Issue XII, Vol XXV, No. 300 | August 2020
News and happenings for, by, about and affecting the LGBT Valley.
Project of Community Link, Inc: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Service Organization.
EST. September 1995
Community Link Projects
GRAY ALLIANCE NEWS AUGUST 2020
John Richardson
Gray Alliance is a group for LGBT seniors, and we get together twice a month for social functions. The second Wednesday of the month at 6 pm we meet at different restaurants.
Due to the serious nature of the COVID-19 virus, all Gray Alliance events are canceled until further notice. Our age group is especially vulnerable.
We have a potluck the final Sunday of the month at the First Congregational Church Fireside Room from 2-4 pm. It’s located at the south end of the church at 2131 N Van Ness Blvd in Fresno. Please note that although we are using a church facility, Gray Alliance has no religious affiliation. We will not be meeting Sunday, August 30, 2020.
If you have any questions, please call John Richardson at 559-260-1565. Hope to see you soon!
YOUTH ALLIANCE NEWS AUGUST 2020
David McGee
Super hot weather has hit the Central Valley! This would be typical for mid-August, but tropical weather systems in the Pacific Ocean are also sending us humidity to go along with our triple digit weather! That’s not nice! And to make matters worse, the state’s electricity operator, the California Independent System Operator, has declared an emergency and may be initiating rotating power outages to maintain stability of the electric grid! Fun, right?
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Central Valley schools are starting up on Monday, August 17. Luckily, school districts in the valley are utilizing online education programs for now. Schools in the southern United States that started up with classroom education have demonstrated the COVID-19 chaos that ensues when students and teachers are contained in crowded classrooms and hallways. MSNBC reported that a 15-year old Georgia teenager was disciplined for complaining that school administrators had used students as “guinea pigs” in a video she posted on the Internet that showed students walking through crowded hallways without masks.
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The members of our LGBTQ Youth Alliance are “in the wind.” Our group has always be run with a sense of anonymity—Youth come to the group, offer a first name (which is sometimes a false name or even a “stage name”), their age and orientation, and provide no other identifying information. We have never asked them for their full names, addresses, or phone numbers. So now that we are on hiatus, our only outreach is through our Facebook page, where we leave short messages and post historic information. And most of them have told us that Facebook is for old people—The youth connect on Instagram and other Internet chat rooms.
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The Youth Alliance leadership, with our Grand Poobah, Jeffery Robinson, at the helm, have talked about using videoconferencing media, such as Zoom, to create a virtual youth group. We are hoping to start it up in the next month or so. We are working on learning the Zoom platform (yep, old dogs hope to learn new tricks) and talking about putting together a flyer or press release that the schools can post in their school newspapers or electronic media pages. Until we can meet again, whether by videoconferencing or in person, we hope our LGBTQ Youth Alliance members will continue to use masks, wash their hands, and exercise social distancing so that they remain safe. We want all of our youth to come back to our weekly meetings, healthy and alive! We look forward to the Friday night when we can once again meet!
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The LGBTQ Youth Alliance has traditionally met on Friday evenings, at 7 PM, in the Fireside Room of the Big Red Church, located at 2131 N. Van Ness, in Fresno. Our goal is to restart our weekly face-to-face meetings someday! Until that time, we will work on the goal of videoconferencing. We will continue to post occasionally on Facebook so that folks know we haven’t gone away! We look forward to the day we can once again meet face-to-face
Local
THE SOURCE LGBT+ CENTER GALA FUNDRAISER
‘Escape to Oz’ online event
The Source LGBT+ Center*, serving Tulare and Kings County, will hold an online fundraising gala on October 17, 2020, 6 to 8 pm. Themed “Escape to Oz”, guests of the gala will be emailed a link for the live “secret” broadcast, and the event will be available to the public the next day on Facebook, at The Source’s page https://www.facebook.com/thesourcelgbt/.
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Event details at https://www.facebook.com/events/308754940271634/
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Follow the yellow brick road for an evening to somewhere fantastic. What better way to celebrate and thank you for your support and fundraising than to throw THE BEST VIRTUAL FRIENDS OF DOROTHY HALLOWEEN PARTY EVER?
