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Issue X, Vol. XXV, No. 298 | June 2020

Lanterns

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

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Community Link Projects

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GRAY ALLIANCE NEWS APRIL 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, June 28, 2020.

 

If you have any questions, please call John Richardson at 559-260-1565.  Hope to see you soon!

YOUTH ALLIANCE NEWS JUNE 2020

David McGee

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Our world has been through a lot in the past few months as a result of the spread of the deadly corona virus. Nationwide, the virus has caused the closure of businesses and forced social distancing requirements. June is LGBTQ Pride month, but all Pride parades were canceled or postponed by their promoters in order to protect public safety. Locally, Fresno’s Annual Pride Parade and Festival, a favorite event for our LGBTQ youth, was postponed until further notice. Our LGBTQ Youth Alliance group, which normally meets on Friday nights at the

First Congregational Church (Big Red Church), continues to be canceled.

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Fortunately, Big Red Church representatives have been in contact with our Grand Poobah, Jeffery Robinson, reporting that their church council is working to develop a plan that will allow groups to meet once again at their church. Jeffery says that the youth group may have to meet in a bigger meeting space, or limit the number of attendees (which would be sad), and implement social distancing rules, such as increasing the distance between chairs, wearing masks, and refraining from touching. Our youth are used to sitting cheek to cheek, on top of each other, and spreading hugs! But we will abide by whatever rules the church requires in order to start meeting again!

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Summer is upon us, and our LGBTQ youth are going to be looking for things to do! Nationwide, youth have been staying home and attending school through videoconferencing. They are all bored and looking for outlets for their energy! As difficult as it is for cis youth to deal with stay-at-home orders, our LGBTQ youth are even more affected by seclusion since they often face derision and judgement from family members. Let’s hope that the Big Red Church comes up with a plan quickly so that our LGBTQ Youth Alliance can begin to meet again!

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Until we can meet again, 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 meetings once we are given permission to meet! Until that time, 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!

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Local

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Here we are in the middle of June and we are still learning how to live with the Corona virus.   Little by little things are reopening and we are learning how to live in what is the beginning of our “new normal”.   That does not mean that we will be back to doing things as they were, just learning how to live safely. 

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We are living in a turbulent time with civil rights being asserted and social injustices beginning to be changed so that we learn to value others.  We have learned how to stay in touch and still make our voices heard, even though we are not standing next to each other.  This month’s Pride Event was awesome, and while we weren’t watching floats and walking down Olive, voices were still heard.  Great job, well done Pride Committee members. 

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It is with that in mind and the need to take care of each other we announce the following: 

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Dear Fresno AIDS Walk supporters

 

In light of the current pandemic that our world faces and the uncertainty surrounding it, we feel that the only responsible decision for our 9th Annual Fresno AIDS Walk in October is to cancel the in-person component to promote the safety of our community, our friends and our family.  

 

With this said, we hope that you will join us on Saturday, October 24th as we hold our 9th Annual 2k Walk/5k Run virtually! We may be apart for now, but collectively and on our own time, we can still raise awareness of the virus, those who live with it and those that we have lost. Each year, the Fresno AIDS Walk serves as not only Fresno’s longest running annual HIV/AIDS awareness event, but the primary fundraiser for The Living Room. However, with this year having been one unlike any other, we would like to keep the primary focus of this event on spreading awareness.  

 

In the coming weeks, we will be releasing more details through our social media accounts and hope that we can count on your continued support for what will without a doubt, be another memorable year in benefit of a cause that is so dear to our hearts! 

 

Stay safe and stay tuned! 

 

Sincerely, 

The Fresno AIDS Walk Committee 

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Kampout Report

Janet

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I know that many of you are wondering about Kampout this year in the midst of the COVID pandemic. The Kampout Committee has been closely monitoring the situation since our main priority is keeping you

safe and healthy.

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Sadly, we have to announce that. Kampout 2020 has been cancelled.

 

Due to Forest Service orders, campgrounds are closed, and the state and county are restricting gatherings to less than 50 people.

