success by sticking with the courts, as history has proven, as well as the recent demise of DADT, which was sent into overdrive when federal judges ruled it unconstitutional. It's also unfortunate that so much is made of recent polls which show that the “tide has turned” on the issue of same sex marriage and gay rights. We never mention how that fails to translate to the voting booth, which is very different from random polls and historically dominated by a conservative citizenship. We all need hope, but we need a good dose of reality far more. Anti - LGBT Referendum Bites The Dust. 2012 Pink Pages It Rained on our parade last year and cost Fresno Rainbow Pride $5,000. Putting the Pride event in serious trouble of putting on the 2012 Pride Parade & Festival. As a way to recoup these losses Community Link is designating all of the proceeds from the 2012 Pink Pages to Pride. Check out how you can help on page 15 The End of Don't Ask Don't Tell September 20th marked the end of the 18-year-old military policy commonly known as 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' (DADT). The U.S. army issued an official statement on that day to all personnel which said, "From this day forward, gay and lesbian soldiers may serve in our Army with the dignity and respect they deserve." Pride sent two representatives to a press conference in front of the Veterans War Memorial Building to celebrate the occasion, where Supervisor Scott Wiener, Mayor Ed Lee, Bevan Dufty, John Forrett, Jr., Joseph Rocha and SF Treasurer Jose Cisneroes among many others were in attendance. While we celebrate this milestone, we recognize that the end of the policy does not stop our work to end discrimination. Robert Burns of the Associated Press explained that, “A lingering question is whether disciplinary procedures are adequate to deal with any future instances of harassment of gays in the ranks.” In addition, The National Center for Transgender Equality urges that, "The Department of Defense should eliminate transgender status and gender identity disorder diagnosis as automatic disqualifications from military service and should ensure that medical fitness standards treat transgender service members equally with all other service members." As we celebrate the breaking down of important barriers, we continue to hold hope for even more progress in the future. Boyce Hinman - California Communities United Institute LGBT History Month and National Coming Out Day October is a big month for our community. It's LGBT History Month and that means a lot of things to a lot of different people. George Chauncey of Yale University's History Department explained to the Equality Forum that, “GLBT History Month sends an important message to our nation's teachers, school boards, community leaders, and youth about the vital importance of recognizing and exploring the role of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in American history." One of the reasons October was chosen for LGBT History Month is because it is the month that includes National Coming Out Day (NCOD) on October the 11th. NCOD events are held annually to celebrate coming out and to raise awareness of the LGBT community and the LGBT rights movement. It was founded in 1988 by Robert Eichberg, a psychologist from New Mexico and Jean O'Leary, an openly-gay political leader from Los Angeles. The date, October 11th, was chosen because it was the anniversary of the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. A little known fact is that National Coming Out Day has become an international event and is observed in many countries, including Australia, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, New Zealand, Croatia, Poland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Kye Allums, John Ashbery, Alison Bechdel, John Berry, Dustin Lance Black, Keith Boykin, Rita Mae Brown, Dan Choi, Aaron Copland, Alan Cumming, Denise Eger, Lady Gaga, Michael Guest, Neil Patrick Harris, Daniel Hernandez Jr., Langston Hughes, Frida Kahlo, David Kato, Michael Kirby, Victoria Kolakowski, Dave Kopay, Ricky Martin, Amélie Mauresmo, Constance McMillen, Ryan Murphy, Dan Savage, Amanda Simpson, Wanda Sykes, Lilli Vincenz, Virginia Woolf, Pedro Zamora The Capitol Resource Institute announced today that it has failed to get the necessary number of petition signatures to put an anti - LGBT referendum on the ballot. This may be a sign of the growing acceptance of LGBT people by the residents of California. In July of this year, Governor Brown signed SB 48 after it was sent to him by the California Legislature. SB 48 will, among other things, require California's public schools to teach students about the contributions of LGBT people to the development of our state and of the nation. SB 48 will become effective on January 1, of 2012. Soon after SB 48 was signed, the Capitol Resource Institute submitted documents to the California Secretary of state asking the state to hold a referendum whose purpose would be to overturn the bill. They hoped to place the referendum on the November, 2012 ballot. The Secretary of State authorized a petition drive to gather enough signatures to qualify the referendum for the ballot. Capitol Resource was given until October 12 to gather 504,760 signatures on petitions requesting that the referendum be placed on the ballot. They were given until October 12 to gather the necessary number of valid signatures. Today Capitol Resources announced they had failed to gather the necessary number of signatures by tomorrow's deadline. Opponents of SB 48 contend that recognizing LGBT people in our schools is divisive and objectionable to families that disapprove of homosexual lifestyles for religious, moral or other reasons. "We cannot afford to stay silent or stand on the sidelines," Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, said in a written statement. "Californians are extremely tolerant, but we draw the line when history is revised to please a special interest group." Because of the failure of the referendum tolerance will now be taught in the schools. And that will have two benefits. It should contribute to the growing acceptance of LGBT people in our state. It should also reduce stereotyping of LGBT people. And that should reduce bullying of LGBT children by their age mates. www.CommunityLinkFresno.com Of Marijuana and Needles By Dan Waterhouse As the four U.S. Attorneys in California announce they're going to shut down medical marijuana dispensaries, a state appellate panel in Los Angelesrules that most of the state's medical pot laws are preempted by the federal Controlled Substances Act. While the appellate court says that Proposition 215 was not preempted by federal law, the written decision admitted there is no legitimate use of pot, other than for research, recognized by the feds. The court went on to say that "you can not permit what is not legal." So, it's difficult to say that Prop 215 is actually still legal. Proposition 215 provides a defense to state criminal charges and allows patients or primary caregivers to grow marijuana for medical use. The Second District Court of Appeals made the ruling in a case brought by several dispensary owners who were not permitted to open their businesses by the City of Long Beach. Instead of banning dispensaries altogether, the city implemented a complicated ordinance that authorized dispensaries to participate in a lottery in order to operate. The ordinance also imposed strict requirements on those successful in the lottery. The trial court had upheld the city's ordinance, but the appeals court reversed. The feds announced a coordinated campaign in the state, aimed at shutting dispensaries down. The plan is to go after property owners who allow medical marijuana operations on their land, by seizing their property in civil forfeiture actions. The feds also dropped hints they might prosecute local officials who allow dispensaries and collectives to operate. On the local front, the needle exchange program no longer has to deal with our hide-bound Board of Supervisors to legally operate. Governor Jerry Brown signed two bills in October that removes local agencies from the picture. When the county board approved an one-year “pilot program” in 2008, it was contingent on contracts being put in place for counseling and for a site to operate. After three years of foot-dragging, contracts with West Care were put on the consent calendar, but Phil Larsen, Judy Case and Debbie Poochigian voted no. Case explained her vote by saying providing clean needles was “enabling” addicts. Never mind public health. Case is a nursing administrator who occasionally puts in a weekend at Saint Agnes Medical Center. I wasn't very impressed with her during my service on the Grand Jury last year; didn't consider her very bright. After Brown signed the bills removing the county from the equation, Case fumed, mumbling something about “bad public policy.” At a time the county claims it's broke and can't do much of anything, one would think that a program that lessens the number of people sick with HIV or hepatitis C would be welcomed. The needle exchange says it will be completing the state paperwork as soon as possible, adding the program is now eligible for grants as the result of Brown's signature. On a personal note, I've ended the “Queer Eye….” column in the Community Alliance newspaper. I'll continue to happily write this one.. FRESNO GLBT+ EVENT CALENDAR OCTOBER 21 Friday 5p “It's A Queer Thang” Radio Show - KFCF 88.1 FM www.communitylinkfresno.com and www.kfcf.org 21 Friday 5:30p Art workshop & Potluck @ Fresno LGBT Center 1055 N Van Ness #A, (559) 325-4429, gayfresno.com 21 Friday 6p Men's Mixer @ TBA www.sunapsis.org/lgbt/mixer 21 Friday 6:30p Mariposa Azul - Meeting @ call for location Gaby (559) 266-5650 (Spanish), mariposa-azul-fresno.com 21 Friday Ladies of Seduction - Haux of Seduction @ The Phoenix 4538 E. Belmont Ave, www.fresnophoenix.com 21 Friday Rockabilly Tattoo Costume Contest @ the North Tower Circle, 2777 N Maroa Ave, northtowercircle.com 22 Saturday Function @ the Express 708 N Blackstone Ave, thefresnoexpress.com 22 Saturday Trans-e-motion - Rocky Horror Party @ the North Tower Circle, 2777 N Maroa Ave, northtowercircle.com 23 Sunday 10a Community Link - Fall Flower Planting @ Rainbow Parkette / Pride Plaza, corner of Fulton & Alhambra, www.communitylinkfresno.com 23 Sunday Cover Girls - Amateur Night Show @ Club Legends 3075 N Maroa Ave, www.fresnoclublegends.com 26 Wed. 9a Project: MALE - HIV Think Tank @ 1584 N Van Ness Ave, (559) 287-7666 26 Wed. 7p Fresno Rainbow Pride 2012 meet @ Fresno Metro Ministry, 1055 N Van Ness Ave conf. rm,fresnorainbowpride.com 27 Thursday 2p We C.A.R.E. - Grupo Educativo En Espanol @ Specialty Health Clinic, 290 N Wyate Ln, (559) 459-5101, wecarefresno.org 27 Thursday 7p The Group In Fresno - Munch www.tgifresno.org 27 Thursday Grand Reopening of the Main Room @ the Express + Xotica Halloween Revue - Creature Feature 708 N Blackstone Ave, www.thefresnoexpress.com 28 Friday 9p Imperial Dove Court - Last Friday Show @ the Red Lantern, 4618 E. Belmont, www.idcfresno.org 29 Saturday 9p Club Papi Halloween Party @ the Express 708 N Blackstone Ave, thefresnoexpress.com 29 Saturday 10p Femz N Studz & NTC Halloween Party - The Rising @ the North Tower Circle, 2777 N Maroa, northtowercircle.com 29 Saturday Halloween Party @ The Phoenix 4538 E. Belmont Ave, www.fresnophoenix.com 30 Sunday 11a-1p Golden State Bears - Brunch www.goldenstatebears.org 30 Sunday 2p Community Link's Gray Alliance - Potluck Liz or Lupe (559) 287-2428, communitylinkfresno.com 30 Sunday 9p Mariposa Azul - Divas Night @ Los Amigos 1752 W. Shaw Ave, mariposa-azul-fresno.com 30 Sunday Cover Girls - 7 Deadly Sins Halloween @ Club Legends 3075 N Maroa Ave, www.fresnoclublegends.com 31 Monday 7p Dia De Los Muertos - Food, Contest, Show @ the Red Lantern, 4618 E. Belmont, redlantern.info 31 Monday 9p Q97 Official Halloween Bash @ the Express 708 N Blackstone Ave, www.thefresnoexpress.com NOVEMBER NewsLink 1 Tuesday 2 6p We C.A.R.E. - English Support Group @ Community Regional Medical Center Sequoia Room E or W, 2823 Fresno St. First-time attendees please call (559) 577-7109, wecarefresno.org 1 Tuesday Dia De Los Muertos @ The Phoenix 4538 E. Belmont Ave, www.fresnophoenix.com 4 Friday 6p Men's Mixer @ TBA www.sunapsis.org/lgbt/mixer 4 Friday 6:30p Mariposa Azul - Meeting @ call for location Gaby (559) 266-5650 (Spanish), mariposa-azul-fresno.com 4 Friday 7p Trans-e-motion - Social Meeting (559) 646-5806, trans-e-motion.org 4 Friday Jose De Loza live @ The Phoenix 4538 E. Belmont Ave, www.fresnophoenix.com 5 Saturday 5p Trans-e-motion - Support Meeting (559) 646-5806, trans-e-motion.org 5 Saturday 8p-12a Golden State Bears - Beer Bust @ The Phoenix 4538 E. Belmont Ave, www.goldenstatebears.org 5 Saturday 11p Ladies of Seduction - Dia De Los Muertos Show @ North Tower Circle, 2777 N Maroa Ave, northtowercircle.com 5 Saturday Club Flesh @ the Express 708 N Blackstone Ave, thefresnoexpress.com 6 Sunday 1p Golden State Bears - Meeting www.goldenstatebears.org 7 Monday 7p Imperial Dove Court - Meeting @ the IDC Club House 4030 E. Belmont, www.idcfresno.org 9 Wed. 9a Project: MALE - HIV Think Tank @ 1584 N Van Ness Ave, (559) 287-7666 9 Wed. 6p Community Link's Gray Alliance - Dinner Night Liz or Lupe (559) 287-2428, communitylinkfresno.com 9 Wed. 7p Stonewall Democrats - Meeting @ Carrows 4280 N. Blackstone Ave, www.fresnostonewall.com 10 Thursday 6p We C.A.R.E. - Member Meeting @ Community Regional Med. Center Pacifica Rm, 2823 Fresno St, wecarefresno.org 11 Friday 6:30p Golden State Bears - Game & Movie Night www.goldenstatebears.org continued on page 3 Advertising Submission Information Submission deadline: 1st day of the month All submissions are to be sent via E-mail at [email protected] All Ads must be sized to fit our format. Articles and Calendar infomation All submissions should be Emailed to [email protected] by the 1st day of the month Letters to the Editor Please keep letters brief and to the point; we reserve the right to edit all letters as deemed necessary. Letters must include name and phone number of the writer. Advertising Rates Once (One Month) For Each Ad Business card.......................$15. 1/8 page Ad..........................$30. 1/4 page Ad..........................$60. 1/2 page Ad........................$120. Full page Ad.......................$240. Staff Editor........................................Jeff Robinson Assistant Editor ....................................Kirk C Proofreader...........................Dan Waterhouse Research Editor...................Juan Bustamante Accounts Receivable.............................Kirk C Advertising Coordinator...........Jeff Robinson Calendar Coordinator........................... Kirk C Distribution..Lorraine Wing, Kevin Caldwell, Daniel Corona, Tony O, Whitney W, Don The rate for ad work is $25 Quarterly (Three Months) For Each Ad Business card.......................$13. 1/8 page Ad..........................$25. 1/4 page Ad..........................$50. 1/2 page Ad........................$110. Full page Ad......................$215. Six Months For Each Ad Business card.......................$10. 1/8 page Ad..........................$20. 1/4 page Ad..........................$40. 1/2 page Ad..........................$80. Full page Ad......................$175. Color advertising now available at an addition $100. to the above rates Advertising Dimensions Business card Horizontal....................... 31/2”w x 2”h 1/8 page Ad 9 3/4”w x 1 15/16”h 2 5/16”w x 7 7/8” h 4 7/8”w x 3 7/8”h Horizontal....................... Vertical.......................... Box.............................. 1/4 page Ad 9 3/4”w x 3 7/8”h 2 5/16”w x 16”h 4 7/8”w x 7 7/8”h 1/2 page Ad Horizontal....................... 9 3/4”w x 7 7/8”h Vertical.......................... 4 7/8”w x 16”h Full page Ad ................................... 10 1/4”w x 16”h Horizontal....................... Vertical.......................... Box.............................. MEDIA SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE Community Link will consider media sponsorships of nonprofit events that are open and free to the community or at reduced rate for advertising for fundraising events that include a donation/addmission charge when a writen request has been submitted to [email protected] no less then six weeks prior to the event. Community Link must be listed on all promotional materials including digital and electronic media sources as a MEDIA SPONSOR. Other terms and conditions to be negoiated on an individaul basis. For further information go to www.comunitylinkfresno.com Content and Advertising Policy The News Link reserves the right to refuse any written content and graphics that are explicitly sexual in nature. Including logos and advertisements. No portrayal of genitalia or real or simulated sexual activities are appropriate for publication in the News Link, Pink Pages, Pride Program or any other Community Link publication. We reserve the right to edit content and ads without notification. Board of Directors Jeff Robinson Male-Cochair & CEO Lorraine Wing Female-Cochair Kevin Caldwell Secretary Juan Bustamante Treasurer Liz Brown & Lupe Gray Alliance Representatives Rachel Wilson David Bergant Youth Alliance Representatives At-Large Members of the Board of Directors: Renee Potik, Kay Taus, Jerry & Ron, Rich Howard, Kirk, Mark McKay, Andrew Strambi Subscribe to News Link today! Yes, I would like to become a subscriber of Get your News Link delivered directly to your address. The News Link comes in a plain envelope, respecting your privacy. We never sell or trade our subscription lists. A subscription is $25.00 per year. 12 issues per year plus any special editions News Link ___Individual - $25. Name: Address: City, State, Zip: Telephone#: E-Mail Address: Send your subscription application to: Community Link P. O. Box 4959, Fresno, CA. 93744 Corrections or event notices? E-mail [email protected] PICK “NEWS LINK” UP AT: FRESNO Brass Unicorn; Center for NonViolence; College Community Congregational Church; Echo Street Cafe; The Express; First Congregational Church; Fresno Video Exchange; Freso LGBT Center / Gay Central Valley office; Gazebo Gardens; Holy Family Episcopal Church; KAOS Headquarters; Living Room @ West Care; The North Tower Circle; Only For You II; Rasputin Music; The Red Lantern; Revue Coffee House; Tacos Marquitos; Unitarian Universalist Church; Wesley United Methodist Church; Women’s Resource Center @ CSUFresno; Wildcat Enterprises; Yoshi Now! BAKERSFIELD AIDS Project; Borders; MCC of the Harvest; Casablanca; The Mint; Wildcat. GOSHEN Wild Willy’s VISALIA Borders, sometimes Visalia Pride Lions Club meetings and PFLAG mtgs. MODESTO Borders; Brave Bull; College Avenue Congreg. Church; Haven Women’s Center; Queen Bean; Stanislaus County Assistance Project; Tiki Lounge; Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stanislaus County. STOCKTON Borders; Club Paradise; Peace & Justice Center; San Joaquin AIDS Foundation; San Joaquin County Public Health Services; University of Pacific Pride Center; Valley Ministries MCC. If you’d like to help us with distribution in Hanford, Visalia, Merced / Atwater / Turlock, or Oakhurst - e-mail NEWSLNK!aol.com NewsLink How to reach us by mail: News Link c/o Community Link, Inc. P.O. Box 4959, Fresno, Ca. 93744 News Link's E-Mail Address: [email protected] Community Link's E-Mail Address:[email protected] By phone: (559) 486-3464 www.CommunityLinkFresno.com NOVEMBER continued from page 2 11 Friday Fresno LGBTQ Social Group www.gayfresno.com/social/ 11 Friday Pandora's Box @ the North Tower Circle 2777 N Maroa, northtowercircle.com 12 Saturday Function @ the Express 708 N Blackstone Ave, thefresnoexpress.com 12 Saturday Scruff / Grindr / Growlr Night @ The Phoenix 4538 E. Belmont Ave, www.fresnophoenix.com 12 Saturday Femz N Studz - Masquerade Ball @ the North Tower Circle, 2777 N Maroa, femznstudz.com 13 Sunday 2p PFLAG - Meeting @ Wesley United Methodist Church 1343 E. Barstow Ave, www.pflag.org, (559) 434-6540 13 Sunday 6:30p Imperial Dove Court - 2nd Sunday ICP Show @ the North Tower Circle, 2777 N Maroa Ave., northtowercircle.com 15 Tuesday 6p We C.A.R.E. - English Support Group @ Community Regional Medical Center Sequoia Room E or W, 2823 Fresno St. First-time attendees please call (559) 577-7109, wecarefresno.org 