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Enjoy catered food, drinks, music, prizes, surprise celebrities, live entertainment, auctions, Halloween contests, AND Oz-themed escape room puzzles all from the comfort of your own home!
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Join us by registering now to fundraise as an individual or as part of a team! Reach a minimum of $125 per person and you're off to see the Wizard at our Gayla! Keep fundraising to earn even more amazing prizes and other "little pretties!" Sign up by clicking here (https://secure.givelively.org/donate/the-source-lgbt-center/escape-to-oz-our-first-annual-halloween-gala).
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No Good Deed Goes Unrewarded!
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Everyone who fundraises $125 or more will glam it up at our Gayla, but we're not going to stop there. Teams and individuals who fundraise more earn fabulous prizes: "T-Shirts, and Jackets, and Hoodies... Oh my! "
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It will be an event to remember. A night to support, commemorate and celebrate with your local LGBT+ Center. Your participation supports our core programs such as HIV services and prevention, transgender services, and our Youth Leadership Academy. We are looking at reduced grant funding and event revenue in 2021, so part of our solution is you attending the gala.
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Nick Vargas, co-founder and Director of Development says, “I helped start and now work for The Source LGBT+ Center. It's the most rewarding job I've ever had, and I've seen lives saved and situations improved. LGBT+ friendly policies have been adopted in institutions where I never thought they would be. Please help me continue the work of The Source by participating in "Escape to Oz" on October 17, 2020. My team the Lollipop Guild has a goal of $2,000 to help fund HIV services, transgender services, suicide prevention, and youth services. Your investment in this fundraiser is an investment in me and my community.”
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For further information, see the following links:
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https://www.thesourcelgbt.org/gala
https://www.facebook.com/thesourcelgbt/
The Fresno Spectrum Center is now accepting applications for our “Assistance Towards Success” program.
The Stonewall Community Foundation recently granted funds to the center to assist all LGBTQ community members who identify as female.
There are many forms of assistance readily available.
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The goal of funding is to assist in someway towards reaching their goals for success in school or work for example.
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For more details and applications feel free to contact the center via
Phone:
559-319-8471
Email:
HEY THERE Moms, Dads, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles!
The Fresno Spectrum Center has a new campaign for Spectrum Story Hour to help youth with encouraging and maintaining a love of learning and literacy.
Our Hostess, Isis De Luna reads books that are about Love, Acceptance, Inclusivity, Self-Confidence, Self-esteem, and Culture.
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Story Hour Mail is a campaign for the youth to write in to Isis De Luna and they can write of any subject;
A book they like, a book read to them, a nice deed done, school likes, being helpful, etc.
If Isis De Luna chooses their letter and reads it on the air, the writer wins a $25 Gift Card to Barns & Noble and a small gift.
Letters may be sent via
Mail:
PO BOX 5378 Fresno, CA. 93755
Email:
YOU CAN HELP ENSURE A FAIR ELECTION THIS NOVEMBER
The Missions and Social Justice Team recently discussed concerns about voter suppression and the failure of the U.S. Senate to restore the Voting Rights Act.
The team agreed to publicize ways that citizens can take action on these important matters.
The Poor People’s Campaign – A National Call for Moral Revival is acting to pressure the Senate to pass a new Voting Rights Act. Information is available at poorpeoplescampaign.org.
Regarding voter suppression, many people fear voting by mail will be jeopardized by recent slow downs at the U.S. Postal Service. Concerns about this can be directed to:
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• U.S. Postal Service
Office of Consumer Advocate
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW Room 4131
Washington D.C. 20260-5601
Phone: 202-268-2000
email: XSDHM0@usps.gov
• U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General
Toll free hotline: 1-888-877-7644
Email: hotline@uspsoig.gov
Fax: 1-866-756-6741
Mail: 1735 N. Lynn St., Arlington, VA 22209-2020
Online: https://www.uspsoig.gov/hotline
• U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors, Michael Elston, Secretary of the Board
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW
Washington DC 20260-1000
National
BLACK TRANS WOMAN STABBED TO DEATH AT A VIGIL AT A VIGIL FOR ANOTHER VICTIM
Aja Raquell Rhone-Spears was stabbed to death at a vigil for a murder victim.
Alex Bollinger
Reposted from LGBTQNation.com
A Black, transgender woman was murdered in Oregon as she attended a vigil for a man who had been killed several days earlier.
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Aja Raquell Rhone-Spears, 33, was one of 20 to 30 people who attended a vigil in Portland on July 28 for murder victim Tyrell Penney. The vigil was held at a private residence.
continue reading at LGBTQNation.com
ARIZONA COUNTY ENDS ANTI-GAY & LESBIAN ADOPTION RULE TO SAVE MONEY
“Gay marriage, that's old news," the new county attorney said. "If a gay couple wants to adopt under this, they can.”
Alex Bollinger
Reposted from LGBTQNation.com
A five-year-old rule put in place in Arizona to make it harder for same-sex couples to adopt has just been been overturned by the new county attorney.
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In 2015, just after a court legalized marriage equality in Arizona, former Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery tried to block same-sex couples from getting free adoption legal services, which his office offers to opposite-sex couples.
continue reading at LGBTQNation.com
REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER KAMALA HARRIS IS "LEGALLY BLACK"
David McGee
Republicans have been scrambling to find a line of attack against Senator Kamala Harris, whom former Vice President Joe Biden named as his running mate for the November, 2020 election. They say she isn’t African American because her father is Jamaican and her mother is Indian. Of course, her father is a Black Jamaican, and his ancestors were brought to Jamaica as slaves, just as African American ancestors were brought to the US as slaves. In response to comments that she is not Black, Harris has stated, “Look, this is the same thing they did to Barack (Obama). They’re trying to sow division and hate among us.”
Source: lgbtqnation.com
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A 57-YEAR-OLD MAN'S 90-YEAR-OLD FATHER JUST DISOWNED HIM FOR BEING GAY
David McGee
Jake McPherson thought he was out to his parents. He said he came out to his mother twenty years ago, whom he assumed had told his father. But when his father set up a Facebook account earlier this year and read McPherson’s page, he called up his son and disowned him. His father told him he was not to make further contact with his parents. McPherson recounts how his parents’ fundamental religion is what forced him into the closet many years ago and led to his alcoholism. McPherson states that despite his father’s request that he have no contact with them, he is at peace with himself.
Source: lgbtqnation.com
ANOTHER ANTI-LGBTQ BAKERY STORY
David McGee
A member of a right-wing Catholic organization recently ordered a cake with an antigay message from a well-known lesbian-owned bakery, in Detroit, Michigan. David Gordon, a follower of Church Militant, used the online order form to commission and pay for a red velvet cake for $40 and a $10 tip from Good Cakes and Bakes. He included an antigay message that was to be printed on the cake. Owner and baker April Anderson, who operates the bakery with her wife, Michelle, was shocked by the order but made the cake anyway out of concern with a lawsuit. She refused to include the antigay message.
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Gordon called to confirm the cake order and was told when it would be ready. Ultimately, he never showed up to pick up the cake and it was tossed a few days later. Gordon later told a local newspaper, the Free Press, that his religious beliefs were violated when
Anderson refused to include his antigay message.
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Ever since the Supreme Court’s 2018 decision to allow a Colorado bakery the right to refuse to bake a cake for a gay couple’s wedding, bakeries have become a focal point for LGBTQ discrimination. American Civil Liberties Union attorney Jay Kaplan told the Detroit paper that in the present situation, Anderson was within her rights to refuse to put offensive wording on the cake.
Source: advocate.com
WARHOL EXHIBIT EXPLORES ROLES OF GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN HIS LIFE AND ART
David McGee
An Andy Warhol retrospective at London’s Tate Modern Museum aims to distinguish Warhol the person from the façade of Warhol the icon. The retrospective features more than 100 pieces and will explore the influences of gender expression and sexuality in both his life and art. According to assistant curator, Fiontan Moran, Warhol has been associated with his carefree constructed persona or his association with celebrity and fame, but “the real human being who created art gets lost a little bit.” Blake Gopnik, a biographer who recently released a book on Warhol, stated that “anyone with half a brain realized that Warhol was gay, but he didn’t actually
come out until the 1970’s and ‘80’s, and even then it was only said in a somewhat joking way.” Warhol’s art will be on display in London until November 15, 2020, after which it will travel to Cologne, Germany, and to Toronto, Canada.
Source: nbcnews.com
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ALASKA TOWN PASSES LGBTQ PROTECTIONS AFTER LOCAL BUSINESS REFUSES TO SERVE GAYS
The city council's vote was unanimous. Hate has no home in Ketchikan.
Bil Browning
Reposted from LGBTQNation.com
Ketchikan, Alaska has the world’s largest collection of standing Native American totem poles and numerous bald eagles. It’s the small town’s claim to fame.
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Located on the state’s southern coast, the state’s first city has a thriving tourism industry and locals know that discrimination is bad for business. So when a local florist reportedly refused to provide flowers for same-sex couples, residents quickly reacted.
continue reading at LGBTQNation.com
International
LAWMAKERS DRESS IN RAINBOW COLORS IN SILENT PROTEST AT POLISH PRESIDENT'S INAUGURATION
Andrzej Duda is one of the most viciously anti-LGBTQ world leaders currently in power.
Bil Browning
Reposted from LGBTQNation.com
Polish lawmakers protested President Andrzej Duda’s inauguration by wearing rainbow-colored outfits and arranging themselves to form the pride flag during the ceremony. They also wore rainbow-colored masks.
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Duda won reelection by demonizing LGBTQ people and campaigning against adoption and marriage rights. The phrase “LGBT are not people, they are an ideology” was a campaign staple.
continue reading at LGBTQNation.com
BRITISH GOVERNOR WILL FORCE CAYMAN ISLANDS TO RECOGNIZE SAME-SEX COUPLES
Rebel legislators have refused to follow court orders to provide recognition to same-sex couples and now the United Kingdom is stepping in to enforce the constitution.
Bil Browning
Reposted from LGBTQNation.com
British Governor of the Cayman Islands Martyn Roper has announced he will push through recognition for same-sex relationships after rebel legislators blocked passage of a domestic partnership bill. The battle over marriage equality in the British Overseas Territory has been particularly fierce.
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While a lower court ruled in favor of a lesbian couple who wanted to get married, the Court of Appeals overturned the ruling and ordered legislators to find a way to provide recognition for same-sex couples. In a vote held last week, the Assembly voted down the bill.
continue reading at LGBTQNation.com
COMPANY GIVES TRANSGENDER PEOPLE 10 DAYS OF "PERIOD LEAVE" TO MENSTRUATE
Instead of working with "terrible cramps," cis women and trans men are now encouraged to take some time off.
Alex Bollinger
Reposted from LGBTQNation.com
The founder of a large company in India announced the employer’s new policy of giving people who menstruate 10 days of “period leave” every year, and the policy is trans-inclusive.
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Deepinder Goyal, the co-founder of the food delivery service Zomato, wrote in a blog post on Saturday that the policy would give ten days of leave that employees can use if the effects of menstruation – like cramps – render them unable to work.
continue reading at LGBTQNation.com
Enlighten Me
YOU DON'T HAVE THE FUTURE, ONLY THE PRESENT
Mark Lang
My guess is you work hard, don’t you? I’m curious though… what kind of thoughts go through your mind when you are working so diligently?
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For me, two thoughts guide my sense of work ethic: the first is I pretend that whatever I am doing is the most important task in the whole world; the second is I realize that whatever I am doing doesn’t matter in the long run.
Does that sound like contradictory thoughts? Well, maybe at first. However, what if we dig a little deeper to discover what lies beneath the surface of those two thoughts. The confusion comes in our perspective of time. It’s not an issue of what matters; it’s an issue of when it matters.