 

We want you all to know that we are ready to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Kampout next year…and we hope to see you all there, happy and healthy

Dear Friends of the Center: 

At our Zoom Board meeting on Saturday last, we decided that we would re-open the Center on Monday, June 15th.  However, we will open for three days only – Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  We’ll be taking precautions to make sure everyone is as safe as possible.  These are:  Staff will wear masks;  people visiting the Center will be required to wear masks also.  Staff will sanitize  counters, chairs, tables, door knobs etc. when they arrive, and again after visitors leave.  Social distancing will be maintained.

 

For organizations that may decide to start meeting at the Center again, we ask that they follow the same precautions (we don’t have a camera so we won’t be checking up on you!).

Let us know if and when you do decide to return to the Center for meetings.

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The Source LGBT+ Center, serving Tulare and Kings County, joins with the Human Rights Campaign and more than 100 other LGBTQ and Civil rights organizations in the following open statement and letter: 

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“The racial violence that has filled our television, computer and phone screens this spring is a stark reminder of how far we still must go to ensure that the promise of America is not dependent on the color of one’s skin,” said Alphonso David, President of the Human Rights Campaign. “When we see injustice, we must speak out as strongly as we can. Otherwise, we are complicit in oppression. And we have seen a lot of injustice lately. From George Floyd, to Ahmaud Arbery, to Breonna Taylor, to Christian Cooper, to Nina Pop. The LGBTQ community is familiar with fighting against systems of power that are set up to serve the privileged few. And we are united to fight the systems that target our black and brown siblings, today and always.” 

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The letter in full reads: 

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“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” Those words, written over 30 years ago by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, remind us that indifference can never bridge the divide of hate. And, today, they should serve as a call to action to all of us, and to the Movement for LGBTQ equality. 

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This spring has been a stark and stinging reminder that racism, and its strategic objective, white supremacy, is as defining a characteristic of the American experience as those ideals upon which we claim to hold our democracy — justice, equality, liberty.  

We listened to the haunting pleas of George Floyd for the most basic of human needs — simply, breath — as a Minneapolis police officer kneeled with cruel indifference on his neck. 

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We felt the pain of Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend as he called 9-1-1 after plainclothes Louisville police kicked down the door of their home and shot her eight times as she slept in her bed. 

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We watched the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery by white vigilantes in Brunswick, GA, aware that they evaded the consequence of their actions until the video surfaced and sparked national outrage. 

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We saw the weaponizing of race by a white woman who pantomimed fear in calling the police on Christian Cooper, a Black gay man bird-watching in Central Park. 

 

We have heard and read about the killings of transgender people -- Black transgender women in particular — with such regularity, it is no exaggeration to describe it as a epidemic of violence. This year alone, we have lost at least 12 members of our community: Dustin Parker, Neulisa Luciano Ruiz, Yampi Méndez Arocho, Monika Diamond, Lexi, Johanna Metzger, Serena Angelique Velázquez Ramos, Layla Pelaez Sánchez, Penélope Díaz Ramírez, Nina Pop, Helle Jae O’Regan, and Tony McDade. 

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All of these incidents are stark reminders of why we must speak out when hate, violence, and systemic racism claim — too often with impunity — Black Lives. 

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The LGBTQ Movement’s work has earned significant victories in expanding the civil rights of LGBTQ people. But what good are civil rights without the freedom to enjoy them? 

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Many of our organizations have made progress in adopting intersectionality as a core value and have committed to be more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. But this moment requires that we go further — that we make explicit commitments to embrace anti-racism and end white supremacy, not as necessary corollaries to our mission, but as integral to the objective of full equality for LGBTQ people. 

We, the undersigned, recognize we cannot remain neutral, nor will awareness substitute for action. The LGBTQ community knows about the work of resisting police brutality and violence. We celebrate June as Pride Month, because it commemorates, in part, our resisting police harassment and brutality at Stonewall in New York City, and earlier in California, when such violence was common and expected. We remember it as a breakthrough moment when we refused to accept humiliation and fear as the price of living fully, freely, and authentically. 

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We understand what it means to rise up and push back against a culture that tells us we are less than, that our lives don't matter. Today, we join together again to say #BlackLivesMatter and commit ourselves to the action those words require. 

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National

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Street Protest

Massive protests nationwide draw thousands to march for Black transgender people

Tens of thousands of people marched nationwide to say #AllBlackLivesMatter #BlackTransLivesMatter
Bil Browning
Reposted from LGBTQNation.com

 

Tens of thousands marched nationwide to protest that racial injustice in solidarity with Black transgender people. Last weekend would normally have been a busy Pride weekend and LGBTQ people and allies showed up in force.