16 Wed. 6:30p Golden State Bears - Dinner Night www.goldenstatebears.org 17 Thursday 2p We C.A.R.E. - Grupo Educativo En Espanol @ Specialty Health Clinic, 290 N Wyate Ln, (559) 459-5101, wecarefresno.org 17 Thursday 7p The Group In Fresno - Munch www.tgifresno.org 18 Friday 5p “It's A Queer Thang” Radio Show - KFCF 88.1 FM www.communitylinkfresno.com and www.kfcf.org 18 Friday 5:30p Art workshop & Potluck @ Fresno LGBT Center 1055 N Van Ness #A, (559) 325-4429, gayfresno.com 18 Friday 6p Men's Mixer @ TBA www.sunapsis.org/lgbt/mixer 18 Friday 6:30p Mariposa Azul - Meeting @ call for location Gaby (559) 266-5650 (Spanish), mariposa-azul-fresno.com 18 Friday 8p The Suicide Lounge live @ The Phoenix 4538 E. Belmont Ave, www.fresnophoenix.com 19 Saturday 6p Imperial Dove Court - Pre-Thanksgiving 2011 @ Clovis Senior Center, 850 4th St., Clovis, idcfresno.org 19 Saturday 11p Ladies of Seduction - Show @ North Tower Circle 2777 N Maroa Ave, northtowercircle.com 20 Sunday 10a Community Link - Board Meeting www.communitylinkfresno.com 20 Sunday 6p Trans-e-motion - Transgender Day of Remembrance @ Ted C. Wills Center, 770 N. San Pablo Ave., www.trans-e-motion.org, (559) 464-5806 21 Monday 6p Strings and Things knit & crochet @ Fresno LGBT Center 1055 N Van Ness #A, (559) 325-4429, gayfresno.com 21 Monday 6:30p Yosemite Knights - Meeting & Dinner @ Carrows 4280 N Blackstone Ave, www.kofmfresno.com 23 Wed. 9a Project: MALE - HIV Think Tank @ 1584 N Van Ness Ave, (559) 287-7666 25 Friday 9p Imperial Dove Court - Last Friday ICP Show @ the Red Lantern, 4618 E. Belmont, www.idcfresno.org 26 Saturday Function @ the Express 708 N Blackstone Ave, thefresnoexpress.com 27 Sunday 11a Golden State Bears - Brunch www.goldenstatebears.org 27 Sunday 2p Community Link's Gray Alliance - Potluck Liz or Lupe (559) 287-2428, communitylinkfresno.com 27 Sunday 9p Mariposa Azul - Divas Night @ Los Amigos 1752 W. Shaw Ave, mariposa-azul-fresno.com 30 Wed. 7p Fresno Rainbow Pride 2012 meet @Fresno Metro Ministry 1055 N Van Ness Ave conf. rm, fresnorainbowpride.com 30 Wed. Deadline for Pink Pages 2012 advertising www.communitylinkfresno.com, Josh (559) 447-1063 30 Wed. Deadline for Fresno Rainbow Pride 2012 logo contest www.fresnorainbowpride.com 3 www.CommunityLinkFresno.com 2011 Transgender Day Of Remembrance NewsLink Join members of your community as they pay respects to people we have lost due to anti-transgender bias, hatred, and prejudice at the 2011 Transgender Day of Remembrance. On this special day we honor memories as well as provide education and awareness about transgender issues. This event also serves to celebrate the lives of the transgender individuals whom have persevered, and are still alive with us today. Through music, displayed art, live performances, and testimony, this event will educate and uplift. During the event, guests can expect a memorial and reading of names of the trans- 4 gender individuals whose lives were unfortunately cut short this past year. Though this event focuses on transgender issues, everyone is welcome, whether transgender or transgender ally. This event is free to the community, but there will be a $10 fee for those who want to enjoy a banquet style dinner prior to the festivities. This year's Transgender Day of Remembrance will be held on Sunday, November 20th beginning at 6pm at the Ted C. Wills Center at 770 N. San Pablo Avenue in Fresno. The memorial will begin at 7:30pm. This event will be hosted by Trans-emotion, a community benefit organization that presents this Day of Remembrance annually, as well as offers outreach, education, and support to the transgender community and their allies in the Central Valley. This event is sure to evoke laughs, understanding, and creativity. Guests can expect a warm and welcoming atmosphere, as well as safe space to discuss a topic not readily understood by the mainstream. For more information about this must attend event, call 559-464-5806 or email [email protected]. Your attendance is your support. Calling All Central Valley Youth Artists DO YOU FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE? Do you give life to words with an image? Are you ready to make positive change in your community? Our annual Expression Not Suppression (ENS) conference is fast approaching (early 2012), and we are looking for ARTISTS activist to contribute their work and make this event life-changing and memorable. ENS is a free, annual conference in the Fresno area for Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Questioning (LGBTQ) and straight ally youth, ages 13-21, who are dedicated to creating safer schools and building the Gay-Straight Alliance movement in the Central Valley. If you are a passionate YOUTH artist and want your work to be the FACE of Expression Not Suppression 2012, submit your images now! Ask yourself: What does EXPRESSION NOT SUPPRESSION mean to you? What does EXPRESSION NOT SUPPRESSION mean in creating safe schools for all students? And what does EXPRESSION NOT SUPPRESSION mean for building the LGBTQ and GSA movement in the Central Valley? Submissions Due: November 17, 2011 via email to [email protected] Submissions should be emailed to Gay-Straight Alliance Network's Central Valley Program Coordinator, Victoria Benavides, at [email protected]. If you'd drop off the original copy of your work or have questions, please email her at [email protected]. Let the CREATIVITY begin! Are you ready to make change on your campus? Great, It is time to setup a SITE VISIT. Fill out our survey http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GS ASiteVisit and let Victoria ([email protected]) know when you have completed the survey. SEE YOU SOON! Empowering youth activists to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools Victoria N. Benavides Central Valley Program Coordinator Gay-Straight Alliance Network 1295 N. Wishon Ave #6 Fresno, CA 93728 ph: 559.268.2780 fax: 559.268.2781 [email protected] www.gsanetwork.org *Thank You* From We C.A.R.E We would like to thank everyone who came out to support our showing of We Were Here at Fresno Reel Pride 22. We would also like to thank Community Regional Medical Center and the staff of the Specialty Health Clinic for their continued support in our endeavors to help our local HIV/AIDS Community. A special thanks goes out to Fresno Reel Pride for inviting us to sponsor this incredible film. We look forward to seeing everyone at our future events. We have a special THANK YOU going out to the 37th Reign of the Imperial Dove Court for their very generous donation to us to help support our projects within the community. We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Imperial Dove Court in the years to come. www.wecarefresno.org The Harvey Milk Project www.CommunityLinkFresno.com What a great Kampout! This year, 124 kampers braved the threat of bad weather to make the trek up the hill. Those brave kampers were rewarded with comfortable days and mild nights. There were only a few rumblings of thunder and not enough sprinkles to settle the dust. Kampers that arrived early on Thursday were treated to our new tradition "Movie in the Pines", with a showing of "Avatar" and popcorn. Kampout officially got started on Friday, and on Friday evening, our "meet and greet", the Progressive Kocktail Party made 3 stops as we made our way down to the main Kamp for Friday's Beer Bust sponsored by the Phoenix. There was karaoke...what a bunch of talented people participating! Saturday was a busy day for kampers, starting with a great breakfast provided by the Kampout Committee, kampers looked for the Needle in the Haystack, built their yachts for the Regatta, played in the Kamptown Races, and enjoyed the Palace Punch. Saturday evening had the beer bust sponsored by the Red Lantern and a fabulous dinner sponsored by Jeff Hough of Club Legends and Kevin Johnson. The Kampstravaganza show was David Murphy, of the Committee, thank you for another fabulous stage...can't wait to see what you do next year. Sunday officially ended this year's Kampout. The Committee served another wonderful Sunday Breakfast, and the selection of next year's theme was decided. So now, what you really want to know is what is next year's theme? Without further delay, "Kampout 2012, A Stone Age Kampout...the Flint Stones Go Kamping". This one should be alot of fun, but don't limit yourself, anything prehistoric goes! So join us Sept. 7-9, 2012 at Texas Flat, we'll have a gay old time. The Harvey Milk Project at Fresno State is currently accepting applications for the inaugural recipient of the "Harvey Milk Hope Award" to be utilized in the 2012-13 academic year. Must be a Fresno State junior or senior enrolled in AMERICAN HUMANICS CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. Deadline: February 28, 2012 Applications only accepted online: http://www.csufresno.edu/scholarships/scholarshipapplication/index.sht ml “Like” us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheHarvey MilkProjectatFresnoState#!/TheHarv eyMilkProjectatFresnoState?sk=wall You gotta give 'em hope. www.theharveymilkproject.org NewsLink Kampout Report By Janet one of the best! Thank you to Bruce Parker, aka Princess Leia, for another wonderful job as MC. We hope you will be back next year! And what a great bunch of performers and costumes! If you haven't been to Kampout, there's no way to describe what can be made from nature and camping essentials... This year's Kamp King and Kamp Kween were Raymond and Toni, Kamp Komodore (the Regatta winner) was Carlos, the Best Yacht went to Gilberto, and the winners of Kamptown Races were Ellery, Patrick, and Matthew. Best Kampsite(s) went to Patrick and Matthew for their Lunar Lander and co-winner was the Saturn and Uranus kampsite. My apologies to the co-winner for not getting their names. The Kampout Committee wants to thank all the wonderful sponsors, without their support, we couldn't do this. Thank you to the Red Lantern, the Phoenix, and Club Legends for providing kegs for the beer busts and selling pre-sale tickets. Thank you to the Circle for selling pre-sale tickets. Thank you Golden State Bears for sponsoring the Needle in the Haystack and Yacht Regatta and your stop on the Progressive. Thank you Wild Willy's for sponsoring the Kamptown Races. Thank you High Lesbian Kamp for the Palace Punch and your stop on the Progressive. Thank you to new sponsors Friant Pharmacy, Tacos Marquitos, and Gazebo Gardens for raffle prizes. Thank you Garrett and Bill for your stop on the Progressive. And a big thank you to Jeff Hough and Kevin Johnson (and crew) for the wonderful dinner and service on Saturday night, you spoiled us! We also want to thank all our volunteers who helped out throughout the weekend, we couldn't do it without you. 5 www.CommunityLinkFresno.com Masquerade Benefit United Student Pride is hosting a Masquerade Benefit for HIV/AIDS Awareness on December 2, 2011 from 6pm-11pm. The Masquerade will be held on the Fresno State campus at the Satellite Student Union. Parking after 4pm on the day of the event is permitted in any green, student slots, and yellow, faculty slot. This is the evening after World AIDS Day. We will have presenters from several local organizations serving the community with HIV/AIDS issues and dancing. The event is free, and all donations will be given to one of these local organizations servicing people living with HIV/AIDS. We are optimistic for assistance with funding through Fresno State's Associated Students Inc. Come bring your mask and be ready to dance. Fresno’s World AIDS Day NewsLink World AIDS Day, December the 1st, 2012 is on a Thursday (first Thursday of the Month and an Art Hop evening) and, again, will be at the Tower Theater of Performing Arts, 815 E. Olive Ave., Fresno, California, 6 U.S.A. The event starts at 5:30 with a reception. Entertainment begins around 6:00 p.m. A Luminaria, candle light vigil, and memorial reading of names will be before 8:00 p.m. This year's theme is: "Getting to Zero - Zero AIDS - Related Deaths. For Fresno County 30 Years of HIV. This event is FREE to the public and is sponsored, planned, and presented by a committee of Fresno County Department of Health staff, some individual contributors, and volunteers from community agencies/groups. Please consider donating time, services, or funds. If you wish to participate or contribute, contact the Supervising Communicable Disease Specialist of the Fresno County Human Services System, Department of Community Health - Communicable Disease Division, P.O. Box 11867, Fresno, CA 93775 or 1221 Fulton Mall, Fresno, CA 93721. (559) 445-3434, (559) 445-3459fax. E-mail: [email protected]. LGBT Domestic Violence Survey by Chris Jarvis - GayFresno.com We need your help! We have been asked to collect data from the LGBT Community regarding LGBT Domestic Violence. The information gathered would then be used by other organizations in Fresno to work toward a better understanding of the issue, as well as to provide better assistance to the LGBT Community in terms of Domestic Violence. We would appreciate you taking the time to fill out a survey. It's very brief, only 3 questions, but your input would be invaluable to this project. Here is the link to the survey. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/N6 WFXS9 LGBT Stories Needed from the Heartland An open letter to the community: I'm the new Policy Research Director at the Movement Advancement Project (www.lgbtmap.org) and I wanted to take a quick moment to introduce myself and also make a quick request. We're reaching out to all of the community centers about our collaboration with the Center for American Progress and the Family Equality Council to co-author a series of reports called “All Children Matter” that highlight how being part of an LGBT family in the U.S. creates unique challenges. In conjunction with our launch event scheduled for October 25th in D.C., we are looking for families who can tell their stories about how lack of legal recognition, unfair policies or social stigma has resulted in harm to their children. Identified families may be invited to D.C. to join us at the launch event, could also be part of a professionallycreated video used as part of an awareness campaign, and would also need to be available for media interviews. We are working with ASGK (the public affairs and public relations firm founded by David Axelrod) to ensure that this launch is a success, and if needed, media training would be available to the families through ASGK as well. We can also assure you that every family would be treated with the utmost professionalism and care at all times. · Issues could have been faced in the context of adoption, foster care, de facto parenting, access to safety net programs, taxation or inheritance, or access to health care or ability to make medical decisions. · We are particularly interested in stories that include the challenges and unique experiences of LGBT families of color, rural families, and immigrant LGBT families. Our goal is to include fresh, compelling stories of real LGBT families that will give the report emotional resonance and help us change the national conversation about LGBT families. They can be stories already covered by the media, but new, unfeatured stories are a bonus. If you do have any stories to share, would you reach out to me directly, either via email ([email protected] or via my toll-free number, 888-7843433)? Also, please feel free to forward this to anyone else (e.g. faithbased, legal or other LGBT orgs) that you think may be able to help us. Our focus is to gain the greatest national attention for issues faced by LGBT families and help shape policy discussions moving forward. Warm regards, Laura Deaton Policy Research Director Movement Advancement Project www.lgbtmap.org 888-784-3433 7 NewsLink www.CommunityLinkFresno.com www.CommunityLinkFresno.com NewsLink 8 Cinderella Smashed Her Slipper by Nigel Medhurst The gender roles we perform are determined by our culture and vary from place to place. For women, these ideal roles are usually limited and stifling. Like the smiling beauty, adoring mother, benevolent nurse or compassionate teacher, these roles usually require submission, subservience and sympathy. Imagine one of these ladies pushing another woman down so hard she hits the ground with a THUD! Imagine a few hundred women, children and men not stopping to help the poor fallen woman. Imagine them cheering a guttural cry for violence. Even the announcer yells jubilantly, “I heard that hit all the way over here!” This is the world of roller derby, where women aren't ladies once they lace up their skates. In these moments they are free to attack. An alternate reality is created and all these women comfortably inhabit it. The P.R. rep for Fresno's Notown Roller Derby, goes by the name Feisty Hooligan. She wore red lipstick and a skintight jersey along with a monstrous mouthpiece fit for a prizefighter. She clenched her teeth and explained, “I'm not in tights to seduce. It's so I slide when I hit the ground. It's such a different level of competition. I remember once getting hit. I got hit so hard and I got up and chased down their jammer. I was going. Just going. That's all I was thinking about,” her voice trailed off as she remembered that bout. What she doesn't say but it seems implied is 'you don't know what it's like. Nobody knows except those who have been out there.' She ended the interview. “I just want to snap out of my professional mode,” she said. “I need to unleash.” That night she hunted like the rest. They go around and around, hooking arms and elbowing, ratcheting their arms back and whipping them around so their forearms smash against opposing players. They relish knocking an opponent down. Their hits thunder like hockey checks or a boxer's knockout. As these women skate and torpedo into each other, they pile up on top of each other like cars in a freeway disaster but as they unclaw each other from the chaos, they are smiling. It's not play-violence either. The penalty box is often occupied with pissed-off, screaming-mad players. An EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) is always present and provided by the home team. Niala Begrin from Fresno, has worked at six bouts as an EMT. She noted that the women “get hurt with dislocated shoulders or a blow to the head. But they're not wimps. It's not one fall and they're done. They want to get back out there. They'll worry about their injuries later. They're devoted…even stubborn.” All they want to do is get out there. They use different names, aliases with sinister undertones. “Hari Kari, Scarlet Rampage, Daze E. Pusher 6ft.” They wear fishnet stockings, cake on lipstick and darken circles under their eyes to suggest black eyes. They are all types: blondes, brunettes, lesbian, straight, professionals, stay-at-home moms. The transgendered are welcome. There are even bouts against all male teams. When these women roll around the rink something seems released or discovered. It is a place where the rules of society don't exist for a moment. Betty Rocker, one of the oldest veterans on Notown, seems like Barbie. She is tall, blonde, sweet, an OBGYN nurse and mother of two from Visalia. Her name is a pun of Betty Crocker and the black eye she puts on every bout is a reminder of the black eye she got the first time she did roller derby. “My friends and family told me to quit but I was in love with it,” she said but she still skated because it's her time. Maybe it's the only time she really has for herself. She gets to dress up and as she says, “Nobody touches me.” And no one does. Rocker was amazing in the last bout. She moved like a seagull flying above the crashing waves. She went in and out and around all the blockers and pivots trying to put her down and she left them in her wake. She gained most of Notown's points that night but on this night Rocker will not skate. If any player fails to attend 75% of the practices they are not allowed to play and despite Rocker being one of the best and most veteran, tonight she will sit in the stands and cheer. Unlike alpha-male, ego-driven sports, these women worked together to put on a bout. They pay their own dues and this doesn't guarantee they will play. They sell the tickets and skate around before the bout selling raffle tickets, sign autographs, shake hands with all fans. Every bout is coordinated with a specific charity that the ticket proceeds are donated to. There are free carnival free games for the kids like Tic-Tac-Toe and ring toss because roller derby is a family environment. Michelle Smith who runs the games, described roller derby as, “a good way of getting out the aggression from everyday life without punching someone you work with.” It seems unattractive to revere violence especially concerning women. In the tightly scripted world we live, roller derby is one of the few places where a woman can be violent and intimidating. "I was raised that way." When people say it to me, I want to scream. That has started to morph into another reaction, one which is very difficult for me, to end the conversation and walk away. What is the point of having a conversation with someone whose foundation is based on what someone else told them to think? To me, it's the ultimate, apathetic copout. Tell me you believe something, you practice something or you've chosen to treat others a certain way. But saying you were "raised that way" translates into you being a simplistic blob of molded plastic who is unable to form an opinion and who will only put out a pre-programmed list of answers if someone dares to pull the string at the back of the neck. Three scenarios... 1...A person is raised with hands on parents who teach right and wrong, in the most open minded of ways. Live your life, let others live theirs, we are all the same underneath and everyone is equal. 2...A person is raised in a strict, Christian home and is taught that there is only one god, the bible is truth, hell is real and no questions birth and then turn around to them at age 18 and ask "Now, do you believe in God?" Religion is still the one area that most people don't question as they get older, and that most people will reply, when asked, "I was raised that way". Look at it in an educational framework. We all go to a school of some sort, are taught facts, then utilize those in our lives from then on (with the possible exception of algebra). After school, when presented with a math equation or a historical question, we don't generally reply with the phrase "I was taught that way", we simply answer the question. "I was raised that way" is a powerful force in the restriction of civil rights for all people. Generally when people utter the phrase it's because they were told from birth what to believe and what not to believe. People are taught to be prejudiced, taught to hate and taught to exclude. We all grow up with some kind of antiquated influence in our lives, whether it's our parents or someone on the street. Children are susceptible to all sorts of influence because they haven't lived enough and their brains are still developing. We're supposed to take what we're told from all sources and form our own opinion. "I was raised that way" means you don't think for yourself. It's nothing to be proud of. In my opinion, it's a reason for shame. Not because you were taught one thing or another, not because your parents were one kind of parent or another, but because you base your beliefs not on your own rational thought, but hand it off to another person. It means you haven't taken the time to think it through. If you had, you'd respond with an imperative, not a submission. I recently heard about a couple who broke up because one of them had an annoying habit. It was minor, and just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the long list of compromises that make up any long term relationship. Being in a 15 plus year relationship I was blown away by the reticence with which the third person relayed the story to me, steadfast that the man was completely right to end the relationship. Given the harmlessness of the offense, if we all applied such rigid standards, none of us would get past a six month relationship, if that. Just because one person was raised that you "just don't do that", they were willing to throw away a relationship rather than working it out. How about the wealthy not mixing with working class? Or people only marrying within their own faiths? Or any number of things drilled into children's heads that they should choose to work their way out of? Do we value these belief choices simply because the parents told the children what to think? If you come from the kind of parents in example number one, I hope that you don't convey your adult opinions by uttering silly, lazy catch phrases. I hope you stand up proudly and say, this is the truth, that all people are created equal. "I was raised that way" may be the beginning of who we are, but "I believe" or "I think" is where we're supposed to end up. We need to stop accepting idiotic phrases such as "I was raised that way" and force people to figure things out for themselves. Individual thought is what leads to more equality, not an adherence to programming we had no control over. Take control. www.CommunityLinkFresno.com Raised That Way Chris Jarvis - GayFresno.com asked. 3...A person is raised by parents who believe that rules are for authoritarians, made to be broken and that everything belongs to everyone. Then, a conversation with each person, individually, which questions their belief system. Each time the reply is the same..."I was raised that way." Now, how do we react when we hear the phrase "I was raised that way" as it pertains to each of the above examples? Chances are, for the first example, we accept it. Isn't it nice that this person's parents raised them the right way, the way that is fair to everyone. But the second and particularly the third example? We're likely not to accept it, even argue with it. What do you mean "you were raised that way" when it's clear your parents only value Christians? What do you mean "you were raised that way" when you don't value the rules we all live by and the property of others? Clearly, people are raised in various ways. We all know that. But if we allow a person, say the person in example #1, to say "I was raised that way" instead of "I believe that all people are created equal" then don't we have to allow the same latitude to the others? When we as a society hold up being raised a certain way as the end of the thought process, then we are not throwing out the value of critical thought and individuality? The religious argument is the easiest to tear down. While most people don't believe that raising a child to adhere to a religious belief is brainwashing, it's clear that it is. We still live in a country dominated by Christianity and a world dominated by religious passion. Most parents don't raise their children Christian from NewsLink As Chris sees it... 9 ∏ ∏ ∏ www.CommunityLinkFresno.com ∏ Speaking HER mind! Being a Skeptic, for the good for the community Kaylia Metcalfe - GayFresno.com It is important to remember to be skeptical. Skeptical of petition pushers who sound like they really are making the world safer. Skeptical of ballot referendums that sound like they are being fair. Skeptical of “natural transitioning” methods that sound easier and cheaper than Testosterone injections. Critical thinking skills are more than just that section that you coasted through on the SATs. They are the little voices in your head that make you stop and ponder what you just heard, that make you fact check the Presidential Debates, that make you click on the Sources link in the news article you just pulled up off of Yahoo. At least they should Let's take a look at a few things that warrant a double take... A few months back I was at the Fresno Community College Pride Festival. At the entrance to the quad where a dozen or so booths were set up celebrating diversity, a small table with petitions caught my attention. The two men working the table were gathering signatures for what they said was a proposed bill to make voting more fair in California. Now, a non skeptical person might have assumed that a) they were part of the celebration and b) that what they said was legit. I am no such person. It turns out that what they were gathering signatures for was for the formation of a political group backed by corporations, a political group that has a bit of a torrid past. The petitions clearly said “American Elect petition to participate in the primary election” but the men behind the table were spinning a different story… and preying on the happy touchy feely feelings of many of the FCC Pride Festival participants. I was reminded of this recently as two other signature gathering storms arrived in my email box. The first was a no brainer. “Stop SB48!” the email cried! “It costs too much! It goes too far! Children as young as five will be taught not only to accept but also to endorse transgenderism, bisexuality, and homosexuality!” Otherwise known at the FAIR Education Act, the bill actually says that schools are no longer allowed to discriminate against homosexuals, Pacific Islanders, or people with disabilities in terms of historical impact and contribution. But why tell the truth when the spin is so much more dramatic? The CRI, Capital Resource Institute, and its collations of pro-family (but only certain types of family) groups need 750,000 signatures by September 30th (according to their website) in order to put this referendum on the June 2012 primary ballot. Unsubstantiated sources tell me that they will most likely fall short of this goal due to the grass roots aspect of signature gathering. However, should the referendum be allowed to The Fresno Youth Alliance A Group for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, & Allied Students,Teens,Youth & Young adults A Safe and Sane Substance Free Place to Belong ∏ NewsLink Come be a part of OUR RAINBOW 10 We meet every Friday Night from 7 pm to 8:30 pm @ The Big Red Church, 2131 N. Van Ness Blvd In the Fireside Room next to the Sequioa Headstart For more information call Jeff: (559) 486-3464 www.CommunityLinkFresno.com Join us on Facebook Fresno-GLBTQ-Youth Alliance be placed on the ballot, there will a bitter smear campaign that goes along with it. Either way, I trust that one wouldn't have to stretch their critical thinking muscles too far in order to vote fairly on this one. But the second signature gathering campaign might not be as clear cut. The Love Honor Cherish grassroots organization is currently gathering signatures to get same sex marriage back on the California ballot, during the November national election. Despite the fact that many many LGBT community leaders, and as of now EQCA as well, do not support going back to the ballot and asking for equal rights, the LHC people are out there working to do just that. And it sounds good, right? On the surface, going back to the ballot four years later when the population seems more in line with the idea, when professional sports teams have joined the “It gets better” campaign, when Jane Lynch hosted the Emmy's, when Glee broke ground, when the President himself isn't enforcing DOMA, when DADT has ended…. But still, no. It isn't a good idea to put the fate of the rights of the minority into the hands of the majority. Equality has yet to be truly provided by popular vote. It has always, in this country at least, been up to the courts to mandate equality and then enforce it. Now, maybe the general population has grown and changed in the last four years. But maybe not. In fact, the statistics are still murky and just because someone says they are pro-LGBT rights does not mean they will vote that way. Considering who is likely to be running for President in 2012, and thus who is going to be turning out to vote, do we really want to muddy the waters with this issue? If the court system fails us, and as of right now we have no reason to believe it will, we can always try again down the road. But a defeat again at the ballot box would be more than heartbreaking, it could potentially set the cause back another decade. So, if you get asked to sign the Love Honor Cherish petition… please think first. Think hard, and consider this. (4 Comments and 2 Reactions) “{H}ere are a few statistics worth noting: In 2009: 47% approval for same sex marriage, 48 % opposed, 5% unsure. In 2011 the numbers had moved to read 45% in favor, 45% opposed and 10% unsure. Now, many people will applaud the increase of the “unsure/undecided” portion, but since that is more wild card than anything and it is usually better to count that as votes for your opposition and hopefully be pleasantly surprised, I'm not sure that these particular polling stats give us much to be happy about. The rest of the polling data that EQCA shared with us last night went pretty much the same way. There were areas were the support gained a few points, many cases where it simply hovered still, and a whole lot of increase in the “unsure/undecided” part. Yes, it is nice to see the opposition moving into the “unsure” category… but there seems to be plenty of supporters moving that way as well. Democrats that were polled, for example, moved from 65% approval with 4% unsure in 2009 to 59% approval and 9% unsure in 2011. You read that right.” Continued on page 23 “Bitten by Moonlight” edited by Joselle Vanderhooft; published by Zumaya Boundless, July 2011, 208 pages. Werewolves. These sexy, scary, and often sad creatures of the night are given a startling new twist in these four novellas, which cast these typically male monsters as lesbians. Silver Moon-A menopausal woman's world turns inside out when she realizes her attractive neighbor, and all the women “of a certain age” in her town, are werewolves. Inside Out-A terrifying discovery in the woods leads a lonely woman cursed by lycanthropy to confront her self-image. Sanquali-A werewolf guard pines for her noble mistress in an alternate Rome. The Dime in the Penny Well-A shy Arizonan store clerk encounters a vegan werewolf -and her future. Humorous, sensual, and often deeply moving, these tales give the werewolf legend new fangs and will leave you howling for more. Stories were written by Catherine Lundoff, Erzebet YellowBoy, Tyree Campbell and Racheline Maltese. “Lunatic Fringe (Tales of the Pack, Book 1)” by Allison Moon; published by Lunatic September 2011, 300 pages. Ink, Werewolves are back. Lexie Clarion is nervous about college. She's plagued with beastly “Girls Who Bite: Lesbian Vampire Erotica” edited by Delilah Devlin; published by Cleis September 2011, 256 pages. Press, These are no Twilight tales - the stories in Girls Who Bite are varied, unexpected, and soul-scorching. Bestselling romance writer Delilah Devlin and her contributors investigate vampire myths from around the world, and add fresh girl-on-girl blood to the pantheon of the paranormal. Take a walk on the wild side with some of the hottest erotic romance authors out there. In "La Caida," a Mexican "salt-eater" saves a fallen angel and redeems her own soul. In "Bloody Wicked," a powerful witch's spell to lure a lover turns her into a vampire's love slave. Through a "Pet Door," a shapeshifting vampire meets the dominatrix of her dreams. South African "Impundulu" sweeps you back to a vampire's primeval beginnings. With a list of contributors that include Adele Dubois, Christine d'Abo, Paisley Smith, Myla Jackson, Shayla Kersten, and Vivi Anna, Devlin delivers a dark and sexy read you can sink your teeth into! So, sit astride the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, sail with modern-day pirates, watch a meteor fall to earth, and taste the powdery wings of a Monarch butterfly. Not things you'd “Erotica Exotica: Tales of Sex, Magic, and the Supernatural” edited by Richard Labonte; published by Bold Strokes Books, October 2011, 264 pages. Great sex can be magical, but what if magic adds sizzle - or horror - to the sex? Wrestlers with superhero powers battle for combat prowess and sexual dominance in a secret League of Justice. A demanding demon has its horrific way with a gay couple whose wonderful day together goes awry. The Devil's seed oozes evil on a New York subway car. A vampire's seduction of a beautiful youth ends tragically. The unlikely love of two men survives the tragic death of one. A college student experiences a nerve-wracking close encounter with d*ck-grabbing tentacles slithering out of his toilet. And when a man comes to visit an old school buddy, he's seduced by the father who has stolen his son's soul... Arcane mystery, supernatural seduction, sex that haunts in a manner both weird and wondrous-these stories by Lawrence Schimel, Tom Cardamone, Gregory L. Norris, Bard, Mark Wildyr, David Holly, Johnny Murdoc, Davem Verne, and others offer sexual thrills and perverse arousal, spooky chills and magical orgasms. Dare to enter a sexual Otherworld. “The Cliff Road Chronicles: Tales of the Brotherhood of Darkness” by Anne Fraser; published by By Light Unseen Media, August 2011, 336 pages. Gideon Redoak was Anne's only full-length novel, but it comprises a mere fraction of her fiction. She continued the story of Gideon and Joshua, and their friends sharing the property on the coast of Maine, in dozens of sequential stories and novellas. The narrative took place in real time, with each story set at the time it was written, so children age and events unfold accordingly. The Cliff Road Chronicles follow the further adventures of the characters introduced in the later chapters of Gideon Redoak, referred to collectively as "The Brotherhood of Darkness" or more cheerfully, the "Cliff Road Crowd." The first group of stories develops the relationship of Gideon and Joshua, which is not a smooth path. Although they become engaged and then married, each of them is confronted with personal crises that challenge their love for each other and their ability to maintain their life together. The second group of stories, also placed in chronological order, focus on other members of the Brotherhood. Sometimes humorously, sometimes very seriously indeed, Anne explores the fortunes of vampires Alex Goldanias and Francis, mage Ray Griffin, and the Druid Fairlawn family, among others. Filled with magic, fervent emotion, suspense, harsh reality and sometimes tongue-in-cheek silliness, The Cliff Road Chronicles will entertain and tantalize readers new to Anne Fraser's stories as well as fans of Gideon Redoak. www.CommunityLinkFresno.com expect in a vampire tale? Then sip Opositive from a femoral artery while tugging at the silky strands of your lover's hair. Eternally delicious. “Blood Howl” by Robin Saxon and Alex Kidwell; published by Dreamspinner Press, August 2011, 210 pages. Gun for hire Jed Walker doesn't figure it for a difficult job-a simple smash and grab retrieval-except his new client doesn't want money or goods. He wants shy, gorgeous Redford Reed, a man who turns Jed's world upside down inside a day. He is in no way prepared to fall hard and fast for his newest assignment. Redford Reed lives his life locked in his grandmother's house, haunted by a terrible curse and watching the world pass him by until Jed shows up, sent by a man who will stop at nothing to claim Redford as his own. Teaming up with Jed is Redford's only chance at survival, but as the violence escalates, so does the tension between them. Even though they each finally have something to live for, now it's going to take all Jed's skill and every bit of courage Redford has just to stay alive. NewsLink Following are some of the many new, interesting GLBT-themed books. They are not reviews they’re book descriptions provided by the publishers. visions, local werewolf attacks are on the rise, and she really wants to kiss a girl. And classes haven't even started yet. Things start looking up when she meets the Pack, a group of radical women who have their own methods for handling the werewolf menace. Fascinated by their politics, intimacy, and general bad-assery, Lexie's sure she wants to join them, until an accident brings a captivating stranger into her life: Archer, a rugged woman with heterochromatic eyes and a dark secret. The Pack will go to brutal lengths to win Lexie's favor, but they underestimate Archer's love. As Archer and the Pack battle for Lexie's allegiance, the waxing moon illuminates old hatreds, new enemies, and a secret from Lexie's childhood that will change her life forever. New author Allison Moon indulges the feminine wild by giving the classic werewolf myth a feminist lesbian twist. Lunatic Fringe is the first book in the Tales of the Pack series. 11 www.CommunityLinkFresno.com NewsLink Suzanne Westenhoefer In Fresno tickets now on sale! 12 Get ready Fresno - iconic lesbian comedian Suzanne Westenhoefer is coming with her new show “Semi-Sweet” and it is not to be missed! She has embarked on a crazy, all-new, heartpumping, mind-bending, hilarious romp through heartbreak, comedy, life, love, and everything about couples un-coupling in the modern world. Whether you've seen Suzanne one time or twenty, you've never seen her like this before! SBL Entertainment presents Suzanne Westenhoefer on Saturday, December 3rd! What words best describe Comedian Suzanne Westenhoefer? How about bold, bawdy, and just plain hilarious? Not afraid to ask tough questions that uncover the laughs underneath, Suzanne's made a career out of telling the truth. And the truth is, life is funny. And now, Suzanne takes it to the road one more time with her upcoming tour, most appropriately named, "Totally Inappropriate." This new show will continue Suzanne's tradition of working mostly unscripted, so when she hits the stage it's an unpredictable, original night of comedy magic. Every night on the tour will feature new material inspired by her experiences in that city, some of which are created on the spot. "The audience and I participate in the creation of each night's show," she says, an interactive approach that makes her shows unique in the world of live comedy. While she says she can't promise dancing girls or magic tricks on her new tour, she does guarantee an hour and a half of "the same brilliant stand up comedy that I've been pumping out for 19 years." And, she adds, "Each show on the tour will have its own version of inappropriateness, so you'll need to come to a show and find out for yourself." Upcoming stops on the "Totally Inappropriate" tour include shows in Ft Lauderdale, Denver, Alexandria, Va., Santa Ana, Ca., and Ft Worth, Tx. Suzanne says the inspiration for her new show came from a joke between her and her girlfriend of six years, Jennifer. "We were each raised very differently," Suzanne says, "And ever since we've been together she's been shocked, horrified, and aghast at the things I'll say. This includes everyday things like asking people about their sexuality in the bank line. She tells me I don't have appropriate boundaries, so it's become a huge running joke between us. " Suzanne hopes that "Totally Inappropriate" can progress from a stage show to something that eventually she can get down on paper, like a book, or perhaps, she says, "a comedy brochure." After entering the world of comedy on a dare, Suzanne has been delivering gay material in mainstream clubs to straight audiences and proudly performing within the LGBT community ever since. She became the first openly lesbian comic ever to appear on television in 1991 on an episode of Sally Jesse Raphael entitled "Breaking the Lesbian Stereotype...Lesbians Who Don't Look Like Lesbians." She went on to become the first openly gay comic to host her own HBO Comedy Special in 1994, which earned her a Cable Ace Award nomination. Other television appearances include The Late Show with David Letterman, GSN's remake of the classic game show, "I've Got a Secret" as well as HBO, Bravo and LOGO TV specials. Now beginning her 20th year of side-splitting merriment, she continues to forge new ground while enjoying her well-earned reputation as a pioneer on the lesbian comedy scene. Suzanne's recent tour, "Finally legal... in a few states," entertained audiences across the country, and was a headlining act on Sweet's recent Caribbean cruise. Her latest venture, a starring role in the popular online web drama "We Have To Stop Now" is about to enter its second season, with the first soon available on DVD. Her GLAMA awardwinning specials "Nothing in my Closet but my Clothes," "I'm Not Cindy Brady" and "Guaranteed Fresh" are all available on DVD, as are her most recent televised specials, "Live from the Village" and "A Bottom on Top." COMEDY CDS / DVD & AWARDS "HBO Comedy with Suzanne Westenhoefer" (1994): Nominated for a Cable Ace Award "Nothing in my Closet but my Clothes" (1999): Gay and Lesbian American Music Award (GLAMA) winner for best comedy CD "I'm Not Cindy Brady" (2000): GLAMA winner for best comedy CD "Guaranteed Fresh" (2003) : GLAMA winner for best comedy CD "Live at the Village" (2006) "A Bottom on Top" (2007) Tickets $25.00 available at http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/51467 The event is 21 and over. At Fulton 55, 875 Divisadero St., Fresno, CA www.fulton55.com LA-LA Land "Going Down in LA-LA Land" is playing 10 festivals around the world this month alone! Cape Town, Tokyo, Rochester NY, Cardiff, Tampa, Copenhagen and Montreal, are some of the cities around the world where Going Down in LALA Land is showing in the month of October. Just this weekend the film is screening in Fort Lauderdale, Washington DC, Pittsburgh, and Seattle. Check out the full schedule on the film's website. There you can also learn more about the film, watch the trailer, and more. www.embrem.com/lalaland Allison Lane picks up Best Actress Award for her role as Candy in "Going Down in LA-LA Land" Allison Lane was awarded Best Actress at the Iris Prize Film Festival in Cardiff, Wales this past weekend. Online Magazine So-So Gay reviews: "Stealing the show is Lane, who is hilariously flamboyant and self-centered but not without a sense of genuine concern and support for her friend and roomie. She rightly deserved her Best Actress award at this year's Iris Festival Prize for this role. It helps that her character is very well written, coming away with the majority of the best lines, but as a performer she puts behind her character an infectious and unflappable energy." Going Down in LA-LA Land has previously gotten awarded for Best Gay Film at QCinema in Fort Worth and Casper Andreas received the Best Director Award for his work on the film at the Connecticut Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. For more information about Allison Lane, visit her website: www.allisonelane.com "Violet Tendencies" Festival screenings in 70+ cities around the world, a limited theatrical release in the US, VOD through Warner Bros Cable, iTunes, DVD releases in the US, Canada, Germany, Australia and soon in France and the UK. The romantic & sexy comedy Violet Tendencies continues to charm audiences. We can now announce that LOGO Network will premiere the film on Oct 23 in the US. Director/Producer Casper Andreas, and Writer/Producer Jesse Archer are delighted that their film will soon be on TV. "We are beyond excited", says Andreas, "to once again be working with LOGO, as this means that the film will reach an even bigger audience." Andreas' previous titles A Four Letter Word, and Between Love & Goodbye are already available on the cable network. Violet Tendencies stars a fearless Mindy Cohn (Natalie from the hit TV show The Facts of Life) as Violet -- a middle-aged straight woman who just can't quit her gay friends. The ensemble cast includes Marcus Patrick (Days of Our Lives), Samuel Whitten (The Whistleblower), Adrian Armas (Benjamin Button), Kim Allen (Army Wives) as well as Andreas (reprising the role of Markus from Slutty Summer) and Archer (back as the character Luke from Slutty Summer and A Four Letter Word). www.violettendenciesmovie.com 20th Anniversary Season Premiere: IN THE LIFE Celebrates 20 Years of Groundbreaking Media The public affairs program that pioneered lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) visibility on television celebrates two decades of groundbreaking media that shatters stereotypes and exposes social injustice. IN THE LIFE's season premiere features 20 Years of Culture Wars looking back at the show's impact since its first airing on public television on June 9, 1992. The segment revisits the early seasons as a variety show and the shift to a news magazine profiling the lives of LGBT people while countering the messaging of the radical right at home and abroad. Today, IN THE LIFE continues to raise awareness by engaging viewers, supporting grassroots partnerships and educating policymakers around the country. “I think the function of 'IN THE LIFE' has been to show an LGBT world and an LGBT point of view of the world that is an invitation to come out.” Kate Clinton, political humorist, family entertainer and the first host of IN THE LIFE. The season premiere also highlights the series In The States that takes a hard look at New York's historic vote for marriage equality: How it happened. Who stood in the way. And where does the movement go from here. “The battle is not over. The legislature has voted. This is a creation of the legislature. It can be done away by the legislature. I think that the political class views this as a done deal and I'd think again as we're seeing in Iowa and New Hampshire; that's not correct.” Brian S. Brown, president, National Organization for Marriage. The 20th Anniversary Season Premiere begins airing on public television stations across the country today and is now available online. To WATCH IT ONLINE, or find out when it airs in your local area, go to: www.ITLMedia.org/ Children With LGBT Parents Welcome New Book Rainbow Rumpus has published Pigeon's Don't Float, the fifth book in its free series of LGBT-family fiction titles, at http://www.rainbowrumpus.org/htm/printable.htm. The downloadable books provide vital affirmation for children who have no other access to stories about LGBT-headed families in their communities. “It's a relief to read about other kids with two moms,” commented one child. According to the 2010 census, children with same-sex parents live in 96% of U.S. counties. The majority of parents who have downloaded the books previously owned no other books about families like theirs. Pigeon's Don't Float is the humorous story of Lilly, a girl with two moms, who loves family Sundays at the park. One Sunday while feeding the ducks, Lilly sees a pigeon float. No one believes her. Lilly figures out how to believe in herself with help from a friend. www.CommunityLinkFresno.com It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness. Several weeks ago, my doctor stood before me and said he had the answers that could indeed make my life the best of times by giving me suggestions on lowering my blood pressure sans any medication. His welcome wisdom cast light upon me and sent my shadows of foolishness scattering. Allow me the chance to share his healthy advice as I begin with my blood pressure at 148/94. The good doc suggested just listening to my favorite music while driving in my new Xterra at any time. He did not think it wise for me to honk and gesture at reckless drivers. I also noticed his suggestions did not include texting, Angry Birds indulgence, or wildly weaving in and out of traffic to make my appointments. He wanted me to just drive, smile, and listen to the radio. 144/92 My pal of a physician proposed eliminating any show of rage toward my neighbor who thinks outside the lines. The guy in 640G thinks that lines exist for all those other people in our building's parking garage. He often uses two spaces in finding that perfect resting spot for his Toyota and I frequently wake to find our cars cuddled together in a car conundrum that doesn't easily allow me access to my NewsLink Blood Pressure By Ron Blake driver's side door. My physician told me to let it just slide; it isn't worth the frustration! 140/90 My man of medicine did not find it necessary for me to react so angrily to my cell phone. Yes, it freezes up and will not operate at the most inopportune times. Yes, it has dropped numerous phone calls from some people of interest at times of importance in my life. Yes, it has decided to just take a walk on the wild side when I just want it to walk with me in perfect harmony! No! An inanimate object from TMobile should not allow me to see red anymore says Dr. Feelgood! 134/84 “Don't hold grudges,” was the short but profound advice that gently met my ears next. My general practitioner has been in the medical field for twenty years and he was not able to tell me of one healthy grudge he had encountered in those two decades. Forgive, forget, and move on with what matters most in your life: happiness! 128/82 Furthermore, my doctor wanted me to be ready for what was likely to come next in my life…the unknown. Life is completely unscripted and full of impromptu moments. Be ready for the broken water heater at 7AM, the loss of power before the big game, or the sick puppy in the middle of the night. Be ready for anything and take it all in stride. 120/80 A blood pressure reading of 120/80 is what you should aspire to achieve. Thanks again Doc for all the words of wisdom! Medication is not always the answer to our medical problems. Make some small but notable changes in your everyday life. It can either be the spring of hope or the winter of despair; start a revolution. Your blood pressure awaits your decision. This health and fitness article is brought to you by that eating, drinking, and sleeping guy. That present participle guy is Ron Blake and he can be reached at [email protected]. 13 ∏ ∏ The Imperial Dove Court’s Ducal Ball Saturday, October 8, 2011 Photos by Juan Bustamante Community Link’s Fresno Rainbow League’s Winter Season Beggins @ Cedar Lanes Photos by Juan Bustamante ∏ NEWS Pink Pages 2012 We are currently accepting advertising for the 2012 edition of the Pink Pages. Deadline November 30, 2011 Pricing, sizing, and requirements available on the web: www.CommunityLinkFresno.com Contact Josh Knoll @ 559-447-1063 or @ [email protected] Help Fresno Rainbow Pride recover its weather-related losses. Show your Support & Pride by renewing your ad or placing a new ad today. $100 Logo Contest “One Nation Under the Rainbow” The Pride Parade group has chosen “One Nation Under The Rainbow” has the theme for 2012 event and is holding a logo contest. Logo submissions must be RECEIVED by November 30, 2011, so we suggest using e-mail to get them to us! The designer of the chosen logo will receive a $100 prize. Artwork will not be returned to the artists and Community Link will retain the right to use ALL logo submissions for additional promotional materials as it sees fit. In your design, you must use the phrase "One Nation Under The Rainbow". You may also use "Fresno 2012" or "Fresno Rainbow Pride 2012". Submit your designs to: [email protected] or mail to: “Community Link, Logo Contest, PO Box 4959, Fresno CA 93744.” The file format requirements: JPG, BMP, TIFF, PDF or PSD (flattened layers) at 300dpi resolution. If you design freehand, the drawing's quality needs to be good enough to scan clearly! Max. 6 colors + shades of grey and black and white. If the logo has more than 6 colors, we will also need an alternate, simplified version limited to 6 colors. The logo's details should look good on anything between an 8-foot banner and a 150x150 pixel button on a website. For more info (559) 486-3464 or e-mail [email protected] Come out and help us plant some Fall Color in the Rainbow Parkette/Pride Plaza (Fulton & A l h a m b r a )! Sunday, October 23rd @ 9am. We will be painting our space in oranges yellows golds reds and rusts! ∏ www.CommunityLinkFresno.com ∏ BAKERSFIELD LGBTQ Women's Group Game Night Join us for a relaxing night of board games and conversation! It'll be nice to get the women together again. We'll bring some games, Farkle, Apples 2 Apples, etc, and if you feel like bringing munchies to share, that'll be dandy! MCC has sodas and water for 75 cents. This event is free of charge, and open to all those who self-identify as female. Friday, October 21st, 7pm at MCC of the Harvest, 3815 River Blvd. meetup.com/Bakersfield-LGBTQ/ Casino Day Bus Trip Start your holiday party early & winning! Join us on this fun trip to Eagle Mountain Casino in Porterville. This is a fund raiser for the Gay & Lesbian Center of Bakersfield. Tickets are $40.00 each. You get a lot for that: $30 for food & gambling (in casino vouchers), 2 free cocktails on the bus (additional drinks are $2.00), roundtrip bus transportation! Let's play! Bring your friends! Don't let the bus leave without you! Saturday, October 22nd. Departure time & place: 10am from Bakersfield, see tickets for specific location. Returning time to Bakersfield: 5pm. For tickets and information call or text (661) 301-7506. At the Casa Saturday, October 22nd - Party Rock Anthem. Everyday I'm Shufflin'! Casablanca presents “LMFAO Theme Night”! Come on out and let's party, drink up! Celebrating the night of LMFAO “Sorry For Party Rocking” new release will be played at the club. Doors open at 9pm, $1 beer bottles before 10pm, DJ Bronco in the mix, Samantha Wong Photography taking photos. Saturday, October 29th Halloween Sexy AF Bash. Craziest, sexiest, most horrifying costume contest will be in place this night. 1st place will get $150 cash, 2nd place will get $100 on drinks. At the Casablanca Night Club, 1825 N St. 21+ with ID. http://www.facebook.com/profile.p hp?id=100001302980044 Bakersfield College GSA Guests Mark Dominguez holds his masters degree in psychology from Chapman University; he is a former member of the army, having spent time in Germany. He is 37 years old and currently works under county contract working with troubled youth as a life coach. Mark identifies as gay and lives with his partner of six years here in Bakersfield. Tuesday, October 25th, 9am at Norman Levan Center for the Humanities, SS 151, Bakersfield College, 1801 Panorama Dr. Free admission. Jimmy Nguyen is an award-winning lawyer, LGBT rights advocate, diversity leader and new media expert. With a last name pronounced like the word “WIN,” Jimmy shares his voice at JimmyWin.com encouraging everyone to “SHINE. SPEAK. WIN.” In 2010 Jimmy was featured in The Advocate's “40 under 40.” Monday, November 7th, 6pm at the Fireside Room, Campus Center building, Bakersfield College. http://bcgaystraightassociation.wee bly.com Rocky Horror Picture Show Bud Light presents The Rocky Horror Picture Show featuring a live shadow cast! The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the first and only true audience partici(SAY IT!)-pation movie. People yell back lines at the screen during the extended pauses between dialogue, dress up in costume, act out the film, and throw props various times during the film. By the way, for the "gore sensitive", Rocky Horror is NOT a horror film. It is a rock-musical send-up of old science-fiction and horror films. The Bakersfield Fox Theater welcomes The Velvet Darkness live shadow cast to take the evening of Rocky Horror to a whole new level of excitement! The Velvet Darkness will be dressed to the nines in their Rocky Horror garb and special guests from the Chamber Haunt will also make an appearance, so look out for the Monsters! Show up early for the preshow for your chance to play games, win wild prizes, and even concert tickets to upcoming shows. Since props are an essential part of audience participation approved props for the Bakersfield Fox Theater include: Rice, Newspapers, Flashlights, Rubber Gloves, Noisemakers, Confetti, Toilet Paper, Toast, Party Hats, Bells, and Playing Cards. All bags and personal items will be checked at the door and any other items will not be admitted into the theater. Additionally, approved Prop Bags will be sold at the theater for $4.00 per bag. Don't miss this party at the Fox! Come dressed in your best Halloween or Rocky Horror costume to win special prizes and tickets to upcoming concerts at the Fox Theater. All attendees must be 17+ years to attend or with an accompanying parent or legal guardian according to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). Tickets $10.00 General Admission. Doors open at 10pm, pre-show at 11:15pm, show at midnight. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at the Fox Theater Box Office, any Vallitix outlet, by calling 661-3225200 or online at www.Vallitix.com. Saturday, October 29th, 10pm at the Fox Theater, 2001 H St. www.foxtheateronline.com/rocky_ horror_picture_show_oct_29_2011 PFLAG Speaker: Andrew McIntosh Fresh off his Grand Marshal float at the 2011 Fresno Rainbow Pride, Andrew will speak at PFLAG Bakersfield's meeting. He was a captain of his college's (Oneonta College, NY) lacrosse team, when he came out to his teammates, coach and school. Hear his story and what he has been doing since (he now lives in Fresno). Thursday, November 3rd, 7pm at The First Congregational Church, 5 Real Rd. facebook.com/PFLAGBakersfield “Next Fall” “It's harder to die with a secret than to live with one.” Next Fall is a play written by Geoffrey Nauffts. The play is about two gay men in a committed relationship with a twist, with one being devoutly religious and the other an atheist. The play revolves around their five-year relationship and how they make it work despite their differences. However, when an accident changes everything, Adam must turn to Luke's family for support and answers. This play opened offBroadway in 2009 before transferring to the Helen Hayes Theatre in February, 2010. (Synopsis from Wikipedia.org). Directed by Kristina Saldana. November 11th - 26th, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm At The Empty Space, 706 Oak St. www.esonline.org ∏ NewsLink The Tuesdays Sketch Comedy 16 Tuesday - Friday: 7:00 to 11:30 a.m. 1:30 to 6:00 p.m. Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. “Twas the Tuesday Before Thanksgiving” brought to you by The Tuesdays! According to their Facebook page, The Tuesdays are “a comedy sketch group. We promise to be funnier than that show about the vaginas. We are an all girl sketch comedy group...well, mostly all girl. There is Billie Joe and Mike. But they like to kiss boys so we can call them girls. But not because they like to kiss boys, because they throw like girls. But not really...only sometimes. Our members are Michelle Guerrero, Kaitlin Husley, Billie Joe Fox, Angela Hanawalt, Lindsey Smith, Allison Martin, Alisha Mason, Deanna Moreno, Mike Littrell, Kelly Christopherson and Robyn Lace. Come out to one of our shows. We will make you laugh so hard you pee your pants.” Part of Late Night Season for mature audiences. Doors open at 10:45pm, show at 11pm. Tickets are $5. November 18th, 19th, 25th, 26th. At The Empty Space, 706 Oak St. www.esonline.org “Alice's Masquerade” GSA Winter Formal Bakersfield LGBTQ and the Bakersfield College Gay Straight Association are very excited to announce the 2011 GSA Winter Formal: Alice's Masquerade. Guests from Kern County High Schools, Bakersfield College, and California State University, Bakersfield, will delight in the wonders of Lewis Carroll's strange world: the enigmatic Cheshire Cat, the treacherous Queen of Hearts, and the ever-curious Alice. Join them for food, music and dancing, live entertainment, and excellent company. In the spirit of prom Kings and Queens, Mistress of Ceremonies Valerie Soleil will coronate the 2011 GSA Winter Formal GenderNonspecific Monarchs. The Empty Space will provide a photo booth backdrop - bring your cameras and your friends and strike a pose! Tickets will be sold for $10/person and will be available for purchase at community events through the Fall. Costumes or formal attire is required. Security will be present on the grounds to ensure that all attendees have a safe and enjoyable evening. Attendance is limited, so please purchase your tickets as soon as possible. For prom rules, attire and conduct, please visit http://alicesmasquerade.weebly.com Friday, November 18th, from 7 p.m. till 12 a.m. at the Metro Galleries in the Arts District of Downtown Bakersfield, 1604 19th St. First Congregational Church now “Open and Affirming” by Rev. David Stabenfeldt “In December 2008, after much heartfelt conversation and debate, the membership voted to extend the rite of marriage equality to all couples seeking to live in the covenant of marriage. It was clear to me that this decision was the beginning of a journey to discover what it means to honor the dignity and hopes of all people. One of the lingering questions from that period of time, “Do we become an ONA Church?” It has taken us a little over two years to live into that question. Over that period of time we have at times tentatively and at other times boldly opened ourselves to this way of honoring and increasingly loving each other as God's children. Our vote on September 18 [2011] was an important step on this journey of discovery. “Yes,” we are now an Open and Affirming Congregation in the United Church of Christ tradition.” First Congregational Church is located at 5 Real Rd. Services are at 10am on Sundays. Call them at (661) 327-1609 or visit www.fccbakersfield-ucc.org PFLAG Tulare & Kings Counties hosts a lunch at an area restaurant on the fourth Sunday of most months. This program is called "Dining Out for Equality", and is designed to support PFLAG's mission, vision and goals by promoting awareness that GLBTQ people and their allies live, work and pay taxes in the communities we serve. Most of the restaurants we have visited have allowed us to display our chapter banner. When you join us for lunch, we hope you'll wear a PFLAG T-shirt or other equality-oriented clothing that advances our message. In October, we will convene on Sunday, October 23rd at East Meet West, 224 N. Kaweah Ave. Call (559) 579-1101 for time. www.pflag-tulare-kings.org HANFORD Support Group Informational Meeting If you are a member of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Questioning Community, and are looking for a safe place to find support, then please join us, and learn about the LGBTQ support group, supported by Kings County Behavioral Health. They support LGBTQ who are struggling with their identities. Come and check it out! Everyone is responsible for providing their own meal. The prices are affordable, and the Chinese food is excellent! We will be located in the Banquet room inside the restaurant. We look forward to seeing you there. Saturday, October 22nd, 6pm - 8pm at The Rice Bowl, 488 E. 6th St. http://www.facebook.com/event.ph p?eid=112881035487817 MERCED Soap Box A soap box is a platform that provides an outlet for delivering opinions and the expression of free speech. Come shout out to the public! Climb on top of the soap box and say what you want to say! The event is co-hosted by the Society of Freethinkers, Political Science Student Association and Lambda Alliance. Tuesday, October 25th, 10:00am 4:00pm in front of the University of Merced Library, 5200 N. Lake Rd. http://www.facebook.com/event.ph MODESTO A Night Out: Benefit for The PLACE This special benefit features several artists. Grammy nominated, Dove Award winning Jennifer Knapp returned from a seven year hiatus with a new album, Letting Go, released on May 11th 2010 and has an impressive history including selling over one million albums. Ellis may not be a household name, but once you've seen her perform you're not likely to forget her. Simply put, she leaves audiences better than she finds them. Lia is a multifaceted star making a positive impact in the world of Pop and R&B music and continues to prove herself a "breath of fresh air" through both her voice and her "Hip Hop" music. Diana Yanez a Cuban-American actress and filmmaker left her hometown of Miami Beach and studied Fine Arts and Theater in Berlin, Germany. In LA, she studied with renowned acting coach, Eric Morris and has been seen on many hit TV shows and performs nationwide. Jennie McNulty has traveled the world doing comedy - literally. In addition to headlining in comedy clubs all over the US and Canada, she has entertained the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Jennie spends her summer seasons performing nightly in Provincetown, MA and she plays women's tackle football for the California Quake in the Independent Women's Football League. This special night of friendship and entertainment will directly benefit The Place, a safe space for LGBT and questioning youth ages 14 through 19. Through The Place, LGBT youth, their families and the broader community can find support, education and discuss LGBT issues in a safe and positive environment. For more information about The Place call Elizabeth at 209-818-2378 or Ed at 209-683- 8203. This benefit is scheduled to take place around the one-year anniversary of the bullying and suicides that shook our country in 2010. Through this benefit, you can help us keep the awareness alive. Tickets are $55, $45 and $20 Friday, October 21st, doors at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m. at The State Theatre of Modesto, Inc., 1307 J St. http://www.thestate.org/calendar/e vent/372/view Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween Edition With live cast of Barely Legal, San Francisco's premier Rocky Horror Picture Show! We've been bringing our Rocky Horror party to the SF Bay Area almost every week since 1995! We put on a sleek, sexy and professional show complete with a full set of stage props, screen accurate costumes and audience participation! Come dressed for a Costume Contest! Friday, October 21st at midnight at Fat Cat, 930 11th St. 21+ only. www.fatcatmodesto.com At the Brave Bull Pimps & Hoes Party! Sunday, October 23rd. Come dressed in your best pimp suit or hoe gear, and you could win a cash prize! Drag show featuring The Brave Bull-Ettes, hosted by Miss Anjali. Fright Night! Sunday, October 30th, 7:30pm. A haunting Halloween party! Best costume contest with $200, $100 and $50 prizes! Drag show of horror presented by The Brave Bull-Ettes, hosted by Miss Anjali. Drink specials, snacks and a spooktacular party! No cover, 21+ with ID! At the Brave Bull, 701 S. 9th St. www.facebook.com/TheBraveBull PFLAG Fundraising PFLAG Modesto teamed up with Flower Power Fundraising again for our Fall Fund Drive! Visit our website and follow the link on the main page to place your order for daffodils, hyacinths, tulips, irises, and other bulbs to be planted now for spring color. 50% of every dollar you spend comes back to us. Flower Power Fall Fund Drive will end on October 28th. Also, the folks at Merchants Insurance and Financial Services have made their support of PFLAG Modesto public by initiating a donation program at their office! Merchants will donate $25 per household for every policy they bind. They specialize in home, auto, life, and health insurance plans, as well as business risk management. For a free quote, call (209) 681-5160 or stop in their office, 4660 Spyres Way. Be sure to mention PFLAG Modesto when inquiring. Thank you for your continued support of our work with the LGBTQ community! www.pflagmodesto.org The P.L.A.C.E. 4th Annual Halloween Dance The PLACE is a non-religious support group - a safe space for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, and questioning youth ages 14-20. Contact person: Elizabeth Plata (209) 818-2378. Friday, October 28th, 7pm - 11pm at the Fellowship Hall, College Avenue United Church of Christ, 1341 College Ave. www.cacc-ucc.org www.CommunityLinkFresno.com Dining Out for Equality p?eid=172854012800874 PFLAG Guest: Angela Petit Angela Petit, the former MidPacific Regional Director for PFLAG, will discuss her experience as a male to female transsexual. Angela and her partner were featured in a 2002 Discovery Channel special entitled “Changing Sexes: Male to Female” (it's still being shown approximately every six weeks). Angela is not new to our group, as she helped us with our initial organizing six years ago. We welcome her back! Tuesday, November 8th, 7pm in the Fireside Room, United Methodist Church, 899 Yosemite Pkwy. www.pflagmerced.org ∏ “The Man Who Fell To Earth” Screening Join Modesto Film Society and Cinema Club members for a special, one-night screening of the uncut and remastered version of director Nicholas Roeg's (Performance, Walkabout) cult classic, The Man Who Fell To Earth starring pop legend David Bowie. See the Roeg's dazzling visuals as they were meant to be seen along with hundreds of cinema lovers during this, the third of 18 classic and contemporary films in the Film Society's 2011/2012 season. Humanoid alien Thomas Jerome Newton (Bowie) comes to Earth to get water for his parched and dying planet in this 1976 sci-fi drama that serves as a cautionary, moral tale about the greed and ruthlessness of business here on Earth. Although Newton launches a hi-tech business to generate the billions needed to return to his planet, he's distracted by a toxic cocktail of booze, church, television and sex. Further distractions are provided by kooky chambermaid Mary-Lou (Candy Clark) who falls in love with Newton, and sleazy, coed-shtupping college professor Nathan Bryce, (Rip Torn). Roeg's film is an eye-popping assault of fragmented, hypnotically striking visuals, a groovy '70s soundtrack by John Phillips of The Mamas and Papas, along with a groundbreaking no-comment depiction of a gay couple and multiple eyebrow-raising sexual romps - including one punctuated by gunshots. All too often seen in washed-out video copies, this newly restored, uncut director's version will blow your mind! continued on page 18 NewsLink EXETER 17 ∏ www.CommunityLinkFresno.com ∏ Pauline Kael called Roeg "The most visually seductive of directors." Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York, gave the film "Five stars! Highest rating! and said it was "The most intellectually provocative genre film of the 1970s." Anthony Lane of The New Yorker called it, "Dazzling! Time has done nothing to reduce its cool, confounding strangeness." Be sure and stay for the discussion to follow the film with film industry insiders. Unrated, 2 Hrs. 20 Min., digital, in English. Tickets $8. Tuesday, November 1st at 7pm (doors open at 6:30pm) at The State Theatre, 1307 J St. www.thestate.org GSA Leadership Summit from GayMerced.com Do YOU want to... Help stop BULLYING at your SCHOOL? / KNOW your RIGHTS? / START a GSA? / make LASTING and POSITIVE change at your SCHOOL? Modesto & North Valley GayStraight Alliance (GSA) Leadership Summit is for you! Summit is FREE & LUNCH IS INCLUDED! Saturday, November 19th, 8:30 am - 5 pm at College Avenue United Church of Christ, 1341 College Ave. Owl Empire of Stanislaus County, Inc.'s News by Ryan Hernandez Lewis-St. James ∏ NewsLink Closet Ball 2011 What a night we had at Modesto's 37th Annual Closet Ball! What an amazing crowd of people, great food, awesome drinks, and amazing entertainers, not to mention our 2 fabulous contestants for the position of Closet Ball Queen! On Behalf of the Monarchs Council, and the Reigning Court, I would like to say thank you to all the courts in attendance: Alameda Imperial, Chico, San Jose, Stockton, San Francisco Ducal, San Francisco Imperial, Fresno, Orange County, San Diego, Sacramento, and Los Angeles/Hollywood, and of course Modesto! Congratulations to Closet Ball Queen 2011-2012 Miss Ivanna Big Coxxx, and her sponsor Empress 37 of Modesto, Kiki Peru-St. James! Congratulations to our Runner-up Miss Sally Sweetheart and her sponsor, Empress 36 of San Diego, Chantal De Fuego Huntley! Thank you to all the Modesto Monarchs and Imperial Family that were in attendance, and a special thank you goes out to our surprise guest of the evening, our very own Empress 3 of Modesto and Absolute Empress 25 of San Francisco, Marlena the Magnificent! It was also our Candidate Announcement that night for the 18 Office of Emperor and Empress 38 and the Board of Directors for the 38th Reign, and Modesto is proud of the following candidates who have decided to step up and continue the hard work and dedication that Regent Emperor 37 and Empress 37, James & Kiki have done this year! Candidates for the Board of Directors for Reign 38: Ryan Hernandez Lewis-St. James, Joyce V and Krickett. Candidates for the Office of Emperor and Empress 38: Jeff CaseYoung Jackman Landree-St. James and Debbie Ferrel, respectively. We wish all 5 candidates the best of luck during their campaign! Voting will take place at Coronation (see “Coronation 2011”) between the hours of 5:00 PM-9:00 PM. Emperor 37 Resigns It is with great upset that we as a Board of Directors accept the Resignation of Anthony RosalasFleming as Emperor 37 due to personal reasons. We as a Board would like to thank him for all of his hard work and dedication that he has given to our organization. We would like to make it very clear that Anthony will always be known as His Most Imperial Majesty, The Emerald Jalepeno Emperor, Emperor 29 of Modesto. The Board did name a Regent Emperor 37 to help Empress 37 Kiki Peru St. James. After our Board of Directors discussed who to appoint, we allowed Empress 37 to choose her Regent Monarch, and she chose James Powers. Many of you are probably thinking, who is James Powers? Well, we all know him as my Empress April Powers! Yes, James is stepping up to help finish out the rest of the 37th Reign, and the board could not thank him enough. Please help us welcome both monarchs! We hope to see you all at Coronation. OESCI in the news Two former OESCI monarchs were featured in Merced County Times, a weekly newspaper, on September 1st. A photo of Ryan Hernandez and April Powers accompanied this article: “The Owl Empire of Stanislaus County recently presented a check for $1500.00 to the D Street Homeless Shelter in Merced. Past Emperor, Ryan Hernandez, and Past Empress, April Powers explained that their organization raised over $11,000.00 throughout their reign which was spread out over 10 charities. All of the charities were local, with the exception of St. Jude's Hospital, according to Hernandez. Hernandez's first encounter with the Shelter came when, as an employee of AT&T Community Relations committee, he came to serve a meal at the Shelter. He said he was moved by the situation that so many of them found themselves in. So the Shelter was his choice as one of the charities that would benefit from the funds raised during his term. 'We were elected by the community to give back to the community,' he said. 'I just wanted to make a difference and help.'” Last Bingo of the reign Come to our last Bingo before Coronation! $5.00 a card or 6 cards for $20.00. Tuesday, October 25th, doors and dinner at 7pm, bingo at 7:30pm. At the Brave Bull, 701 S. 9th St. Coronation 2011 Come one, come all to Coronation 37 in Modesto: "A Return to the Phantom of the Opera"! Here's the schedule of weekend's events: Friday: In/Out of Town Show at the Small Ball Room, $15.00 at the Door. Doors at 6:30pm, Show at 7:30 pm, Music must be in by 7:15pm. Reigning monarchs 1st, visiting dignitaries 2nd, all others if time permitting. Saturday: Hospitality at the Empress's Room /Pool Party poolside. 10:30am to 1:30pm. Saturday: Coronation 37, "A Return to The Phantom of the Opera", at the Main Ball Room. $35.00 at the Door. Doors at 4:30pm, Coronation starts promptly at 5:30pm. Saturday: Water Party, one hour after Coronation till 2am to benefit the 37th Reign Charities at the Brave Bull, 701 S. 9th St. Sunday: Victory Brunch poolside, $20 for brunch, $10 no-brunch admission. Doors at 10:30, Brunch at 11:00am. Sunday: Victory Show TBA by the new monarchs! Come on out and have a blast and celebrate the fabulous year of Regent Emperor 37 James Powers and Empress 37 Kiki Peru Braxton Halston-St.James. Host hotel info: The Clarion Inn, 1612 Sisk Rd. Room Rate $65 + tax (single bed), $69 + tax (double). Call (209) 521-1612, mention code: OWL37. Reservation deadline is October 25th. Friday, November 4th - Sunday, November 6th, all events at the host hotel, except for Saturday's Water Party. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mo desto_Imperial/ New Trans Support Group A new Transgender and Transitioning Support Group has been added to PFLAG Modesto's first Tuesday Support Nights beginning with the October 4th meeting. This is the area's first support group specifically geared toward the Trans community in over two years. This peer-led group , part of our Healthy TRANSitions program and commitment to serve the Trans community better, will meet once per month and is the brainchild of two PFLAG Modesto supporters, Janiece Eaton and Clayton Eli. If you would benefit from this service, plan on attending. Trans Support will meet in conjunction with PFLAG Modesto's Support Night on the first Tuesday of every month, from 7-9pm at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 324 College Avenue. www.pflagmodesto.org STOCKTON Haunted House Bring your kids to a Haunted House, with the profits benefiting the San Joaquin AIDS Foundation & Haven of Peace. Tickets are $5 for kids 7-12, $7 for kids 13 and older. The Haunted House will be open from October 28th to October 31st. For more information and location, call (209) 476-8533. sanjoaquinaidsfoundation.org ICP Ball Cancelled The November 19th Imperial Crown Prince & Princess Ball, that was to be hosted by Ineeda Little St. James, has been cancelled and will not be re-scheduled. The Imperial San Joaquin Delta Empire apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. … From The Heart BowlA-Thon Still On! The Imperial San Joaquin Delta Empire is having the annual “From The Heart” Bowl-A-Thon. For those that were here last year... it was the bomb! For those who were not... come find out what the hype is about. The $$$ we raise for from the heart goes to “From The Heart”, which raises money to buy Christmas gifts for children who are affected/infected by HIV/AIDS. These are the gifts that they have on their wish list. Be that Santa that will put a smile on a child's face this holiday season. The first fundraiser of the season, Catch A Rising Star, raised $583. So blow the dust off those "balls" and let's see if you have what it takes to become Strike King, or best yet... Gutter Ball Queen! Come show your support! Sunday, November 13th at West Lane Bowl, 3900 W. Lane Ave. Check in at 12pm. $10 for 3 games & shoes. Awards for: High Score (individual), High Score (team), Gutter Queen, Highest Pledges. For pledge sheets, contact Emperor 38 Brenda EvansHarris at [email protected] or (209) 430-6297. Become a Central Valley Stonewall Democrat The time has come, we are at that critical date - join Central Valley Stonewall Democrats now before we lose this opportunity! The San Joaquin Democratic Central Committee will soon be figuring out how many votes we will get for the State Convention. The more members we have the more votes we get! This makes our voice heard by endorsing the candidates that are fulfilling our mission! 21 Central Valley Stonewall Leadership Awards Central Valley Stonewall Democratic Club 3rd Annual Leadership Awards Banquet's theme was “Celebrating Progress: Do Ask, Do Tell.” This year's recipients each bring a unique quality and ability to keep the LGBT movement in motion. Retired Navy Commander Zoe Dunning - National Leadership Award. Commander Dunning was the first and only openly gay person allowed to remain on active duty in the military prior to the end of Don't Ask/Don't Tell. Van Ha To-Cowell, Lincoln Unified School District Board Trustee Political Action. A member for many years, Van Ha works as a board member to make sure the LUSD children are supported with student alliance organizations and counseling services. In response to the rash of suicides caused by bullying nationally, ToCowell worked with Lincoln Unified to create a comprehensive anti-bullying program. As an ally she is magnificent at getting the point across that we are all equal. Lela Nelson, Realtor/Activist Community/Volunteer Effort. We applaud Lela for her years of service in the community as a past PFLAG Western Regional Conference 2012 registration now open Over the summer, the University of California, Merced and the University of the Pacific joined forces to co-host the Western Regional Conference! We are excited that you have chosen to join us for this exciting event. The conference planning committee has been working hard in the anticipation of your arrival. We have lined up many outstanding speakers, programs and an amazing headline act for you to enjoy while you are with us. LGBTQIA life has grown and enhanced over the last few decades and we are proud of our progress. While LGBTQIA leaders have come together for many years, our committee felt it was important to bring together students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members from the western United States. By coming together, we hope that you will have a chance to learn from each other, develop strong friendships and social networks, and learn how you can be an active leader within your community and institution. Ultimately, it is you who will make the conference a success. We challenge you to take full advantage of the conference and learn who you can make a difference. As a result of participating in this conference, participants will: Engage thoughtfully and meaningfully in educational sessions designed to enhance their interpersonal and social development. Network in ways that cultivate friendships and relationships with other students, staff, faculty, alumni and community members. Strengthen their identity and have pride for being members of the LGBTQIA community. Learn about opportunities for involvement and social activism in order to become active leaders on their campuses and in their communities. Call for Proposals! We are accepting submissions for Psychotherapy Adult, Adolescent, Couples Now serving Fresno & Visalia Areas Melissa A. Cuneo, L.C.S.W. #LCS13570 (559) 901-5461 1416 W Center St Visalia, CA 93291 paper presentations, workshops, posters or full panel sessions (two four speakers). We welcome presentation submissions from undergraduate and graduate students, educators and scholars, community-based activists and leaders of public or private entities. All disciplinary approaches are welcome and topics can be based in any issue in lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender social movements, leadership development/activism, policy, history, literature, culture/media, and beyond! Submissions are due by November 30th, 2011. Please email questions about proposals to Corrie Martin at [email protected]. All presenters will receive early bird registration pricing. Conference organizers: Western Regional Conference Committee Alex Taylor, Co-chair, University of California, Merced; Corrie Martin, Co-chair, University of the Pacific; Steve Jacobson, Co-chair, University of the Pacific. Presenting Sponsors: Associated Students of the University of the Pacific (ASUOP); Eric Dingler, Honorary Conference Chairperson; Lambda Alliance at UC Merced; Multicultural Affairs; PRIDE Pacific Alumni Club; University of the Pacific Division of Student Affairs; University of the Pacific Housing and Greek Life; University of the Pacific Pride Alliance; University of the Pacific PRIDE Center. Friday, February 24 - Sunday, February 26, 2012. Registration is $30 until December 16th, $50 until January 31st, 2012, $60 thereafter. Questions? Call (209) 946-7707 or register at http://lgbtqia.pacific.edu AIDS Walk San Joaquin by Daniel Corona Poker Run What crazy weather! We are going from summer to winter over the course of the weekend. It's a good thing we changed the date of the Annual Poker Run, who knows what the weather would have been like. Speaking of the Poker Run, I would like to thank all the participants, volunteers, raffle donors, and the Stockton Host Lions BBQ Crew for making this year more successful than last year. We were able to raise almost $1,100! It keeps getting better and better every year. Several people were already asking about next year's Run. We hope to see you there. If you have any suggestions on how to improve the Poker Run, the AIDS Walk or any of our other events, please come to a meeting or email us at [email protected] with your input. e-Waste Fundraiser No cost to you! The AIDS Walk San Joaquin is working with Sean Dyer and e-Waste for Good on a yearround fundraiser. All you have to do is go to the following website: www.eWaste4good.com Fill in your information and within a few days, a dispatcher will call you to schedule an at home or office pickup date. Then, your electronics will be picked up, recycled and the pro- ceeds will be sent to the AIDS Walk San Joaquin. You can also call eWaste4good at 800-317-3112. The website has a list of items, working or not, that may be donated. You may also drop off your items with Daniel Corona at the AIDS Foundation office, 4330 N Pershing Ave, Ste B-3. Just call ahead at 4768533 so that someone is aware of your delivery. All electronics are recycled locally in California. Thank you for helping us! VISALIA Visalia & South Valley GSA Leadership Summit Free one day leadership conference for GSAs in Dinuba, Exeter, Tulare, Earlimart, Dinuba, Farmersville, Alpaugh, Orosi, Goshen, Woodlake, Pixley, Porterville, Cutler, Lindsay, Three Rivers, McFarland, Hanford, Selma, Kingsburg, Lemoore, Reedley, and Tulare County and everywhere in between or near! Come to the Visalia/South Valley GSA Leadership Summit! Learn essential Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) skills, make new friends, share your stories and experiences, and build the GSA movement in the Central Valley! Learn how to: - Start & run a successful GSA! - Use laws to protect your GSA from discrimination and harassment! - Organize long term campaigns that can forever change your school! - Create GSAs that are diverse and strong! - Fight for the rights of Transgender & gender non-conforming students! - Network with local GSAs to fight homophobia and transphobia in the communities of Central Valley! Free food provided. Register online by Thursday, October 27th at 5pm. Registration closes at 5pm! Saturday, October 29th, 8:30am 5pm at The Spiritual Awareness Center, 117 S. Locust St. Questions? Call Victoria at (559) 268-2780 or e-mail [email protected]. www.gsanetwork.org/civicrm/even ts/info?id=82 www.CommunityLinkFresno.com member and continuing to work behind the scenes to enhance our community. Shawn Crary, Big Monkey Group Business Leader. Shawn Crary is making a big splash within the business world with his new and unique approach to marketing. In addition to his growing new media endeavors, Shawn gives back to our community as a Board member of AIDSWalk SJ, Tidewater Art Gallery, the Miracle Mile Association and as an advisor to the newly formed San Joaquin Pride Center. Brian Ratto Youth Accomplishment. Brian is a student at Delta and involved in the Pride Alliance and the campus Democratic Club. He is always a ready volunteer for our events and we think he's on his way to creating something exciting for our LGBT youth! “Celebrating Progress: Do Ask, Do Tell” was held on Sunday, October 16th. The event was past our press time, but retired Navy Commander Zoe Dunning was to be a guest, delivering the luncheon's keynote address. ∏ GLAD Nite GLAD Nite celebrates the 4th Anniversary of Visalia's LGBT Hot Spot with a Fundraiser event for Gay Visalia, Get Equal and the Rainbow Delegation! The theme is Pink, Balloon drop, Gogo Dancers, Drink Specials ALL NIGHT and free party favors to the 1st 50 people with paid cover. $5 Cover starts at 8pm then after 9pm $10. A portion of each paid cover will be donated to Gay Visalia and Get Equal. Also, you know him as DJ Papi now you can find him Hosting and Bartending GLAD NITE every wednesday. During the Anniversary DJ Papi will donate a percentage of his tips to the Rainbow Delegation! Wednesday, November 16th at Blitz Sports Bar, 115 N Locust St. For more info go to www.facebook.com/rainbow.produktionz or facebook: GLAD Nite NewsLink Become a member, and join us at our monthly business meetings and/or our "funraising" events. Last campaign season we contributed more than $15,000 to local & state candidates. This coming campaign season we currently have two members running for office: Van Ha To Cowell Lincoln Unified School District & Founding Member Susan Eggman for State Assembly - we need your help! We would like to increase our membership that will help us get more recognition at the State Convention, so tell your friends about Stonewall! If you join at the $100 level, we'll kick in our new T-shirt due out in a couple of weeks! Every membership level includes membership in Central Valley Stonewall and the National Stonewall Democrats, quarterly newsletters, email announcements, the right to run for office, the right to vote on endorsements and donations, and participation in all events and committees and meetings. To raise additional funds for our efforts, we offer other membership levels: YELLOW - $35 Regular membership (see above) GREEN - $50 Weblink ad in our online newsletters BLUE - $100 Weblink w/ picture ad in our online newsletters, link on our website, and FREE SHIRT PURPLE - $250 Annual feature in our online newsletters, weblink on the front page of our website, and FREE SHIRT GOLD - $500 Annual feature in our online newsletters, weblink on the front page of our website, preferred seating and signage at select events, and FREE SHIRT RED - $___ Sliding Scale - please call 209-937-9038 to discuss Visit our website www.cvstonewall.org and you can grab a form there to print and mail in. 19 ∏ ∏ www.CommunityLinkFresno.com The Tie Party is a special event and fundraiser which requires all participants to sport their favorite tie to symbolize unity and community. DJ Natalie Nuxx will be spinning at the One Leidesdorff where the party is being held. For tickets and more information visit the www.thetieparty.com Lesbian Events October - November By Angela and Pamela Brooks Mango Tea Dance for Women - at the El Rio 10/22 in San Francisco 3pm-8:30pm at El Rio, 3158 Mission St, San Francisco Sweet sexy fun for women with DJ's Edaj, Marcella, Olga and La Coqui droppin' the best in hip-hop, dancehall, salsa, merengue, cumbia, samba & reggaeton. Free BBQ & drink specials. The Bay Area's original and still the best t-dance for all women! Get there before 4:30 and you should be able to miss the line. For more information call (415) 282-3325 Exotic Erotic Ball becomes Masquerotica 10/22 in San Francisco Saturday 8pm - Sunday 4am at 635 Brannan, San Francisco According to a statement by Perry Mann's website, “In 2011, we are pursuing an international opportunity. We are also editing our 30-year documentary. So here's the good news: We've entered into an alliance with MASQUEROTICA - and we know this to be true: this is the hot show for 2011. Tickets are $45 for general admission and $100 for VIP. DJ Dan, Afrolicious and Kinky Salon are headlining. For more information check out www.masquerotica.com Curve Magazine FlawLes Tie Party 10/22 in San Francisco Saturday 8pm - 2am at 344 Pine St, San Francisco Curve magazine present the FlawLes Tie Party. In an effort tie the community together Curve Magazine and FlawLes join forces to bring this extraordinary party to San Francisco. Marga Gomez - The Marsh Through 10/23 in San Francisco Thursdays and Fridays 8pm, Saturdays 8:30pm, Sundays 3pm. Marga Gomez's show “Not Getting Any Younger” is her 9th solo show. A comedy about lies, vanity, and the good old days, Marga's coming of age story begins in a dairy cow's boudoir in the Bronx and hurtles towards a 'Forever 21' department store in downtown San Francisco. Lauded for her honesty as an out gay comedian before it was safe to do so, she has actually been a master of deception in other ways. Now the cagey monologist unburdens herself and brings her riskiest revelation to the stage. For more information http://www.themarsh.org/marga_gom ez.html Equality California Presents: 2nd Annual Los Angeles Women for Equality Champagne Brunch 10/23 in Los Angeles Sunday 11am-1pm Attend this event to empower and celebrate women's equality. Entertainment and silent auction cohosted by Clarissa Filgioun, Sue Riley, Susan McCabe with special performance by Ashleigh Haney. Meet Mayoral Candidate, Jan Perry, City Councilwoman, 9th District & Wendy Greuel, Los Angeles City Controller. To reserve & purchase your tickets contact Brandon Tate at [email protected]. Tickets are $75 (Co-host $500 or Sponsor $1,000.) Address provided upon RSVP. For more information http://www.eqcaevents.org/calendar/e vents/ Halloween Party Lexington Bar 10/28 in San Francisco Saturday 9pm at 3464 19th St, San Francisco Lexington Club wants you for their spectacularly SPOOKY Halloween Party! Have an alter ego that needs to shine? A sexy scary outfit? Come thru with your best (or worst) and get ready to dance to the musical stylings of DJ Andre & Ms. Jackson. For more information see www.lexingtonclub.com whether she is coming out only to herself or is ready to shout it joyfully from the Bay Bridge. This is a peer-led group that will meet every other Thursday. Rainbow Community Center is a non-profit agency. No one will be turned away due to inability to pay, donations are happily accepted. 3024 Willow Pass Rd. Concord, CA 94519 Wicked Gay - The Lexington Club Halloween Bash 10/29 in San Francisco Girl on Girl Dodgeball 11/5 in Richmond Saturday 9pm-midnight at 3464 19th St, San Francisco Featuring horrifyingly hilarious hosts CHLOE SPREADLOVE & JIBBS DJs MS JACKSON & ANDRE get your bones a shakin' on the dance floor. Don't forget about our annual COSTOMB CONTEST with great prizes! NEVER a cover, ALWAYS a party! 21+ ID required. Check out www.lexingtonclub.com House of Blues Sunset Strip-Uh Huh Her 11/1 in West Hollywood Tuesday 7:30pm The Keep A Breast Tour will land in West Hollywood on November 1. Tickets are available at Ticket Master. Leisha Hailey and Camila Grey have been together since 2007. http://www.houseofblues.com/tickets/eventdetail.php?eventid=70929 Women Coming Out Later in Life - ongoing group 11/3 and every other Thursday in Concord, CA Thursdays 6:30pm-8pm at Rainbow Community Center for Rainbow Community Center has served the LGBTQ community of Contra Costa County since 1992. A new group is forming for women who are currently or were formerly married to men and are coming out as LGBTQ later in life or are simply questioning their heterosexual identity. For women in established marriages, women with kids, women otherwise entrenched in a straight identity, this can be a time of enormous upheaval and emotional struggle. The group aims to offer acceptance and support to every woman, regardless of where she is in her process, whether she's leaving or staying in her marriage, J. STANLEY TEIXEIRA ATTORNEY AT LAW NewsLink 1233 W. SHAW AVENUE, SUITE 100 FRESNO, CALIFORNIA 93711 TELEPHONE (559) 225-2510 FACSIMILE (559) 225-2389 20 Saturday 7pm A fundraiser for the Bay Area girl's athletics will be held on November 5th at the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond, California. Tickets are $20 and all proceeds are donated to the charity. There will be 48 teams competing for a $1000 prize. Over 2,000 women in one playground! Doors open at 6p, dodgeball is at 7p and the party ends at 2am. For more information go to girlongirldodgeball.com Lesbian Mixer 11/16 in Palm Springs Wednesday, 6pm-8pm at 369 N Palm Canyon Drive, upstairs from Azul Tapas Lounge The L Spot Palm Springs is hosting a lesbian mixer at Georgie's Alibi in Palm Springs. For more info, see www.lspotpalmsprings.com NIA Gathering 11/18-11/20 in Petaluma, CA The NIA Gathering is both a rejuvenating annual weekend retreat and a unique opportunity to gather as a community of Black same-gender loving women. The retreat is held at Walker Creek Conference Center in Petaluma, California (50 miles northwest of Oakland, CA), nestled within 1,741 acres of rolling hills and 20 miles of hiking trails, a shimmering pond and a meandering creek. Enjoy drumming circles, breath work, chanting, writing, journeying, dancing, creative expression, and altar work. Scholarships and volunteer opportunities are available. For more details and to register: http://niacollective.org/wpnia/?page_id=127 Friday 2pm at 909 W. Adams Blvd Noted Author Lisa Diamond will discuss her 16 year study of female sexual fluidity which describes the capacity of some experiences in same sex and other sex desires. She discusses the implications of sexual fluidity and how it has been distorted by antigay groups advancing an agenda on repairing homosexuals. Check out www.onearchives.org for more details. Suzanne Westenhoefer Comedian 11/25-11/27 in San Francisco Girl in a Coma will be at Harlow's in Sacramento on November 30th to promote the release of their latest album Exits and All the Rest. The show starts at 730p and is a 21+ show. Tickets are $10. To purchase in advance: https://www.gribbendesign.com/harlows/ FemSexComm Workshop September to December in San Francisco The Women's Building, Room B, 6pm. Female Sexuality for the Community (FemSexComm) is a 15week workshop that seeks to create an open, safe space that encourages exploration of identities, boundaries, desires, and experiences. Through group discussions, activities, and indi- General Tickets: Regular Rate: $300 SF Bay Area Federal Club: $100 Students: $125* VIP Tickets**: Regular Rate: $425 SF Bay Area Federal Club: $165 SF Bay Area Federal Club Council (Major Donors): Two complimentary tickets *Current students can email [email protected] to request a coupon code which will unlock the student price. Guests who purchase this ticket type will be asked to show a valid/current student ID at registration. There is no student discount for the VIP reception ** VIP tickets include access to the VIP reception which begins one hour before the general reception and includes hors d'eurvres and access to the Silent Auction. For more information on Ben and StandUp, please visit http://www.standupfoundation.com/ City Lights Theater Company through10/23 in San Jose America's funniest lesbian will be performing at the Razz Room, 222 Mason St, San Francisco. For more info or to purchase tickets, call (415) 394-1189 or http://www.therazzroom.com/ Girl in A Coma - Harlow's 11/30 in Sacramento ship and the profits created from a range of StandUp merchandise. SOMETHING 4 EVERYONE! Events NOT specific to women HRC 27th Annual Greater San Francisco Bay Area Gala Dinner 10/22 in San Francisco Saturday, 6pm at the Fairmont San Francisco Hotel 950 Mason St., San Francisco, CA The Annual Gala Dinner features special guest Ben Cohen MBE. A former World Champion rugby player, Ben is the chairman of The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation to fight bullying and homophobia in sports. Standup is the first anti-bullying organization dedicated to anti-bullying and erasing homophobia from sports. It is funded through donations, corporate sponsor- Thursday, Friday and Saturdays at 7:30pm. Sundays vary between afternoon matinees or a 7pm performance. $25-$35 with student/educators $15. Check http://cltc.org/ourseason/august-osage-county/ for more details. August: Osage County is one of the most critically acclaimed plays in recent history. This Pulitzer Prize winning modern masterpiece chronicles an American family at its resilient best - and dysfunctional worst. When the patriarch of the Weston clan disappears one hot August night, the family reunites at the Oklahoma homestead, where three generations of suspicions are aired and dark secrets are revealed. Weaving epic tragedy with scathing black comedy, August is a bracing and uncompromising portrait of rural Americana not to be missed. Sunday October 23rd - 7:30 am Palm Desert Golf Cart Parade 10/23 in Palm Desert 8am breakfast, 1pm parade The World Famous Palm Desert Golf Cart Parade originated in the early 60s and was put together by several individuals who just wanted to have fun; the parade attracts over 10,000 spectators. Come and experience the spectacular color, pageantry and fun as scores of whimsically decorated golf carts and bands march down Palm Desert's famous shop-'tilyou-drop El Paseo, in the first major event of the season! The Parade Route is westbound on El Paseo from San Luis Rey to Ocotillo. More info including a schedule of events at: www.golfcartparade.com Sierra Nevada College celebrates First Pride event on Campus 10/25-10/27 in Placer County Please join Sierra Nevada College in celebrating diversity, community, individual self-actualization, freedom and equality. Sierra College Pride Days includes 9 presentations, 1 keynote address, 1 faculty drag performance, a Ridley Art Gallery exhibit, an outdoor sculpture exhibit and two full days of informational booths on campus. Ridley Gallery: Bren Ahearn's "Thread of Masculinity" exhibit. October 17- November 10. Show opening: Wednesday, October 19 time? www.CommunityLinkFresno.com Author Lisa Diamond ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives 11/20 in Los Angeles vidual assignments, the workshop explores what it means to take ownership of one's own body, pleasure, language, and education. Peer facilitators foster introspection and encourage participants to develop empowered, informed relationships with themselves and build ally relationships with others. FemSexComm promotes intentionality, leadership, agency, informed decision-making, and consent in all areas of life. Themes include pleasure, health, gender, consent, boundaries, privilege, power, body image, communication, race, class, orgasms, masturbation, sex, kink, and sexual identities. Two one-hour information sessions about FemSexComm will be held for people who want to learn more about the workshop and may be interested in participating. Workshop facilitators will describe the workshop's curriculum, goals, and values. Past participants and facilitators will be there to answer any questions and speak about how the workshop has impacted them. Donations accepted. http://www.indiegogo.com/Female - S e x u a l i t y - Wo r k s h o p - f o r - t h e Community ∏ . Presentations for Tuesday, October 25th 11:00 - 12:20: Jane Hemmerling, English Instructor, Sierra College BiBi Miss American Pie: The Embracing and the Erasing of Bisexuality in American Popular Culture Come analyze the significance of recent representations of bisexuality in popular entertainment. How does media both elevate and eliminate bisexuality as a stable sexual orientation? D12 12:30 - 1:50: Megan Seely, Sociology Instructor, Sierra College, author of Fight Like a GirlLesbianism, NOW and the Women's Movement Fireside Room 2:00 - 3:20: Charles D. Dailey, Zoology Professor, Emeritus, Sierra College and Joe Medeiros, Biology Professor, Emeritus, Sierra CollegeSexual Diversity in the Animal Kingdom and Genetics. PS: Humans are Animals too. Fireside Room. Continued on page 22 Tom DeBey, Realtor Selling or Buying a home? Call Tom... ~Specializing in the Tower District ~ Free Home Search: Towertom.com 559 312-5637 [email protected] NewsLink Lic# 01474948 21 ∏ www.CommunityLinkFresno.com ∏ SOMETHING 4 EVERYONE! 6:00-9:30: A Night at the Movies with Tricia Lord, English Instructor, Sierra College: Ma Vie en Rose (My Life in Pink) is the story of 7 year old Ludovic, who is waiting for that extra X chromosome he imagines will turn him from a boy-girl (as he calls himself) to a real girl. Come view and discuss the movie. Student Lounge/Cafeteria Presentations for Wednesday, October 26th 9:30 - 11:00: Brehn Ahearn Crafty Queers Fireside Room. Artist Bren Ahearn whose show is running in Ridley Gallery will define and describe the Queer Crafts Movement. Fireside room 11: 00- 12:20: Greater Placer County PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)-Telling Our Stories Fireside Room. 12:30-1:50 LGBT Poetry Reading by Michelle Johnson and Friends Sierra College Ampitheater 2:00-3:20 Sam Berliner, a Bay Area transgenderqueer filmmaker. Genderbusters, Perception, and Gender? Sam will present three of his films, Genderbusters, Perception, and Gender?, and discuss his non-traditional trans narrative experience of gender including his decision to access hormones and surgery as a genderqueer-identified person. T-shirts and DVD's will be available for sale. www.genderbusters.com Student Lounge/Cafeteria 3:30-4:50 Stephanie Coday, Human Sexuality Professor, Sierra College, will lead a "Coming Out" panel. Students will tell their stories of coming out LGBT. W110 6:00-9:30 A Night at the Movies with Stephanie Coday: MILK the story of Gay Activist Harvey Milk, his rise to prominence and tragic assassination. D12 Presentations for Thursday, October 27th Key Note Speaker: Richard Andreoli--"It Gets Better: The Next Generation, Sierra College Cafeteria Sponsored by the Sierra College Rainbow Alliance, the Associated Students of Sierra College and Greater Placer County PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) 6:00-7:00 p.m. Introductions and a Special Drag Performance by the Sierra College Haute-Profs. Also, a special guest appearance by Dr. Morgan Lynn, past Vice-chancellor of the California Community College System, past-Interim President of Sierra College (and the college's first woman president), and past Sierra College Vice-president of Instruction. 7:00-- 8:30/8:40 p.m. Richard Andreoli "It Gets Better-The Next Generation." This has been a year of "It Gets Better" videos, but Gay.net Editor in Chief Richard Andreoli thinks we're moving beyond that slogan. Looking at queer identity through a pop culture lens, he'll offer a humorous and thoughtful view of where we've been, where we're going, and why the LGBT motto for this year should be "It Is Better." Equality California Volunteer Phone Bank Session 10/26 in San Francisco Wednesday 4pm-9pm at Equality California, 2370 Market St, San Francisco Come join our field team for a phone bank session focused on the importance of education and LGBT acceptance. Your contribution is a vital part of reaching our community and building support for full equality. For more information call Angie at (415) 378-3831 or email at [email protected] West Coast Liberty Awards 10/27 in Los Angeles Thursday, 6:30pm-9:30pm at Petersen Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA Join Lambda Legal for our annual West Coast Liberty Awards and enjoy a hosted cocktail reception and buffet with Lambda Legal staff, board members and special guests, including Executive Director Kevin Cathcart. This year's gala event will honor longtime LGBT advocate and former Lambda Legal Marriage Project Director Jenny Pizer as well as retired Justice Carlos Moreno, sole dissenter in Strauss v. Horton, the Prop 8 challenge, now a partner at Irell & Manella. For more information, please contact the Lambda Legal Benefit Office at 310-491-1401. Unmasked: GLBT Historical Society Gala 2011 10/27 in San Francisco Thursday 6pm at The Green Room in the San Francisco Performing Arts Center The GLBT Historical Society's annual Unmasked gala and fundraiser is a social high-point of the year for members and friends of the Bay Area GLBT community. The event starts at 6pm with a VIP reception and the gala begins at 7pm. VIP tickets are $100 and general admission are $60. All proceeds support the public work of the GLBT Historical Society and the GLBT History Museum. For tickets and more info go to www.unmaskedgala.org Mugshot! SF Bay invades LA 10/28 in Los Angeles 9pm-2am at The Down N Out Bar, 501 S. Spring St (5th X Spring) At this very special edition of your favorite L.A. eastside queer night, it's a full-on S.F. invasion! Sassy femme DJ expat Miss Pop joins DJ Automaton, making the dance floor an extreme sweat situation, in the good way. Live performances by Miss Jenna Riot and San Francisco quartet Excuses For Skipping brings their eclectic /post-punk performance to downtown LA. Hot queer go-go dancers, downtown LA ambiance, huge dance floor. Free before 10:30/$7 after. Performers start at 11:30. 21+ Building Our Own White Picket Fences Opens 10/28 in San Francisco Friday 7:30pm at the Michelle O'Connor Gallery, 2111 Mission Street, San Francisco A multi-media visual and performative art exhibit that offers Queer perspectives on traditional notions of family, marriage, and relationships. This innovative exhibit will offer interactive performance and art works for the audience to explore through performance, video, audio, & playful installations. Artists Midori, Monica Canilao, Harrison Bartlett, Mev Luna, Amelia Reiff Hill and Madison Young have come together to create this engaging body of work that is not to be missed. This body of work serves as a reflection of the experiences of the LGBT community relationships with their partners and families as well as creating dialogue around family dynamics that exist outside of the box. For more information: http://feminapotens.org/wordpress/ Grimm Halloween Weekend 10/28-10/31 in San Diego Monday, October 31st is expected to be a Monday unlike any other in Hillcrest and will be produced in conjunction with SDPIX Magazine. Pulling out all the stops for the Halloween weekend finale, a superstar surprise entertainer will headline the evening with a live performance and will be accompanied by the sexy and talented DJ Schoeny & DJ Von Kiss. $1,000 in cash and prizes will be given away during Eden's costume contest, which will be hosted by drag enter- tainer extraordinaire, Paris. For more info on the weekends' events: http://www.edensandiego.com/ West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnaval 10/31 in West Hollywood Monday, 6pm - midnight The heart of West Hollywood, Santa Monica Boulevard, will once again pulse with excitement on Halloween night as hundreds of thousands of Halloween revelers flock to the famous boulevard between La Cienega & La Peer Drive. There are food vendors on the streets and all the gay bars are open. Enjoy your stroll along the gay strip of Santa Monica Blvd. For information on public transportation and parking availability, go to http://www.westhollywoodhalloween.com/carnaval2011/ Visual Art Exhibit through 11/5 in San Francisco At Lyon-Martin Health Clinic, 1748 Market Street, Suite 201. Femina Potens teams up with LyonMartin Health Clinic to present visual art works from artists Suzanne Forbes, Kira Scarlet, Katie Gilmartin and KD Diamond using drawing, needle point and illustration to create health awareness in the queer, women and trans communities. Our exhibition's goal is to create an environment that is comforting and approachable through artistic expression. We are striving to make an experience that can be somewhat intimidating more friendly and informative through art. Visit LyonMartin Health Clinic during clinic hours to check out our latest exhibit and make an appointment for your next checkup. www.feminapotens.org Annual HRC Palm Springs Garden PartySave The Date 11/5 in Palm Springs Home of Federal Club Members, Doug Hudson & Erich Burkhart 1325 Camino Mirasol, Palm Springs, CA 92262 http://www.hrc.org/your_community/california/15528.htm Palm Springs Pride 11/5-11/6 The 25th annual Palm Springs Pride will go from 10a-6p both Saturday and Sunday. Serving as Grand Marshall is 16 year old anti bullying activist Caleb Laieski from Surprise, Arizona. CeCe Peniston, Frenchi Davis and Lady Tiga are just a few of the performers at this year's event. For a complete list of events check out http://pspride.org ∏ NewsLink Community Link’s Gray Alliance 22 We’re a group that knows it may get a little harder as we go, but We Get Better With Age! The Gray Alliance doesn’t just live life, WE CELEBRATE IT! Gray Alliance welcomes all women & men within the “graying” Lesbian and Gay Community. We are a friendly group of graying folks who enjoy each other’s company and their unique personalities. SECOND WEDNESDAYS DINNER OUT & A MONTHLY POTLUCK.at the Big Red Church, 2131 N. Van Ness Blvd on LAST SUNDAYS. For info:Liz Brown at 559-287-2428 or email: [email protected] or Jerry Hendrix 559-261-9080 between 5pm-8pm Through the eyes of a gay girl working for the prison systems by Melissa McMurrey GayPorterville.com Some of you may or may not know that I have recently taken on a new position with one of the prisons located here in the central valley. This being part of the reason I (Gay Porterville) have been so quiet lately and for that I apologize but am looking to get back on track and more active here pretty quickly. Anyway, back to my initial posting… I've have friends and family members who work within the prison systems and I've heard many different perspectives from them all. Unfortunately, none of the perspectives I had an opportunity to hear and brace myself for were none from a gay person's perspective. I still went in with enthusiasm that this would still be a place of progressive office politics…It wasn't until after I had been there a few weeks that I would realize how wrong I was! For those of you who have met me you already know that I don't exactly scream “LESBIAN IN THE HOUSE” in my appearance. I don't attempt to hide it or dim down my gay. I am very proud of my sexuality just most people assume I am hetero and being that is my place of employment I don't necessarily feel that my personal life has anything to do with work. The department I work in is the center for control of infectious diseases so inmates will come to our office periodically to receive various vaccines for treatment and preventative measures. Some of the inmates that come in through our office are transgender and some are of a more effeminate nature. These two types of inmates/patients are usually what prompt the comments and remarks from those I share a small office with. In a casual conversation with the head RN in my office she mentioned her mom lived in Palm Springs and how she doesn't like going out there Same location for your vitamin & food supplement needs since 1955 237-8479 began by telling her more about me as a person. I told her how my relationship with a woman has very similar characteristics of my past relationships with men. I explained to her that we are just regular every day people and her comments are sometimes insensitive to me. Due to it being the craziest day ever at work she didn't get a chance to respond. It wasn't until the following Monday she told me that when she sees a gay couple she can't help but think who's catching and who's pitching…she then said that it wasn't until I told her that we encounter the same problems and fight about the same things as our heterosexual counterparts that she then realized how we are just like everyone else! Yes! Small victories! It is very empowering to be seen and respected for the person I am in the work place. It is very liberating to know how I am setting an example for them as a strong and intelligent person of the LGBTQ community. The correctional officers are my next feat. Wish me luck!! www.CommunityLinkFresno.com So, if you watch news and probably even if you don't, most gay people still like Rachel Maddow. It can be for her view on politics and life or simply based on the fact that she is the first openly gay person to host a primetime news show, which is currently the top show on MSNBC. Regardless of why you like her or even if you don't, (I feel there always has to be some sort of collaborative support for anyone open and out in the public eye) I'm not sure how I feel about this most recent interview? Here is an excerpt from the article: Gay marriage was legalized in Massachusetts in 2004, but Maddow says she and Mikula have no immediate wedding plans. "We know a lot of people who have gotten married but I don't think we feel any urgency about it." Later she admits that she's actually ambivalent about the cultural impact of gay marriage. "I feel that gay people not being able to get married for generations, forever, meant that we came up with alternative ways of recognizing relationships," she explains. "And I worry that if everybody has access to the same institutions that we lose the creativity of subcultures having to make it on their own. And I like gay culture." I know people are entitled to their own feelings, that's what makes this world so wonderful because we are all so unique. But I can't help but be a bit bothered over her comments on gay marriage. As a public figure, she somewhat represents our community. By not upholding the importance of marriage equality, even if she doesn't believe that for herself, I feel she has done a great injustice to all of us working so hard to achieve it. She mentions she wants the creativity to remain with how we've lived our lives with our partners and mates. Although I agree with the creative genius of our past community trailblazers to invoke some semblance of equality. It is by no means okay for us to have to live the rest of our lives fostering creativi- because of all the gays and their AIDS. A CNA in my office made remarks about a transgender inmate referring to her as a he-she, a grown man with tits, and while the CNA was making these remarks other persons in the office jumped in with “that's just wrong” and “girrrl, he's just made he wasn't born that way”. Weeks went by and the comments never seemed to die down. It was a special focal point of ridicule when we would have a transgender person come through our doors for treatment. I understand these people are inmates and are probably in prison for a valid reason but they are still “family” and who doesn't have that one family member who is always getting in trouble?? They are still people! I still felt offended! I began feeling stressed out. I felt uncomfortable in my work place. I saw each remark made in the office as another opportunity missed that I could've stood on my desk and screamed I was a lesbian. I felt angry with myself for allowing such stupidity get to me and frustrated that I didn't have the courage to stand up for myself and the LGBTQ community. It wasn't until one morning they had me come into work at 3am that I decided I did not care what they thought of me. If I had to hear one more ignorant remark or saw one more correctional officer mocking a gay person as if it's funny I was going to scream. I had already proven myself to be a valuable asset to their department and they have come to respect me as an individual. I came out! One person after the other I began explaining to them how their remarks are insensitive and are offensive to me because I am gay! I first approached the CNA who comes from Compton. I told her that transgender people are not “weird” and they are not heshe's… the correct pronoun is her. At first she was confused as to why I would be so offended because she told me she has many gay friends and she doesn't have a problem with them. I politely responded that from a person living in the central valley it is difficult to decipher whether her remarks were coming from a hostile place or not. I then explained to her that the central valley is not L.A. and we are constantly on guard here. Her response was that she didn't realize that the area was like that for gay people and apologized. My next feat was the head RN in my office. I was a little stressed out about this one because I had already casually mentioned things to her previously about my partner so I knew she had some idea but she still proceeded to make comments about the LGBTQ community…not to mention she is my make shift supervisor. I ∏ Being a Skeptic Continued from page 10 Again, it isn't anyone's job to tell you to sign or not sign… to vote or not vote or which way to vote. The point here is that you must be fully aware. You need to ask the questions. You need to delve into the facts and figures and find the truth. Last example: A recent post over at the Skepchick blog centered around a trans reader questioning the legitimacy of the process described in this book:. Natural Transitioning, an FTM alternative Debbie, a Skepchick with close ties to the trans world takes a very skeptical look at the book and the process and finds that it is not nearly as comprehensive, useful, or natural as it pretends to be. I won't repeat her analysis here, but I do encourage you to read her post. Basically, she breaks down all the claims, does some research, and is able to draw conclusions based in facts: an excellent use of critical thinking skills and healthy skepticism. To sum up, because I'm pretty sure a few of you have zoned out by now, I want to encourage you to be skeptical, to be critical of “sure things” and internet stories, to take the extra four minutes to check the sources of the article that screams that soda will kill you or that Facebook is going to start charging you…. Be mindful of hyperbole and sensationalism. Be aware and be unafraid to ask ask ask and continue asking until you are satisfied. Honing your skeptical skills takes practice, but it is well worth it. Tower Health & Diet Foods 1130 N. Fulton at Olive In the Tower District NewsLink Mad At Maddow? by Brooke Burk - GayVisalia.com ty with the scraps of equality given to us by the bigger majority. Creativity is for art, entertainment, writing and such. It certainly shouldn't have to be what we rely on to feel an equal part of this world. I don't know, maybe I just woke up bitter this morning but I feel a little let down. I would love to hear your thoughts and views on this. You can read the complete article from The Hollywood Reporter, HERE. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/n ews/rachel-maddow-msnbc-243775 Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5:30 Sat 9-5 Sun 11-4 Closed Major Hoildays 23 ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ Disclaimer: Although the author of this syndicated column holds a doctorate in clinical psychology, the tongue-in-cheek advice given is for entertainment only and is not a substitute for therapy. Barbie responds to all emails…whether you deserve it or not. Send your questions to Uncle Barbie at: [email protected] Mind like a steel trap-tongue like a whip! MFC37347 Business Owners... Are you reading this? Hello Sad Paul, It sounds to me like there was not enough room in that relationship for you, your boyfriend, and his enormous ego. What a trip. Of course, since I have a background in psychology, I immediately suspect that he has some kind of a personality disorder. His back and forth, love and hate way of interacting with you is symptomatic of someone with borderline personality disorder. He sure sounds mentally unstable. He could not see you through the thick fog of his own egocentric perspective. This seems like a classic case of what happens when illusions collide. Before meeting, you had your illusions of what he was like, and he had his about you. When the two of you actually stood face-to-face, the glittery images you had of each other chattered in the cold light of reality. Apparently, you were able to accept the reality that he was not the person 1451 W Shaw Ave. Fresno, CA 93711 Ph: (559) 243-1809 Fax: (559) 243-1807 www.CommunityLinkFresno.com Your Intellectual Whore “An effervescently gay advice columnist” Dear Uncle Barbie, I read your advice column all the time and love it. I think you have very good insight into people's problems. I have a rather unusual situation that I am in. I am single and very much interested in finding a romantic partner. I met a guy on the internet and have been corresponding with him for over a year. I admit that I created an illusion of him in my mind, a false image that came crashing down when we finally decided to meet each other. Oh, my God! What a fiasco that was. Let me tell you all about it. I drove out to see him, and stayed a few days at his place. First of all, he was still infatuated with his exboyfriend. He talked about him constantly. He showed me all the places around town that he and his ex would go. He even compared my looks to that of him ex. I was so nervous that I could not perform when we went to bed. I felt like his ex was right there with us. One other thing that really bugged me was that he constantly talked about himself. He was so narcissistic. He would not shut up. He kept saying how he is so spiritually enlightened and how he meditates and does yoga. He went on and on about his art work, how great he thinks it is, how he thinks he is going to go far with is artistic career, etc. What a bag of wind. He could tell that I was turned off by his attitude. And, at one point, he even asked me what was bothering me. I told him that I did not feel com- you thought he was, and you left. You were able to adjust. He could not. It is that specific characteristic that makes him so dysfunctional-he cannot adjust to reality. You are not his ex, and you never will be no matter how much he wants you to be. He really needs to let go of the past, and get a grip on the present. My advice to you is to look forward and not look back. Do not take his calls, emails, letters, or whatever other desperate attempt at communication he may try. I would not put it past him to try carving a love poem into your front door with a knife. (Don't smirk; I have worked with people with borderline personality disorder who have engaged in such behavior.) I suggest you be future orientated. Focus on what type of relationships you want in the future and move towards that goal. Leave the war stories behind you. Love and Garlic, Uncle Barbie Happy Halloween ... so it does work! Gina Keller PsyD, LMFT Licensed Marriage Family Therapist Psychotherapy for all ages For advertising information call (559) 486-3464 or email us at [email protected] H E A D QU A R TE R S NOW FEATURING Alternative hair coloring, Cosmetics, Wigs Cynthia Stevens - proprietor/stylist 1236 N. Wishon Fresno, CA 93728 559-498-8430 NewsLink ∏ WHEN ILLUSIONS COLLIDE fortable with him, and he totally blow up. Oh, my God! His personality totally changed. He got mad and ranted and raved. I thought I was dealing with a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Well, I ended up cutting the visit short because I was just too weirded-out by him. Then, days later, he kept calling me at weird o'clock at night. He wanted to talk like we did before we met. He tried acting like everything was fine and that nothing happened. And, he still compares me to his ex. He still has the illusion that I am somehow a physical manifestation of his ex. I, at least, let go of my illusions about him. What's his problem? Signed, Paul 25 Libra ∏ www.CommunityLinkFresno.com HOROSCOPES by Eric Biglione (Sep 23 - Oct 22) Aries (Mar 21 - Apr 19) Mars trines your sign gives you the ability to sell yourself and trust your abilities. It's a time of social interaction and learning. Networking can bring opportunity or even a raise in income. Your social skills are at a high point; will take you beyond your expectation. You are in demand now. Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21) Taurus (Apr 20 - May 20) Others are getting on your nerves but your optimism smooths out these ruffles. This makes you attractive for romance. Good time to reflect on your life. A lot of demands are put on you and you feel it. You can be charming about this as others will take notice. November ease up and the pace is more to your liking. Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21) Gemini (May 21 - June 20) Good social life and some romance. Your taking things a little lightheartedly turns into a job in November. Take others’ feelings serious so the transition will go more smoothly. Old relationships come to mind as you engage in new ones. You expand your social network and bring new people into your life. You are ready for a change in your life but are not sure what to do about it now. (Dec 22 - Jan 19) Strong need to nurture others. What you think is the right way to do things is not what others think should be done. Compromise and life will go smoother. The hardships of last month are easing up now. You are not out of the woods yet so no long term plans under the aspects. November brings an ease in dealing with problems and you forge ahead. Check health now. Aquarius Leo (Jan 20 - Feb 18) (July 23 - Aug 22) Wow Leo you do have the charm now to draw others to you. You can accomplish a lot now with Mars in your sign. You feel good about yourself and what you have done. Shine on. Continued opposition to your plans frustrate you. November brings some relief if you can see the humor in it all. Very dry. Listen to the optimists. Pisces Virgo (Feb 19 - Mar 20) (Aug 23 - Sep 22) Time to finish up old projects and make decisions for the future. Busy time of the year for you in a way you will enjoy. Mars in November brings a burst of energy for you to make decisions. She has had a career that has spanned almost five decades and she looks as amazing today as she did when she first began performing with her first husband, Sonny Bono. Now Bluewater Comics has got her in their latest issue of “Female Force.” “Female Force: Cher” is the new biography comic book is due out in December 2011 and it shares how the woman born Cherilyn Sarkisian came to be known by one name Cher! “We have been creating the biographies of the famous in a sequential art form for almost two years and it was only a matter of time before we got to this icon,” said Darren G. Davis, publisher of Bluewater Comics. “Her life has been marked failures and successes, but she still stands boldly for herself and for her friends and we had to tell her story.” “Female Force: Cher” turns back time and tells how this platinum selling singer became an award winning actress and a performer for the ages. Writer Marc Shapiro said Cher's Capricorn Cancer (June 21 - July 22) Cher To Get Her Own Comic Book In December Income can be unsettling for now, with more frustration for the holidays. Your intuition though is appealing to others. Don't overreact but be your alluring self. A bit self centered but this is OK for now. Do you know a GLBT-friendly spot where we could distribute NewsLink? Let us know! Call (559) 486-3464 with your contact information! WEEKLY GLBT & FRIENDLY EVENTS IN FRESNO * Mondays 10pm: Unzipped, 18+ GLBT night @ Aldo's, 617 W. Belmont Ave, facebook.com/purefresno, (559) 473-9362 * Mondays 10pm: Pure, 18+ GLBT night @ Karma Lounge, 2039 Kern St., www.facebook.com/pages/Karma-restaurant-lounge/13565237429 * Tuesdays 6:30pm - Clogging Classes @ The Dance Studio of Fresno, 7491 N. Palm Bluff Ave., cagroundpounders.com, Barry (559) 259-9904 * Tuesdays, various times - Rated R Superstars GLBT+ softball team @ the Fresno Regional Sports Complex, 1707 W. Jensen Ave. www.sportsstandings.com/SelectSchedule.aspx?leagueId=1168 * Wednesdays 6:30pm: United Student Pride @ CSUFresno, meets in USU 311, listserv.csufresno.edu/archives/usp.html * Wednesdays 10pm: Xcape Wednesdays @ Laughing Buddha, 737 E. Olive Ave. (21+) * Wednesdays & Thursdays 8:30am-11am, 1pm-3:30pm: Confidential HIV testing; Wednesdays 8:30am-11am: Anonymous HIV testing @ Fresno Co. Dept. of Community Health, 1221 Fulton Mall,1st floor specialty clinic,559-445-3434 * Thursdays 7:15pm Community Link's Rainbow Bowling League @Cedar Lanes, 3131 N Cedar Ave., (559) 824-1417 communitylinkfresno.com * Fridays 7p - 8:30p: LGBTQI Youth Alliance @ Big Red Church, 2131 N. Van Ness Ave, www.communitylinkfresno.com * Fridays, various times - Fresno Skittles GLBT+ softball team @ the Fresno Regional Sports Complex, 1707 W. Jensen Ave. www.sportsstandings.com/SelectSchedule.aspx?leagueId=1168 * Sundays, 9am-2pm - Women's Flag Football @ Clinton & Brawley Park, www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1570299583 * Sundays 7:30pm - Fresbians coffee meet up at Revue Cafe, 620 E Olive Ave, facebook.com/fresbians * TBA: Diversity - Fresno City College GLBT group @ SO-208, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fresno-City-College-DiversityClub/184646471583389 * GayCentralValley office / Fresno LGBT Community Center open Wed Sat 12-5pm @1055 N. Van Ness Ave, suite A, (559) 325-4429, gaycentralvalley.org o sn ng Counseling Associates e Fr vi w r se life and career “reads like a comic book.” “The clothes, the times, the attitudes of the decades she's lived through. The different styles of music she's been involved in. So much of what Cher has experienced is so flamboyant, over the top and just plain out there,” said Shapiro. “She has been very much the real life equivalent of a superhero, and writing about Cher, to a large degree, has been just about letting my imagination go." The 32-page comic features the art by Zach Bassett and the inks of Warren Montgomery as well as a cover by provided by DC Comics Joe Philips. The “Female Force” comic series offers a broad examination of strong and influential women who are shaping modern history and culture. In past issues, the monthly series has featured, Madonna, Britney Spears, JK Rowling, Ellen Degeneres, Selena Gomez, Sarah Palin and others. For more information on "Female Force: Cher" and other comics from Bluewater Productions, go to our comics section or check them out in your local comic book shop, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com. No Cynthia Callaghan LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER ∏ NewsLink 3204 N. Van Ness Blvd 559-222-ROSE Fax 559-222-7693 26 ALL BREED PET SITTING Quality Pet Care in Your Home Caring For Your Pets Since 1988 Pet Care • Feeding • Exercising • Medication Gail Gaston Bus. 275-5092 Res. 325-0540 Home Care • Plant Care • Mail Pick-up • Light Changes Bonded Insured 3134 Willow, Suite # 103 Clovis, CA 93612 Cell: 559/930-9327 E-mail: [email protected] Family Pride Coalition PO Box 65327 Washington, DC 20035-5327 202-331-5015 familypride.org ∏ Freedom To Marry Coalition 116 West 23rd St, Suite 500 New York, NY 10011 212-851-8418 freedomtomarry.org Gender Public Advocacy Coalition 1743 Connecticut Ave NW, 4th Fl. Washington, DC 20009-1108 202-462-6610 gpac.org Human Rights Campaign 1640 Rhode Island Avenue NW Washington DC 20036-3278 800-777-4723 TTY: 202-216-1572 hrc.org Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network 90 Broad St, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10004 212-727-0135 glsen.org Immigration Equality 350 West 31st Street, Suite 505 New York, NY 10001 212-714-2904 immigrationequality.org Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation 5455 Wilshire Blvd, #1500 Los Angeles, CA 90036 323-933-2240 glaad.org Int'l Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission 80 Maiden Lane, Suite 1505 New York, NY 10038 212-268-8040 iglhrc.org Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund & Leadership Institute PO Box 96308 Washington, DC 20077-7529 202-VICTORY victoryfund.org Lambda Legal 120 Wall Street, Suite 1500 New York, NY 10005-3904 212-809-8585 lambdalegal.org Log Cabin Republicans 1901 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, #902 Washington, DC 20006 202-347-5306 logcabin.org National Center For Transgender Equality 1325 Massachusetts Av NW # 700 Washington, DC 20005 202-903-0112 nctequality.org National Coalition For Lesbian Rights 870 Market St San Francisco, CA 94102 415-392-6257 nclrights.org Servicemembers Legal Defense Network PO Box 65301 Washington DC 20035-5301 202-328-3244 sldn.org DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Community United Against Violence (San Francisco) 24 Hr. Hotline: (415) 333-HELP The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center STOP Domestic Violence: 1-800-373-2227 The Network / La Red (Boston) Ending abuse in lesbian, bisexual women's and TG communities 617-742-4911; TTY 617-227-4911 National Gay & Lesbian Task Force 8704 Santa Monica Blvd #200 Los Angeles, CA 90069 310-855-7380 thetaskforce.org National Domestic Violence Hotline (not GLBT-specific) 800-799-7233; TTY 800-787-3224 National Stonewall Democrats 1325 Massachusetts Av NW # 700 Washington, DC 20005 202-625-1382 stonewalldemocrats.org www.CommunityLinkFresno.com Gay, Lesbian Bisexual & Transgender Resource - National, Sate, & Local ∏ Rape, Abuse, Incest, National Network 1-800-656-HOPE Trevor Helpline (GLBT youth sui cide prevention) 1-800-850-8078 Fresno Area Resources ARTEMIS Recovery Club CALIFORNIA RUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE Proyecto Poderoso 1-800-242-2752 artemisrecoveryclub.com 2115 Kern St., Suite 370, Fresno, CA 93721 GayCentralValley Fresno LGBT Community Center 1055 N Van Ness Ave. Suite C, Fresno, CA 93728 559-325-4GAY Wed. - Sat. 12pm - 5pm www.GayCentralValley.org Community Link Where we just don’t tolerate diversity... We celebrate it! P.O. Box 4959, Fresno, CA 93744 (559) 266-LINK [email protected] www.communitylinkfresno.com Imperial Dove Court Diversity Club at F.C.C. Meetings: Fridays 2-4pm SO-208 I Camping Women For women who love the outdoors… call 891-7725 http://www.campingwomen.org Fresno Reel Pride Central Valley Alliance of Atheists and Skeptics WE DON’T BURN HERETICS WE WELCOME THEM! www.cvaas.org The Central Valley Annual GLBT Film Festival 559-268-2780 www.ReelPride.com [email protected] “You’ll just never know what they’ll say next!” You’ll have to tune in to find out! KIDS LIKE US IT'S A QUEER THANG P.O. Box 5561 Fresno CA 93755 Fraternal order raising funds for groups who need help NOW Paris: 559-355-6163 P.O. Box 4642, Fresno, Ca. 93744 559-916-9299 www.idcfresno.org P.O. Box 27382, Fresno, CA 93729-7382 (559) 434-6540 You are Welcome! 2:00 P.M. 2nd Sun Wesley United Methodist Church, 1343 E. Barstow, Fresno STRAIGHT ADVOCATES FOR EQUALITY Outreach Education Support www.safefresno.com ∏ meetings: first Fridays 7pm first Saturdays 5pm Gay parenting group KFCF 88.1FM 3rd Friday of the month at 5-6pm Robin (559) 287-9670 Your Gay Hosts: Jeff & Kirk [email protected] Professional Men’s Mixer 1st & 3rd Fridays at 6pm [email protected] http://www.facebook.com/gro up.php?gid=107149747915 PROJECT: MALE FIGHTING AIDS IN FRESNO COUNTY 1584 N. Van Ness Ave. Fresno,CA 93728 (559) 287-7666 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/project-male Date TBA Join the Listserv at www.trans-e-motion.org @ Women’s Resource Center Community Link’s RAINBOW BOWLING Thursdays 7:15pm starting 9/22 Cedar Lanes, 3131 N Cedar communitylinkfresno.com Every Friday @ 7:00 - 8:30pm @ 2131 N. Van Ness Blvd @ The Big red Church 486-3464 w w w.StrideWithPrideForKids.com (559) 285-2333 www.wecarefresno.org Frinedly Outdoor fun Games are open to all Meet new people! No formalities! Weekly Thurs. Games. Season: March-Oct. Info at 486-3464 19 years of Outrageous Fun United Student Pride @ C S U Fresno Meetings: Wednesdays 12-2pm Queer Volleyball The Fresno GLBTQ Youth Alliance csufresno.edu/StudentOrgs/LGBSA/ (559) 646-5806 QVB 611 E. Belmont Fresno, CA 93701 559-237-3420 NewsLink Social group for bears, cubs & fans GoldenStateBears.org 27 ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