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Perhaps an example would help. A while back, I was helping some friends do some yard work. I looked at the property and noticed all the chores, repairs, half-finished projects, and piles of this-and-that. These outdoor projects had been building up for years, and it was about time things got done.
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My friends and I all labored many hours. It was heavy work which involved shoveling piles of dirt, moving lumber, lifting large stones, and other materials. When the sun had set, the others went inside the house. However, I continued to work until the dim, twilight sky was too dark to see what I was doing.
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Washing my hands at the kitchen sink, one of my friends asked me why I worked so hard. Picking up a dish towel to dry my hands, I told him about those two work-related thoughts described earlier. The two are not conflicting thoughts if viewed from a timeline perspective. Accomplishments are important in the here-and-now timeline. However, those same accomplishments are not going to matter in the eternal timeline.
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That is why it is so important to live and work in the present moment—that’s all we have. Everything we build will eventually be torn down. Whatever we design, paint, write, or create will eventually come to an end. What matters right now is working together and building friendships.
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I went on to tell him that the work we did that day only mattered in the short-term. It will not matter a thousand years from now—neither will I. Eventually, I will die, and all the people who ever knew me will also die. Then the memory of me will be forgotten as well.
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In a similar vein, the entire planet upon which we all live (and take for granted I might add) will die. Do we think anyone will remember us billions of years from now when our sun no longer gives light? There won’t be people left to remember anyone, and the entire human race will be forgotten!
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All life comes to an end eventually. That is the way of things. That is the way it is meant to be. Call it the law of nature if you will. The human body was not physically designed to regenerate cells indefinitely. Some say death is sad and depressing. But really, that is just the egotistical voice of human arrogance which thinks people should live forever. It’s just a scientific fact that everything eventually decomposes and changes into something else. It is neither good nor bad. It just is.
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Something to meditate on today.You matter and are valuable in the here-and-now. Once you appreciate yourself, you can value the other people in your current life. Give the people you care about a hug today. Don’t wait until tomorrow. You cannot guarantee you will have the opportunity to show your appreciation in the future because the future never arrives. It is always the current moment. When that long-awaited future date comes, it is not the future anymore; it is the present. You have no guaranteed future. (No one does.) That is why it is so important to act as though whatever you’re doing now is the most important thing in the world—at least temporarily.
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New Wellness
MIDNIGHT RIDE
Ron Blake
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As an elected official, I was invited on a police officer ride-along in Hobart, Indiana to learn more about the department. The graveyard shift was beginning. All was quiet. That peacefulness wouldn’t last for long.
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The Corporal assigned to have me tag along made a convenience store stop to get necessary supplies for the overnight adventure. We met up with several other guys in blue who had the same idea.
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A call came across the radio. A burglary in process at a car dealership. Completely in the opposite section of the city. The east side units were busy with another call. The Bat Signal was ours to answer.
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The officers ran to their cruisers. So it began. The Corporal had two words for me as I hopped in: buckle up. There should have been a warning sign on his door that said you have to be this tall to enter. This wasn’t going to be like riding on the cute little Teacups at Disneyland.
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The first portion of our escapade en route to the burgled business was a two mile stretch of roadway leading into the central part of the city. That’s a drag strip for a lead-footed flatfoot in an eight-cylinder Crown Victoria with minimal nocturnal traffic.
We accelerated until everything along the sides of the avenue became a disoriented blur. It felt as if Han Solo and Chewbacca just switched the Millennium Falcon over to light speed.
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When I last spied the speedometer, it was hovering around the century mark. My eyes darted back up to the view ahead. We were almost at the end. The vehicle was fast approaching a T in the road.
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The Corporal negotiated the transition to the perpendicular road. Courtesy of two tires. When all four Firestones gripped the road again; the car jerked back and forth before straightening.
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The spilled giant raspberry Slurpee was the least of my concerns. I was going to puke from motion sickness. The ride kept going though. Faster now if that was even possible. Apparently it was.
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Our meandering journey had us negotiating the narrow streets of historic downtown Hobart with lights flashing before spitting us out onto the other side of town intact. We arrived at the crime scene. Reports said the languishing lawbreakers were somewhere in that massive lot of new cars. Hiding.
