PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbian and Gays) has a new location: 

Educational and Cultural Center
Congregation B'nai David,
1039 S. Chinowth,Visalia, CA  93277

PFLAG 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.

On November 11, 2013 Porterville's own LGBTQ Veteran's marched for the very first time in the very famous Veteran's Day Parade sucessfully. 

Below is a picture of our contingency. 12 active and retired Veteran's standing next to their 40+ supporters and allies of Gay Porterville, PFLAG of Tulare-Kings County, Bakersfield LGBTQ group, and Porterville College Pride Club. 

Check out this album for more photo's of this historical day for us: Porterville's Veterans Day Parade 2013

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.

Gay Porterville would like to invite you to march a long side us and our LGBT Veteran's who've bravely served our country. This is the first parade in Porterville a gay contingency has marched in. 

Please consider joining us this Monday November 11th at 8:30 am.

The contingency is entered in as Gay Porterville. Our group number is #104 and we are to line up at Main St. and North St. (next to car dealership Kar Korral 559 N. Main St.)

Our marching group will be lead by our LGBT Veteran's carrying a banner and wearing shirts that list their branch of service and the years in which they served. If you or someone you know is an LGBT Veteran and is interested in marching please get in touch so we can create a shirt for you.

Behind that banner will be the Gay Porterville banner where we will be wearing white shirts that state "I support Gay Porterville" and others that state "LGBT Ally". These shirts will be provided but supplies are limited and will be given on a first come, first serve basis. Otherwise, please wear whatever makes you most comfortable and is in good taste.

And last but not least will be joined by Porterville College Pride Club marching behind us with their club shirts and banners.

If you are not able to march with us please consider coming out and being a part of our cheering section.

We could use all the support we can get.

Melissa@gayporterville.com Facebook event page is here: Event Page

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.

For the tenth year, Bakersfield LGBTQ is proud to present the Annual Pride Festival.

Saturday, October 19, 3-10pm, Stramler Park, sponsored by Verizon Wireless, Sykotic Ink, St. Pauls' Episcopal Church, Less Than 3 Press and Mike Niemann Graphic Design! The day will be full of family-friendly fun, friends, food, vendors, entertainment and laughter! Make your plans now to attend! We welcome EVERYONE who is supportive of LGBTQ rights!

Entertainers include some of favorites from 10 years, like Ask Alice and Michelle Weingarden; LGBTQ's own Rainbow Voices Chorus; Belly Dancers, and of course, the Pride Divas Drag Show, the best local Drag Show you'll ever see! Portions of the program will be interpreted for the deaf. The special Kidzone will have new games and plenty to entertain the under-10 in your life! 

The Food & Beverage section includes amazing BBQ specialties, pizza, Mexican food, Shave ice, coffee drinks, and of course, beer! 

There are over 40 vendors who will have a variety of merchandise and information for you! Stickers, t-shirts, hats, jewelry, community information, and a few surprises; all available in one place and time for your convenience!

Click here for directions

Please join us THIS Saturday October 19thfrom 10 am - 1 pm for an amazing opportunity to participate in a national project called Self Evident Truth Project sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and participation is 100% FREE!

The Self Evident Truth Project (SETP) is based out of New York and is making rounds in California this week, making a special trip in Visalia just to see us!

In the words of the Self Evident Truth Project:
"SETP is a photographic record of LGBTQ America today. The aim is to take a simple portrait of anyone who's anything other than 100% straight or feels they fall on the LGBTQ spectrum in any way. The goal is to show the humanity that exists in all of us through the simplicity of a face."They challenge Americans to look into the faces of these people and tell them they deserve less than any other human being.  Check out more information on the projectThe Self Evident Website 

http://selfevidentproject.com/

Click here for the Facebook event page

iO Tillett Wright is the photographer of this project. Catch her interview on Ted Talks "50 shades of gay" speaking on sexuality and the boxes we are pressured to put ourselves in and the Self Evident Truth Project. 

The goal of the project is 10,000 photos of LGBTQ Americans. The current count is 2055.

iO Tillett Wright (the photographer) will be setting up shop right behind Brewbakers Restaurant in Downtown Visalia. Arrive at the corner of Main St. and Church Avenue and about a half block down Church take a left at the bakery called The Frosted Muffin (Yum!) there you will find us setup outside from between 10am-1pm, Saturday, October 19th.

All you have to do it show up and smile for a very flattering black and white photo.

For more information or more specific directions please contact:

Melissa McMurrey Melissa@gayporterville.com or 559-791-8699

Congratulations are in order for local couple Crystal Gonzalez and Amber Dennard on their engagement announcement. 

The couple met earlier this year at a rally hosted by Gay Porterville. Given the hustle and bustle of school, work, and family the two plan to start making arrangements for their wedding in the spring of next year. 

We wish the happy couple many blessings and  years of happienss!

Congratulations Crystal and Amber!

Porterville College will host Send Silence Packing from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 30 on the PC Campus. Send Silence Packing, a program of Active Minds, is a nationally recognized suicide awareness program of 1,100 donated backpacks representing the 1,100 college students who die by suicide each year. PC is one of twelve California colleges and universities hosting an event this fall.

The goal of Send Silence Packing is to raise awareness about the incidence and impact of college student suicide and help people understand how they can be part of the solution. Active Minds, Inc. has collected and continues to collect backpacks and personal stories in memory or in honor of loved ones impacted by suicide to give a "face" to the lives lost; the personal stories written by families and friends accompany the backpacks. Send Silence Packing carries the message that preventing suicide is not just about lowering statistics, but about saving lives.

This display is being sponsored by the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA), the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) and the Foundation for California Community Colleges (FCCC) California Community Colleges Student Mental Health Program (CCC SMHP).

For more information on how you can get involved with the PC Send Silence Packing event call (559) 791-2326.

PC Pride Club is working on a project for National Coming Out Day. They're looking for your coming out story. They will be kept confidental if you so choose. 

National Coming Out Day. October 10th. 
An internationally observed civil awareness day celebrating individuals who publicly identify as bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender—coming out regarding one's sexual orientation and/or gender identity being akin to a cultural rite of passage for LGBT people. The day is observed annually by members of the LGBT community and allies on October 10.

*PLEASE SEND US YOUR STORY OF COMING OUT. 
*October 8th will be the last we accept story.

portervillecollegepride@gmail.com 

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.

I am happy to introduce a new up and coming group in Lindsay that is dedicated toward making a presence for the LGBTQ community in Lindsay more prevalent. 

More information can be found at the following blog site: http://lgbtoflindsay.webs.com/

Or on the Facebook Group Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1406816466204531/

We look forward to working with our sister City of Lindsay. 

Please come out Tuesday night, August 6th at 8pm as Community Leaders, Faith Leaders from a wide spectrum of backgrounds, and Straight Allies come out in support of the LGBTQ Community of Porterville.

With all the hurtful and damaging actions in Porterville we’d like to come together in solidarity and support one another. 

Please share and distribute this flyer

Just a few highlights of the evening will include key artists and speakers such as: