Huge news for the Central Valley! Visalia is getting its very own LGBTQ+ Center! TheSource LGBTQ+ Center, founded by Brian Poth, is poised to open on May 1st in Downtown Visalia.
Here's a little bit about theSOURCE:
Our MISSION is to provide safe places within our communities for the LGBT+ population to meet, be creative, inspired, educated, cared for, entertained, and mentored. Our VISION is to cultivate new resources through advocacy, partnerships, and fundraising to unite and advance the LGBT+ community in Tulare and Kings Counties. You don't have to be OUT to COME IN! Opening MAY 1 in Downtown Visalia.
Stay tuned for more information, and check out their facebook page for any updates!
In a long-sought victory for the gay rights movement, the Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the Constitution guarantees a nationwide right to same-sex marriage.
Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote the majority opinion in the 5 to 4 decision. He was joined by the court’s four more liberal justices.
Justice Kennedy said gay and lesbian couples had a fundamental right to marry.
“No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family,” he wrote. “In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were.”
When marriages begin? Developing...
Read the decision in full Events in the Central Valley: Fresno: https://www.facebook.com/events/498243886989305/ Bakersfield: https://www.facebook.com/events/1456320621349978/ Bakersfield: https://www.facebook.com/events/356195121241091
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About two weeks ago, Gay Porterville submitted a proclamation that would have recognized Saturday, October 11 as National Coming Out Day in the City of Porterville.
National Coming Out Day aims to break down the walls that keep LGBTQ+ individuals in the closet. It’s a day when we celebrate diversity, and recognize the obstacles we’ve overcome in our coming out processes. It aims to inspire and give hope to those that are still feeling hesitant to come out.
Our goal was to keep this as positive as possible. We wanted to educate—to make our city a more culturally embracing community; we wanted our struggling LGBTQ+ youth to receive the message of affirmation that comes along with National Coming Out Day. With depression, anxiety, and suicide as such high risk factors for LGBTQ+ youth, this proclamation could have been a beautiful feat for the city.
There are new policies that require proclamations to receive a “sponsorship” from a council member to even be so much as considered. Unfortunately, not a single council member sponsored our proclamation. Initially, the proclamation was picked up for consideration by Councilman Monte Reyes. One week later, he withdrew his support, citing that it would just create too much negativity. Ironically, that in itself has created a ton of negativity, as our community has been let down once again.
Milt Stowe, Porterville’s new mayor, has proven to be just as disappointing. His rationale for keeping the LGBTQ+ community silent was that the proclamation was not “all-inclusive.” There’s that phrase again. This seems to be the go-to argument when council members are too cowardly to admit that they are simply partaking in discrimination. A proclamation recognizing individuals of Filipino heritage was recently issued, and hey, that’s fabulous! However, if we’re going by Stowe’s ideologies, it is not “all-inclusive.” We guess that guise for systemic discrimination only applies to us, though.
Not to be outdone as the reigning king of ignorance, Cameron Hamilton states that, “I think it does more harm than good. What they’re telling the rest of the world is ‘I’m identified by my sexuality’ which is damaging. It’s putting too much emphasis on sexual orientation. It’s over-emphasized.” By all means, Cameron, please continue to tell us what is best for our community! As a heterosexual, white, Christian male, you would know best!
Unfortunately, Councilwoman Virginia Gurrola also opted out of sponsoring the proclamation. Her reasoning is that it should not be her that always has to step up to the plate to do what is right. In some ways, she has a valid point. In 2013, she stood up for the LGBTQ+ community in a major way, issuing our Pride Proclamation. That’s when chaos ensued, the proclamation was rescinded by our bigoted councilmen, subsequently resulting in Gurrola’s removal from her seat as mayor. We do wish, however, that she would have reconsidered her stance after not a single councilman would simply sponsor the proclamation.
To sum up, Porterville’s City Council has once again screwed us over. This is why we are protesting. This is why we are getting loud. If we ever want to see any change in this city, we need to turn up the heat on these politicians, until they start doing their jobs correctly and representing all of their constituents. Enough is enough!
We urge you to join us in protest on Tuesday, October 7, at 5:00pm. We will meet at Centennial Plaza (across from City Hall). At 6:00, we will be speaking at the City Council meeting. Come out. Be seen. Be heard. GET LOUD.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND OUR ALLIES SHOW UP AND RESPOND WITH PROTEST. WE NEED TO LET IT BE KNOWN THAT TONY PERKINS'--NOR HIS HATE GROUP--WILL BE WELCOMED IN TULARE COUNTY.
TRUE CHRISTIANS PREACH LOVE, NOT HATRED. *************************************************************** On the morning of Monday, May 4, Tony Perkins will be speaking at the Tulare County Prayer Breakfast .
303 E Acequia Ave, Visalia, CA 93291 from 6:30am to 9:30am
But come for as long or as short as you can. We need your support. Please see our Facebook Event for sign ideas and carpools.
If his name rings a bell, it's probably because you've heard his organization's name--Family Research Council--listed on the Southern Poverty Law Center's list of recognized hate groups, along with groups like the National Organization for Marriage, and the Westboro Baptist Church.
The Family Research Council has time and time again fought to keep LGBTQ+ people oppressed through malicious propaganda, often disguised in religious context. They are most well-known for being strong opponents of marriage equality.
"...one of the primary goals of the homosexual rights movement is to abolish all age of consent laws and to eventually recognize pedophiles as the 'prophets' of a new sexual order."
"Gaining access to children has been a long-term goal of the homosexual movement."
"Supporters of V. Gene Robinson, the newly consecrated homosexual Episcopal bishop, claim his elevation sends 'a powerful message of love and tolerance.' However, it is not 'tolerant' to brush off opposition to the consecration of a homosexual bishop. Nor is it 'loving' to suppress evidence that homosexual behavior is a 'death-style' that is sending young people to an early grave."
With their history of such radical hate speech, we can't help but wonder why anyone would choose this man to represent a religious, Christian event.
Our small, powerhouse congregation will be hosting a seminar open to all interested in seeking justice in our community. The topic of this seminar is based on the book "What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality" written by Daniel A. Helminiak, Ph.D. Reverend Timothy Tiffany, of San Diego will be hosting this seminar as we explore the handful of verses in the bible that address homosexuality and are typically used as words of prejudice and exclusion in many circles within Christianity. It is our hope that the work of this seminar will empower the LGBT community and their allies to join forces in new and meaningful ways and enlighten the world with equality.
Join us for a Seminar
What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality
When: Friday Evening, May 16 and Saturday, May 17, 2014
Where: First Congregational Church, 220 West Tulare Ave., Tulare, CA
To Register: Call (559) 805-9076. Leave your name, address, phone number, and age. A book and seminar details will be mailed to you. Deadline to pre-register is Friday, May 9.
Cost: $5 per participant
A two-day workshop for those who may have been hurt rather than helped by religion, and for those who wish to ground their
support for inclusion firmly in Scripture. The seminar will be presented by Rev. Tim Tiffany, Retired Minister of University
In a long-sought victory for the gay rights movement, the 
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND OUR ALLIES SHOW UP AND RESPOND WITH PROTEST. WE NEED TO LET IT BE KNOWN THAT TONY PERKINS'--NOR HIS HATE GROUP--WILL BE WELCOMED IN TULARE COUNTY.