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A Sergeant arrived and briefed the officers. He gave me a pair of gloves and told me to stay right next to the Corporal. Whatever you do he explained; don’t leave his side.
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So what happens? I get separated from my partner. It was dark. It was cold. There are three criminals out there. And I’m the only one with no gun or radio. Great; I thought. At least I have nice gloves.
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Of course it gets worse. I’m wandering aimlessly like a zombie around that huge spooky lot until…I trip over something. A toolbox. I spring back up and see backpacks too. And an open car door. I’ve stumbled into their villainous lair. Alone. I’m frozen. Not sure if I should yell out for help.
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I didn’t know if they were hiding in this Mustang ready to pounce on me like a pride of agitated lions. That’s when I heard it. A shriek pierced the inky dark night. It came from down the street. Shadowy figures moved in that direction. I assumed only the good guys race toward screams. I was correct.
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These bungling bandits ran into the adjacent gas station and were hiding in the bano there. While being led out; one burglar looked at me and laughed. He saw my pants. There was a big wet spot in the groin area. I explained it was the Slurpee. Spilled during the ride. The officers laughed too.
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It really was a spilled drink. Oh well. None of them were going to believe me anyway. When everyone involved can walk away safely. And laugh. Even if it’s about me. That’s a good night. I’m OK with that.
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This story of the good, the bad, and the ugly is brought to you by that guy with a fistful of dollars. That guy who needs no stinking badge is Ron Blake. He can be found around high noon at rblake5551@hotmail.com.
Uncle Barbie
Your Intellectual Whore
"An effervescently gay advice columnist."
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:
askunclebarbie@aol.com
CEREBRAL COUNSEL AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE
Dear Uncle Barbie,
I currently see a therapist to help me with depression and anxiety and just dealing with life. She has good points, such as emphasizing how thought processes can influence emotions, and I’ve had some good sessions with her. But I haven’t come out as a gay man to her because she seems old-fashioned/traditional/unimaginative in some ways. If this impression is correct, what would I be better off doing: getting a more gay-friendly therapist in place of this one—even though they might be weak in some of the places where she is strong—or supplementing the old therapist with a new one?
Signed, Therapeutically Challenged
Hello Therapy Challenge,
I do not think that there is any great need to change your therapist right now. After all, you haven’t even told her, yet, that your sexual orientation is gay. So therefore, you do not know what kind of reaction she will have. Give her the benefit of the doubt. Remember that the American Psychological Association (APA) has rules of ethics that all licensed psychologists are required to follow. Those ethics include showing respect for LGBT clients.
If the therapist is not licensed (and therefore, not under the guidelines of the APA), then they may not follow the same code of ethics. An example of this would be Christian therapy found within a particular church (such as pastoral counseling). Some (not all) of those therapists may be less than accepting of your gayness. The only way to find out for sure what your therapist thinks of your being gay is to ask her. Go ahead and talk to her about your concern on this issue. It sounds like it is going to be a good session! Let me know how it goes.
A Reservoir of Understanding, Barbie
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TRUE LOVE
Dear Barbie,
Is there any definitive way to tell whether your love is true or if you are simply in love with the idea of being in love?
Signed, On the Rebound
Hello Rebound,
Being in love is a very idealistic notion. My personal beliefs are that being in love is something very special, beyond infatuation and lust. When you care about someone, and love him or her, that person's happiness and wellbeing is as important as your own. It is something that takes a long time to build. Think about the love you have for friends and family; that is not something that just happened instantaneously. Ask yourself, “Do I like myself when I’m with my partner?” Your answer will tell you how compatible you are with your that person.
May Your Love Rebound, Barbie
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Horoscopes
ARIES (Mar 21 - Apr 19)
You are in your element for a few months here. Energy, energy, energy. Be careful not to burn yourself out. Try to temper yourself with some logic.
TAURUS (Apr 20 - May 20)
It's time to strut your stuff and get away with it. Enjoy this time. You deserve it. Very stable time for you.
