Queer Visalia - A local gay blog

From Robin McGehee

Visibility & Thoughtful Financial Control
List of businesses and individuals who used your money to treat you unfairly:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/lamoneymap,0,2198220.htmlstory
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-metroprop8,0,2463893.htmlstory
When we do not have a majority, the only way we can answer marginalization is by visibility and thoughtfully controlling where our money is spent.

Sunday, November 16 at 6 PM
Reedley, Pioneer Park
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL Against H8
• WEAR WHITE
• Bring a candle
• Make signs
• Be peaceful

Friday, November 28 – 4:30am-until
BLACK FRIDAY
• Wear BLACK all day long
• Protest with us at busy intersections
• Spend money with all BLACK, show we are
Tax-paying citizens that were treated unfairly

Friday, December 10 – ALL DAY
http://daywithoutagay.org/
• Take a day off and donate your time to service
• Do not spend money

Email: speechadvice@yahoo.com about upcoming events that will help us acquire fairness and civic equality.

If you would like to help volunteer around this movement - please, email: speechadvice@yahoo.com - we will be having an upcoming meeting to discuss future planning - get involved.

Local blogger Andrew Carl has been named QV’s first Senior Blogger.  Senior Bloggers are usually blog contributors who take on special projects or added responsibilty with the site.  Although they are not official officers, they do help us with the management and operation of our local chapters.  Andi is a MySpace guru and will be managing our official QV MySpace.  Andi is a bright, young, up and coming blogger who is fun to work with and full of creative energy.  We’re happy to have him on board in this new role and look forward to his growth and development as a blogger and potential future leader within Queer Visalia.

Our official QV MySpace can be found at http://www.myspace.com/queervisalia

This blog is probably a couple weeks over due but I wanted to take the time to let everyone know some exciting news!  As of Ocotber 2008, Queer Visalia has named a new local chapter president!  Former Vice President Marica Martin has assumed the role of President and will be heading of QV’s local leadership team and the day to day operations of our blog and various social and community events.  Marica Martin has been working with Queer Visalia for over a year now, and as QV’s Vice President was instrumental is planning and organizing last year’s Pride in Park event last May.  When the President’s position became available it was an absolute no-brainer on who I felt could fill the position.  Marica is bright, compassionate, and one of the most dedicated, hard-working people I have ever had the honor or working with.  She is an asset to Queer Visalia and to her local community and I’m very excited about her increased role and added responsibility in the south Valley.  Congratulations Marica!  We are very lucky, and so much better as an organization, to have you in this new role!

By Sontaya Rose- Fresno, CA, USA

Local church leaders came together, with a message for opponents of Proposition 8, the voter approved measure that bans same sex marriage. It comes after threats against churches in Fresno, Los Angeles, and Utah.
Local religious leaders say enough is enough. They called for opponents of Proposition 8 to step back and let the courts rule on the validity of same sex marriages.
A catholic priest, a reverend and a stake leader from the church of latter day saints all stood together, united in the belief churches and members should not be targeted in the fallout over Proposition 8.
Jim Franklin said, “They talk about basic civil rights. Our very foundational one is freedom of religion and freedom of speech. But yet they would try to intimidate that. It just seems pretty hypocritical that they would say they want our rights but we want to intimidate other people from operating in theres.”
Read the entire story here http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=6505057

Here is a link to a searchable database for Prop 8 supporters (individuals and businesses). I would encourage all of our readers to sift through their cities and counties to be aware of who in their communities stood against equality and our community and supported monetarily Prop 8.

http://www.sfgate.com/webdb/prop8/

From Michael Crilly

Well it is official.

Tulare County will be hosting an official World AIDS Day on December 6 (Saturday) from 10 am - 3 pm.
I am personally in charge of this along side the County of Tulare’s Health and Human Services Department.

I however am in need of some assistance and would really like to get gay Visalia on board to help me out with some of the things left to attend to and also projects that I have for that weekend.

I know that much of this is short notice, but it would be greatly appreciated if we can all come together for our community.

Also, I am in need of some people to join me at my home on a Saturday after noon, either the 22nd of November or the 29th of November, to view a video for the County of Tulares Health department. This is in request from them to get some input on a video in regards to the LGBT community and methamphetamine addiction. I will warn you some of the video is graphic. But anyone who can help out with this, Iwould greatly appreciate it.

From the HRC Weekly Update from Joe Solmonese

● WHAT IS THE IMPACT?

Tuesday night was a bitter-sweet celebration. We came together to witness the first black man who will become our president, yet watched in sadness as Florida, Arizona, Arkansas, and California all voted down equal rights for all citizens.

This is not a four-state issue. This is an issue of equality across America. Stand up and make your voice heard! Visit the main www.jointheimpact.com to learn more, or read our mission statement.

● WHERE IS THE PROTEST?

This Saturday, November 15, 2008, Join the Impact in EVERY single state in America. Click your state to learn more http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/page/California

Fresno Fresno City Hall: 2600 Fresno St., Fresno CA (near Amtrak station)http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=33713243669

Porterville Veteran’s Park by Helicopter: Henderson Ave. & Newcomb
Nov. 15th @ 10:30am Jamie Garza Porterville LGBTQ & Tulare County MEUSA
porterville_lgbtq@clearwire.net, http://www.marriageequality.org/

Bakersfield Bakersfield City Hall: 1600 Truxtun Ave., Bakersfield CA More on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=48621856135

Check out this video..gotta love it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdJ4oVnujbA