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The marches came shortly after the Trump administration announced it would ax non-discrimination protections in the Affordable Care Act that protected transgender people. The announcement came on the fourth anniversary of the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub that left dozens of LGBTQ people dead.

continue reading at LGBTQNation.com

Trump Administration Will Allow Discrimination Against Transgender Individuals

David McGee
 

In the middle of a global pandemic, during Pride month, and on the anniversary date of the Pulse massacre in Florida, the Trump administration has finalized a rollback of discrimination protections for transgender individuals’ healthcare that were part of the former

President Obama’s Affordable Care Act (ACA). Under the ACA, discrimination based on sex included transgender individuals. The Department of Health and Human Services will only recognize sex discrimination to refer to biological females or males. LGBTQ equality advocates said that the change will allow hospitals to discriminate legally against transgender individuals. The Human Rights Campaign quickly announced it will sue to stop the change.


Source: lgbtqnation.com

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JK Rowling Controversy Over Transgender Issues

David McGee
 

In December, 2019, Harry Potter author, JK Rowling, started a controversy over statements she made on Twitter in support of a researcher who lost her job for stating people cannot change their biological sex. The LGBTQ community has taken Rowling to task over the past few months, referring to her has a TERF (Trans Exclusive Radical Feminist.) Rowling made statements that transgender women are not real women. She has made several attempts to defend her thoughts, including a rambling 3,600 word essay she published recently, which has only stirred the controversy further. GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign have taken her to task. Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson have condemned her anti- transgender tweets. Creative producer Ben O’Keefe recently tweeted, “Thanks for ruining the books of my childhood. Just stop talking.”

Source: msn.com

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Beyonce to LGBTQ Graduates: “Your Queerness is Beautiful”
David McGee
 

As part of the “Dear Class of 2020” livestream on You Tube, a virtual commencement ceremony headlined by Barack and Michelle Obama, Beyonce delivered an uplifting message to new grads: “Never stop being yourself.” As part of her 10-minute speech to graduates, Beyonce said, “If you’re part of a group that’s called ‘other’—a group that does not get the chance to be center stage—build your own stage and make them see you. Your queerness is beautiful, your blackness is beautiful, your compassion, your understanding, your fight for people who may be different from you is beautiful.” The full ceremony, which has been viewed over 8 million times since it aired on Sunday, June 7, 2020, is available for viewing on You Tube.

Source: 
nbcnews.com

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Sesame Street Celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride with Rainbow Muppet Message

David McGee
 

Sesame Street, the iconic PBS children’s show celebrated June’s month-long LGBTQ+ celebration with a message of acceptance posted to its social medial channels on Thursday, June 11, 2020, along with a rainbow display of Muppets holding hands. “On our street, we accept all, we love all, and we respect all. Happy#PrideMonth, it wrote. The message was mostly met with positive responses on Facebook, where it was shared nearly 40,000 times. Others pointed out that the show still lacks LGBTQ+ representation and “this cute post does nothing to address this.”

Source: advocate.com

Skittles gives up its colors to honor the rainbow flag for Pride Month

June is Pride Month and companies will be slapping rainbows on their products. But Skittles is giving up their colors instead.
Alex Bollinger
Reposted from LGBTQNation.com

 

Skittles will be selling limited edition packs of color-less candies for Pride Month in a nod to the rainbow flag, with part of the proceeds going to an LGBTQ organization.

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June is Pride Month, which means that a lot of companies will be slapping rainbows on their products. But Skittles are already rainbow-colored, so they’re giving up their colors instead.

continue reading at LGBTQNation.com
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International

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Top Latin music star Raymix came out as his song hit #1 on the charts.

DJ Raymix talks about coming out, machismo, and the reaction from fans in his first interview with LGBTQ media.