GEMINI (May 21 - June 21)
You need to follow through with your work to the end otherwise you'll be back to redo it. Be above board about everything so it all goes smoothly.
CANCER (June 22 - July 22)
Your patience is going to be put to the test. Try to be analytical and not emotional or your nerves will get fried. You can accomplish a lot here if you put your mind to it.
LEO (July 23 - Aug 22)
You are in your element this period. You handle everything that is thrown at you with ease. Good time to initiate changes in your life. Very popular here.
VIRGO (Aug 23 - Sep 22)
Your life is burning the candles at both ends. Only do the work you can do well and cut back on some of the good times. You need some balance here.
LIBRA (Sep 23 - Oct 22)
You feel you are being blind-sighted by problems that keep cropping up. You have to deal with it. You will need a break afterward so take it.
SCORPIO (Oct 23 - Nov 21)
Steady as she goes and keep your temper in check. All is not what it seems so ride the bumps out for now.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 - Dec 21)
You feel like you can do anything now. Just don't go to fast or you will make some mistakes. Set goals and go for them.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 - Jan 19)
You have a lot on your plate right now. You're threading a needle and keep your eyes on the prize. Very stressful time.
AQUARIUS (Jan 20 - Feb 18)
You are buried in the past. Get out and do something new to stimulate your body and mind. It will get you out of a rut and you will feel better for it.
PISCES (Feb 19 - Mar 20)
Other worldly ideas are clouding your outlook. You need to get grounded so you can move forward. Consult a friend and try to be practical.
Not To Be Missed
Universal Studios
Florida
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Universal Studios Florida has been advertising on television that they are now open for business. Their webpage also reports their opening. Their ads include information about face coverings being required, temperature checks upon arrival, social distancing in the park, and they recommend frequent hand washing. This writer would wait a while until Florida gets its COVID-19 numbers under control, but for those who are dying to visit Universal Studios Florida and Disneyworld, airlines are making flights and hotels are open for business. Universal Studios Hollywood and Disneyland, in Anaheim, California, remain closed until further notice. Universal Walk and Downtown Disney are open for shopping and dining.
Notice: The following events are being presented on event webpages as being open for business. Please check information before attempting to attend the events, as they could be cancelled or postponed at any time.
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Hamilton
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LA
The Broadway play, Hamilton, is playing in Los Angeles, at the RKO Pentages Theatre, located at 6233 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90028. Tickets start in the $80 range, and prices vary depending on the day of the week and the seating available. For tickets, go to hamiltonmusical.com or your favorite ticket seller.
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B-52s
LA
The B-52s have scheduled a concert at the Hollywood Bowl, in Los Angeles, on August 29, 2020, at 8:00 PM. The B-52s are an American new wave band that was formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1976. The band is probably best know for their song, “Love Shack.” Tickets are in the $400 range. The Hollywood Bowl is an outdoor theater, located at 2301 N. Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90068. For tickets, go to hollywoodbowl.com or your favorite tickets seller.
Diana Ross
LA
Diana Ross will perform on September 11, 2020, at 8:00 PM, at the Hollywood Bowl. Ross is an American signer, actor, and producer. Some of her most remembered songs include “My Girl” and “Endless Love.” Tickets are in the $200 range. The Hollywood Bowl is an
outdoor theater, located at 2301 N. Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90068. For tickets, go to hollywoodbowl.com or your favorite ticket seller.
Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin
LA
Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin are scheduled to perform at the Staples Center, in Los Angeles, CA, on September 17, 2020, at 7:30 PM. Tickets for this event start at $100. The Staples Center is located at 1111 S. Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA, 90015. For tickets, go to staplescenter.com.
The Big Fresno Fair
Fresno
Not much is happening in Fresno in August/September, but the Big Fresno Fair is stating at this time that it is planning to open on its usual dates, starting the first week of October. The Fair’s website discusses a drive-through event, including fair events and food. Stay tuned for more details!
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Events
News and happenings for, by, about and affecting the LGBT Valley.
Project of Community Link, Inc: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Service Organization.
EST. September 1995