New Gender Breakout Group at PFLAG

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Written by Brooke

Created: 10 November 2011

There is now a Two-Spirit and Transgender group forming at the local PFLAG of Tulare & Kings counties monthly meeting. They will come together, discuss and support any gender variance. What a great, safe space to be able to meet and talk openly within a specific group. Family members and allies are also welcome to participate. Please contact Jacqueline McWalter - LMFT, at 559-788-1200 for more information.

The PFLAG meetings are held the third Sunday of every month at:

Family Healthcare Network Admin Building
305 E. Center Street

Located on the corner of Bridge and Center in Visalia

3:00pm – 5:00pm

http://www.pflag-tulare-kings.org/

GSA Youth Summit in Visalia

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Written by Brooke

Created: 24 October 2011

There is a youth summit this Saturday in Visalia. It is open to all middle and high school students. There is also a special presentation for parents and friends of LGBTQ youth. The summit is FREE to attend. Want to make a difference in your school? Be sure to attend!

Porterville college presents...

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Written by Melissa

Created: 18 October 2011

CHAP presentation by Ann Marie Wagstaff:
The Gay Rights Movement Comes of Age in the 70's

From the Stonewall Rebellion to the rise of Lesbian Feminism and the death of Harvey Milk -- in the seventies, the Gay Rights movement came of age. The lives of lesbians and gay men would never be the same.

Tomorrow October 18th from 11:45 am -12:30 pm located at the PC Theater

Cost is free

Lifeguard Workshop

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Written by Mundo Buenrostro

Created: 17 October 2011

LifeGuard Workshop

On Thursday, October 20,2011 the College of the Sequoias "Pride Club" will be having a LifeGuard Workshop on behalf of the Trevor project. The link above can be used to request a workshop in your area if you like. Our workshop is open to anyone who would like to participate in this workshop. It will be held from 12pm noon to 1pm on Thursday on Campus in the Kern Building in room 729 B. It is also the room in which we have our weekly club meetings between the hours of 12pm-1pm every Thursday.

We welcome anyone who would like join the club or just be apart of this workshop. For more information in regards to this event or the club you can contact us at cosprideclub@hotmail.com, or vist us on facebook.com/cosprideclub or on twitter.com/cosprideclub. Hope to see you there !

October's PFLAG

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Written by Melissa

Created: 12 October 2011

PFLAG Tulare and Kings Counties is a volunteer group of parents, family and friends of people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT). We welcome members of the GLBT community to our meetings and membership. We meet on the third Sunday of each month.

This month's PFLAG meeting is just right around the corner. This month's featured guest will be Pam Whitely who is the Regional Director for PFLAG National in the Mid Pacific Region.

There will be a new installment to the monthly PFLAG meetings that will allow transgender people and their allies a support group. The facilitator for this group will be lead by Licensed Marriage Family Therapist Jacqueline McWalter. If you would like to contact Jacqueline prior to the meeting for more details she can be reached here at: jmcwalter@tularehhsa.org

Location:Family HealthCare Network
305 East Center Street (Corner of Bridge Street)
Visalia
(Use the courtyard entrance on Bridge. Pedestrian gate is in the alley.)

When: Sunday, October 16, 2011 from 3:00pm-5:00pm

PFLAG provides a safe and confidential space place to talk about sexual orientation and gender identity, and works to build a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.

There is no cost to attend, and membership is optional.

PFLAG Tulare and Kings Counties is a non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status.

Bakersfield Pride

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Written by Melissa

Created: 10 October 2011

Bakersfield Pride will be held this weekend Saturday October 15th from 3:00pm-9:00pm

Stramler Park - 3805 Chester Avenue Bakersfield 93301

Gay Central Valley will have a booth there. If you are interested in helping out or volunteering with our booth contact us at melissa@gayporterville.com or 559-791-8699

Through the eyes of a gay girl working for the prison systems

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Written by Melissa

Created: 02 October 2011

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 because of all the gay’s 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 person’s 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 he-she’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 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!!

Dining out for EQUALITY!

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Written by Melissa

Created: 10 September 2011

Potluck in Porterville.

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Written by Melissa McMurrey

Created: 31 August 2011

Tulare County Outreach/Pride Time is hosting a potluck tomorrow evening at 6:00pm.

You hosts will be John Coffee and Brock Neeley.

If you are interested in attending or for more information you can contact Brock at 559-784-4537

Pride at Porterville College.

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Written by Melissa

Created: 26 August 2011

Are you a current student at Porterville College?

If so, I am looking for committed and enthusiastic students to help run the brand spankin’ new pride club that is forming on campus.

As some of you may or may not know...over the summer I came across a very anti-gay article that was visible from one of the instructors web pages housed out of portervillecollege.edu. That article has since been taken down upon further investigation. That article really proved uninformed some people can be and how important it is for us to help educate them.

Currently, there is not a shred of an LGBTQ presence on campus but I am hoping to change that very quickly. In order to form this club we need current student’s to step up as role of president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and a couple other position’s.

I just want to state that you do not have to be gay to be a part of this club or attend any potential future functions. Straight allies are always welcome with open arms! If you aren't a current student at PC and are still interested in helping I could use you too!

If you are interested please contact me ASAP.

Melissa@gayporterville.com

559-791-8699

Creating a presence!

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Written by Melissa

Created: 23 August 2011

Dining Out for Equality is a monthly social function brought together through PFLAG. Each month members of our community get together and dine at a local restaurant throughout the valley. The purpose of this is to help send a message that we are everyday Joe's and there is nothing scary nor weird about us gays and lesbians.

You do no have to be a member of PFLAG to join the folks for lunch. However, they do try and wear their PFLAG, Trevor, or any other positive gay related apparel to lunch.

This month's dine out experience will be held this coming Sunday the 28th at 12:30.
In Tulare at Asian Grill at 2169 E. Prosperity Ave in Tulare (near Super Target)

This will be my first dining group so if you are worried about being the only newbie...you won't be!

Couldya, Wouldya?

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Written by Brooke

Created: 23 August 2011

We are just about a month away from Family Fest, the only local pride event in Visalia. I need your help to make it another successful year! Have you ever wanted to volunteer and help out your community but you just didn’t know how? Well, here’s your chance! I’m looking to recruit volunteers for the following areas:

Set up

Clean up

Helping out at booths

Kid’s craft stations attendants

Kid’s carnival game attendants

Helping with games/activities

Photography

Every volunteer will receive a Gay Central Valley T-shirt, as our way of saying thanks. You don’t need to sign up for the whole day because we want you to enjoy yourself too and take advantage of all that Family Fest has to offer. Two hour shifts would be great but whatever you are willing to give is much appreciated.

Please contact me and let me know how you would like to help, Brooke@GayVisalia.com or 559-697-5GAY.

Thank you so much for you support!

PINK! A fundraiser for team Frostitutes.

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Written by Melissa

Created: 22 August 2011

PFLAG Meeting.

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Written by Melissa

Created: 20 August 2011

August 21st - Sunday’s meeting is from 3-5pm located at:

Family HealthCare Network
305 East Center Street, Visalia

Tomorrow they will have guest speaker Victoria Benavides the Central Valley Program Coordinator for Gay Straight Alliance Network.

PFLAG Tulare and Kings Counties is a volunteer group of parents, family and friends of people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT). We welcome members of the GLBT community to our meetings and membership.

This meeting is held each month on the 3rd Sunday.