Lucas Villa
Reposted from LGBTQNation.com


Mexican singer and DJ Raymix rocked the Latin music world on June 5 when he came out as gay. As a leading artist in regional Mexican music, his surprise announcement was brave and a notable shake-up to the very heteronormative genre. This news was coming from a guy who broke through with the hit single “Oye Mujer,” Raymix’s ode to a captivating woman in the club.

continue reading at LGBTQNation.com

LGBTQ Ugandans Snared in Raid Released Amid Global Pressure

Matt Tracy
Reposted from GayCityNews

 

Nearly two dozen queer Ugandans whose shelter was raided under the guise of coronavirus regulations have been released from jail after spending almost two months locked up on bogus charges.

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Children of the Sun Foundation (COSF), an LGBTQ organization in Uganda that operated the raided shelter in the nation’s capital of Kampala, announced on May 18 that a court ordered the release of 19 homeless LGBTQ individuals, including LGBTQ youth, after prosecutors scrapped charges of “doing a neglect act likely to spread infection of disease,” referring to COVID-19. The March 29 arrests were viewed as suspicious from the beginning due to a culture of homophobia and strict anti-LGBTQ laws in Uganda data back to British colonial rule.
 

continue reading at gaycitynews.com
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Enlighten Me

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SPIRITUAL AMUSEMENT DARKENS THE SPIRIT

 

Many people have a desire to be spiritually enlightened. However, on the road to find enlightenment, they sometimes inadvertently offend other cultures, traditions, and religious beliefs—even trespassing on sacred grounds! Some seem to get caught up in seeking spiritual amusement more than enlightenment. When they commit these types of fore mentioned infractions, it cast shadows across their spiritual paths that darken the way.

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I have known people who have set out upon a spiritual quest only to swipe ideas, songs, practices, and rituals from other cultures. They embark upon their journey in the name of enlightenment, however like spiritual bandits, their desire to find something new and exciting often results in them stealing from other traditions; this demonstrates a lack of respect for the richness of other cultures. It also trivializes the years of training and cultural experience the spiritual leaders possess.

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People who demonstrate such indifference for religious boundaries will grab a specific technique from an intricate and multifaceted system such as ancient herbalism or the lifelong study of shamanism. They may have good intentions as they explore their spirituality. However, they show scant regard for the history and dedication required to practice those techniques effectively.

After participating in a ritual, or perhaps only reading about it, they will greedily take the parts which suit them for the time being and leave the rest. There is nothing wrong with being eclectic, but to exploit other traditions just to satisfy a craving for spiritual novelty is self-serving.

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There is something to be said about the specialized ability to do one thing very well; this requires discipline and patience. The problem is that most people who jump from one religion to the next do not take the time to develop this type of specialized ability. Within a very short time, they become bored and start looking for the next, newest thing to satisfy their need for spiritual amusement.

Speaking of needs, I believe nothing makes people more miserable than neediness. In the experiences I have personally witnessed across the country, I see worshipers perpetually making requests of their Deities to satisfy their insatiable human wants. Just how much is enough? Is there too much focus on the self?

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What about focusing on the needs of the local communities and environment we share? Without a healthy balance of priorities, our desires can take away from our calling to serve others (in whatever capacity).

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I have been horrified to hear people tell of how they visited ancient sights or sacred grounds and took small items from the area as souvenirs. One woman spoke of how she traveled a great distance to visit the sight of a sacred tree that was extremely old. She proudly bragged about how she had snapped off a small branch from the tree to use as a “spiritual tool.”

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When I mentioned to her that the tree would probably have been better off left alone, she retorted by saying, “Well, at least I’m not as bad as some people who carved their initials into the trunk!” What ever happened to the concept of integrity?

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When I go for a walk in nature, I consider the entire forest to be sacred ground. Therefore, I leave the surroundings undisturbed and refrain from bringing home objects to display on the mantle. It is a form of humility. Besides, it is not the actual object which holds spiritual enlightenment—that is something found within oneself.

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Take a lesson from the owl: when the owl roams, she leaves little trace of having been there. However, in a paradoxical/spiritual way, she changes everything she touches.

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It is a common belief among spiritual leaders that living a simple life with minimum materialism is most conducive to spiritual growth. True power comes from being able to work with as little as possible. It does not come from the accumulation of material goods.

So all the flash from that shiny religious jewelry doesn’t mean much if you do not have compassion and love in your heart for all living things. Since you already have a spirit-flame in your soul, you do not need to seek it in other traditions or sacred objects. The treasure chest need not seek the hunters.

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The quickest way to spiritual self-destruction is by way of the ego. And yet, how many times have ego problems caused the energy in a spiritual group to be off balance? In their quest to find innocence lost, many people have regressed to egocentric behavior.

There is a difference between being childlike and childish. You don’t need to act childish to resolve past issues. Through enlightenment, childhood scars can transform into wisdom. It is true that you cannot change the past. However, you can learn from it. That should add to your enlightenment and clear away some of those dark shadows on your path.

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Something to meditate on today. Realize all flowers are uniquely beautiful, yet they do not try to emulate each other. Nor does your flowering spirit need to be like any other religion, tradition, or culture. Be satisfied with who you are.

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New Wellness

A BLONDE MOMENT 
Ron Blake

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(I feel it’s still important that we share stories like this during these divisive times in our country now. Here’s to a healthy, happy, and united Fresno and beyond) 

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It was expected to be a very loud, contentious and crowded city council meeting in our Chicago suburb that evening. Angry protestors got there early. Police were on the scene. City officials arrived. Journalists reported for duty with their recorders and notepads. 

 

There had been much anticipation leading up to this event. A fight over some territory. A Jets versus Sharks scenario for Hobart, Indiana. And a 27 year old councilman had just parked his car. He had no idea then that he would soon change everything that night in a most vogue way.  

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At issue was the spot of a proposed dump site. It caused a big divide between city officials and many residents of our city. However, one official was receiving more slings and arrows than all the rest. This political hot potato was located in his district. The 27 year old councilman. That guy was me. 

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I sat in my car for a few last moments of Zen as I surveyed the large amped-up groups congregated outside the building. Persona non grata I would be. It was go time. I began to amble from my Jeep Wrangler toward the front of the Hobart City Hall.  

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Making my way to the front entrance I saw the throng of demonstrators rubberneck all at once in my direction. Surprisingly I didn’t hear taunting comments. I didn’t see frowns and sour faces. I saw smiles forming. And those smiles turned into excited laughter as I confusedly strode past them.  

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It’s as if the Red sea was parted and allowed me to easily walk through the masses to the steps of our municipal building. People were staring at me with astonishment. A protestor politely opened the door. One of my esteemed colleagues walked in with me. He ended the suspense and mentioned the electrifying elephant in the room. My hair.  

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With all the jitters of being the main event on the fight card that night; I wasn’t thinking about the top of my head. I went to a salon the day before and had my hair dyed blond. Platinum blond. This lad now had a mop of blond to go with a dark tan. It was totally a Surf City moment for our conservative blue-collar community. 

 

Quite a stark contrast to that brown-headed dignitary with neatly combed hair who made his way into council chambers weeks ago. 

The overflow crowd was assembled in the hallway and down the steps. As I ascended the grand staircase there came wolf whistles, applause, and pats on my back. I finally entered the chamber and the standing room only audience guffawed while craning their necks to witness the spectacle that was my glowing shock of blond. 

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I graciously grinned and waved at the huge audience before taking my seat. The Mayor tried to calm this friendly frenzy to order with her gavel. It was not to be; just yet.  

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My colleagues temporarily suspended Robert’s Rules and took turns playing Robin Williams and Wanda Sykes as they jokingly needled me over my new look. It became an informal roast and I was their beloved quarry. I took it all in good stride. The meeting at last came to order. My blond moment made Page Six of the newspaper the next morning.  

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But something truly incredible happened that memorable evening. For ten beautiful minutes there were no protestors. No city officials. No police. All the individuals gathered in that building let go of everything divisive and bonded lovingly with one another. People from all walks of life. They came together as one…and laughed.  

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Blonds really do have more fun! 

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This story of Good Vibrations is brought to you by that guy catching waves with The Little Old Lady from Pasadena. That Surfin’ USA guy is Ron Blake and he can be found on the Sloop John B. at rblake5551@hotmail.com

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Uncle Barbie

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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

MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS

 

Dear Uncle Barbie,

If people would worry more about themselves instead of sticking their noses into other people’s business, would we have less complication in our lives?

Signed, Mr. Wondering

 

Hello Mr. Wondering,

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Yes, of course! There would be far fewer complications if people just minded their own business. In other words, people need to weed their own gardens, and not be so concerned about the weeds in their neighbor’s garden. I’m not saying that people should not help each other out. You can be a caring person and be concerned about other people while still minding your own business and not getting overly involved in someone else’s life.

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Caring Enough to Back Off, Barbie

 

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FEMAPHOBES

 

Dear Uncle Barbie,

Why do men get offended when people tease them about their feminine traits?

Signed, Androgynous Female

 

Hello Androgynous One,

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Actually, I think both men and women get defensive when their sex role is questioned. I believe that every human being has both masculine and feminine traits. And, yet, for most people, gender identification tends to be at the very core of their basic identity. When you ask most people to describe themselves, they almost always include their gender as part of their self-description. People cling to their sex role as if it were the very purpose of their existence.

 

We live in physical bodies in a world that places a great importance on gender association. This need to identify one’s self with only one sex is so strong that the notion even carries over into people’s view of the spirit world and religion. How often have you heard people refer to the Creator as a male entity? I can only imagine what a surprise these people are in for when they enter the spirit world and discover that physical bodies (and therefore, gender) do not exist.

 

Based on your question, it sounds as if you have found that a lot of men tend to defend their gender identity fiercely. I think this is because the male ego is typically a fragile thing, which is constantly being challenged. This may cast some light on the major causation of homophobia--the fear of homosexuality.

 

Many cultures have attitudes (in the form of unspoken rules) that indicate that a male must earn the right to be called a man by somehow proving himself worthy of that title. Our society seems to place more value on masculinity than femininity by encouraging aggressive and competitive traits in men and even in some women who are in the business world. Consequently, femininity seems to be viewed as a weakness and is discouraged in men. This touches on a new phenomenon I call, “femaphobia” which is the fear of femininity. So, to answer your question, the reason why some men get soooooo offended when people tease them about their feminine traits is because they are egocentric femaphobes!

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Giving You a Woman’s Perspective in a Man’s Body, Barbie

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Horoscopes

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Astrology Map

ARIES (Mar 21 - Apr 19)
You have energy to burn here. Maybe you should have an exercise routine going on. This will keep you away from emotional upheaval and improve your physical health. 

TAURUS (Apr 20 - May 20)
You can't seem to make up your mind on what you want. Put it on the back burner and all will become clear. Your mind is sharp so trust your senses and then act on them. 

GEMINI (May 21 - June 21)
You feel you are going nowhere fast and people have been getting on your nerves. Try to enjoy the activity until everything come clear. 

CANCER (June 22 - July 22)
Busy, busy, busy. It's time to clean house. You have been working hard and it's time to move forward with a new outlook on life. 

LEO (July 23 - Aug 22)
Saturn's hard aspect moves away and lifts a burden off of you. Mars in good aspect means you are roaring to go and go you do. Great time coming up. 

VIRGO (Aug 23 - Sep 22) 
Really, things are not going smoothly. Rethink what you are doing. Pull back then move forward. All goes well with a new set of ideas. 


 

LIBRA (Sep 23 - Oct 22) 

Old problems came back to haunt you. This is very trying on you but seek some solace with friends to get you through it. 

SCORPIO (Oct 23 - Nov 21)
You get a short reprieve from your hard work for now. Enjoy the rewards for the hard work done and more will be on its way. This is your cycle for now. 

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 - Dec 21)
Time to check your finances and make adjustments where necessary. Stay away from conflict for now or you will lose. Plan and move forward.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 - Jan 19)
You have some unfinished business to take care of. Others will try to add extra burden. Don't fall for it. This is unnerving but it has to be done. Then you can grow.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 - Feb 18)
You get a reprieve from your hard work for a while. Time to play and explore new avenues in your life. Be prepared to accept the unexpected in your life. 

PISCES (Feb 19 - Mar 20) 
You probably pushed a little hard in your life. Reexamine what you're doing and make sure you are right in any decisions you make. 
 

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Not To Be Missed

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Following the closure of most public spaces in March, 2020, due to COVID-19 concerns, public locations in the state of California are slowly being opened for use. Here are a few to consider:

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Yosemite National Park

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Yosemite National Park was opened to visitors on Thursday, June 11, 2020. As part of its phased opening, the park has implemented a temporary day-use reservation system. Day-use passes are only available online at recreation.gov. The passes reduce the number of people in the park. According to the Yosemite website, some campgrounds are open and shops in Yosemite Valley are open. Visitors who enter the park via Yosemite Area Regional Transportation busses, bicycles, and on foot will not be required to have a day-use reservation. Park entrance fees still apply. Credit cards are the only form of payment accepted for entrance fees for the park.

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California State Parks and Beaches

 

Parking lots of roughly half of the 280 California state parks and beaches were reopened on June 4, 2020. Because of overcrowding concerns, be sure to check online to see if advance tickets are required for certain beaches in the Los Angeles area. Advance tickets for LA parks and beaches are available online at the LA County website. Most state parks and beaches are not requiring advance ticket purchases. Even if you are out in fresh air, be sure to maintain social distancing.

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Fresno Chaffee Zoo

 

The Chaffee Zoo is now open. The zoo will be operating at a limited capacity to allow for social distancing. The zoo asks you to please pre-purchase your timed entry tickets. Please arrive during your time block. There will not be exit hours--you are free to stay as long as you like. Closing time is 6:00 PM. The Winged Wonder Bird Show and the Stingray Bay are open. Zoorasic Park is open. Certain programs are still closed, such as Keeper chats, play areas, Giraffe feeding stations, the Reptile Building, and Roo walkabout. Purchase tickets online at fresnochaffeezoo.org.

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Nail Salons, Tattoo Parlors, Body Piercing Salons

 

Statewide, the governor has given permission for nail salons, tattoo parlors, and body piercing establishments to open, starting June 19, 2020. Fresno County’s Interim Public Health Officer has decided to wait an additional week, starting June 26, 2020, for local establishments to open. His goal is to allow an extra week for County officials to work with these businesses to ensure safe practices.

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Movie Theaters

 

Fresno County’s Interim Public Health Officer has declared that movie theaters in Fresno can open on June 26, 2020. Be sure to wear a mask, and practice social distancing. Expect rows of seats to be roped off and individual seating to be spread out throughout the theater.

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Events

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POSTCARD SIGNING PARTY
Friday, June 19, 2020

ONE DAY, 3 Locations:


FAB Fresno
716 E Olive Ave
Fresno, CA 93728
5 PM - 8 PM

BITWISE Industries
700 Van Ness Ave
Fresno, CA 93721
5 PM - 7 PM

The Source LGBT+ Center
208 W Main St, Unit B
Visalia, CA 93291
5 PM - 7 PM

 

Postcard Signing Parties

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Come down on 6/19/2020 and show support to our Transgender Community! We will be providing postcards with postage for you to write a message to the current administration demanding support for Transgender Civil Rights protection in Health Care.

If you are unable to make it, you can visit www.leilaniprice.com to submit your message and we can mail it out for you. 

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We ask that you still partake in social distancing, wearing a mask.

STANDING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE:
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN ALLY?

Online Event
Saturday, June 20, 2020
7 PM - 8:30 PM

 

We are excited to be hosting this important discussion with special guests Imam Jihad Saafir and Pastor DJ David Joseph-Lee Criner.

 

This program is being co-sponsored by My Deen, CVIC, and CAIR-SV/CV.

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Zoom Info:
Hajj Reza Nekumanesh is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Black Lives Matter
Time: Jun 20, 2020 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88056460505?pwd=V2c5S3dRMDVscTA1T0E0WHdIeHFDQT09

 

Meeting ID: 880 5646 0505
Password: BLM

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HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THE LGBTQ+ POPULATION

THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020 AT 10:30 AM – 12 PM
ONLINE EVENT

 

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Join us for a Human Trafficking and the LGBTQ+ Population Webinar provided by Central Valley Against Human Trafficking and the Fresno EOC Sanctuary LGBTQ Resource Center.

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Since 2009, our project has been identifying and serving individuals who have been trafficked in our community. Due to the gap in the community, Fresno EOC opened the LGBTQ+ Resource Center in downtown Fresno in 2019.

Through this webinar we hope to educate the community on the how human trafficking affects the LGBTQ+ community and best practices in working with victims and survivors.


This webinar will be provided via Zoom.

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Register here: https://forms.gle/EKvZ61m7c4WZbnUy7

Contact Us

P O Box 4959, Fresno, CA 93744

newslnk@aol.com  |  Tel: 559-266-5465

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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

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