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Dining Out For Equality
- Details
- Created on Tuesday, 17 April 2012 03:01
- Written by Melissa
Dining out for equality comes to Porterville!!
This is a great bunch of people to sit down and have a meal with while spreading a message of equality and togetherness with the LGBT community and our straight allies.
This month's lunch will be at Thai Kitchen at 951 West Henderson on Sunday April 22, 2012 12:30 PM.
Local April PFLAG Meeting
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- Created on Monday, 09 April 2012 19:49
- Written by Brooke
The third Sunday is early this month so join us THIS weekend!
PFLAG Tulare and Kings Countiesis 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.
| 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.) | ||||||
| Map: | Click here | ||||||
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| Refreshments will be served | |||||||
| 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. |
ENS this Saturday!
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- Created on Tuesday, 20 March 2012 04:56
- Written by Brooke
Expression Not Suppression (ENS) is a free, annual conference in the Fresno area for LGBTQ and straight ally youth (ages 13-21) who are dedicated to creating safer schools and building the GSA movement in the Central Valley. ENS is open to middle and high school students, teachers, and GSA advisors, as well as the larger community. The ENS conference is a chance for LGBTQ and straight ally youth to network and enjoy free workshops on activism and topics related to queer life and safe schools.
Don't miss out on this powerful conference! Gay Central Valley will be there tabling and also hosting a workshop. Lots of information and resources available to youth and adults alike.
Register online HERE.
I also can email you the full ENS packet which contains conference info, schedule, registration and more. Just contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
PFLAG
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- Created on Sunday, 18 March 2012 16:31
- Written by Melissa
Today's program involves SB 48 and the Fair Education Act. Today's program will be very valuable for us as a community to be armed and ready with knowledge on how we can keep LGBT history being taught in schools alive and well. As of late last year SB 48 was signed into affect by Governor Brown mandating LGBT history be taught in California K-12 school curriculum. Currently, opponents of SB 48 are gathering signatures to overturn this historical milestone.
3:00pm-5:00pm in Visalia
Family HealthCare Network
305 East Center Street (Corner of Bridge Street)
Visalia
(Use the courtyard entrance on Bridge. Pedestrian gate is in the alley.)
If lost call 559-791-8699 for directions
http://www.pflag-tulare-kings.org/
Watch "8" A Play about the Fight for Marriage Equality
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- Created on Sunday, 04 March 2012 05:55
- Written by Administrator
Forward to 18 minutes for pre-show presentation. Forward to 30 minutes for the play/production.
Dining out for equality
- Details
- Created on Wednesday, 15 February 2012 04:35
- Written by Melissa
Each month a group of us get together for lunch and chatter in hopes of spreading a message of "we're here, we're queer, and we're just like everyone else"
Dining out for equality is a mix of LGBTQ and straight allies coming together at a local restaurant in hopes of spreading the message of equality. This month we will be Chinese food located at New China 900 Whitley Ave. Corcoran. Sunday February 26th 12:45.
LGBTQ Health Fair
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- Created on Wednesday, 15 February 2012 03:59
- Written by Chris Jarvis
Dining out for equality.
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- Created on Wednesday, 18 January 2012 03:17
- Written by Melissa
Join us for companionship and lunch in Tulare at Farmer Boys at
1197 East Prosperity Ave, 559-687-9900
VPLC offers LGBT Scholarships!
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- Created on Wednesday, 18 January 2012 03:10
- Written by Brooke
Visalia Pride Lions Club Offers Student Scholarships
With a goal of serving our community, the Visalia Pride Lions Club proudly announces the establishment of two scholarships of $500 each for graduating high school seniors or transferring community college students who are LGBT or were raised in an LGBT family. Applicants must live in Tulare County, Hanford, or Lemoore. The scholarship must be used at an accredited post-secondary institution including a college or university and trade school. The student must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, worked to affect change for the LGBT community and be actively involved in community service.
Membership in a Gay-Straight Alliance or college Pride club will be considered, but is not required.The scholarship deadline is May 1st; the recipients will be notified by the end of May. Presentation of the scholarships will be made during the VPLC’s anniversary luncheon in June.
For directions and the application, go HERE.
Support and grief counseling
- Details
- Created on Friday, 13 January 2012 18:10
- Written by Melissa
In response to the tragic loss of our beloved EricJames Borges;
Tulare Youth Services Bureau will be holding a support and grief counseling meeting
Friday, January 13 at 4:00pm
There will be both group and individual counseling services available to anyone within the community at no cost.
Counselors available:
Cheryl Lennon-Armas, LMFT and India D. Leal, LMFT
The address is:
Tulare Youth Services Bureau
327 South K Street
Tulare, CA 93274
559-688-2043
The following resources are available 24/7
The Trevor Lifeline: 866-488-7386
The National Suicide Prevetion Hotline: 800-273-8255
PFLAG
- Details
- Created on Saturday, 07 January 2012 03:28
- Written by Brooke
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.
| 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.) |
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| Next meeting: | |||||||
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| Refreshments will be served | |||||||
2011 Holiday Toy Drive
- Details
- Created on Wednesday, 16 November 2011 05:36
- Written by Brooke
It's that time of year when I ask for your help. Gay Visalia is once again embarking upon our annual gathering of support for the 2011 Holiday Toy Drive benefiting kids in Tulare County foster care. This year there are currently 1800 kids in the system...an overwhelming and disturbing statistic. These kids may have to spend the holidays without their families, without reason to celebrate and maybe even without gifts to open. With your support, we can try to give these kids a reason to smile.
The Visalia Pride Lions Club is joining the efforts again this year, thanks fellow Lions! New this year to help is Gay Porterville. With the help and support of Melissa and all of Porterville, we can really make a bigger impact this holiday season. What we need from you is simple... If you are out shopping, simply pick up a toy for a boy or girl. The ages range from infant to 18. We like to concentrate more on gifts for ages 12-18 as they are the fewest received by the county. All items need to be new and unwrapped. You can contact me, Melissa (Gay Porterville) or the VPLC on the best way to get the toys to us. I, personally, would be happy to pick things up from you. We also will take cash donations and do the shopping for you, how easy is that?!
If you would like more information or want to buy for a specific child, you can do so by visiting the Tulare County HHSA's official toy drive WEBSITE. You can search by age, gender, etc. Print out their star and turn that in with your gift. It will go directly to the child you want. I just ask that all toys being donated through our outreach be turned into us so that we can show the amazing support from our community.
Thank you all so much for your support once again of this great opportunity to help bring joy and happiness to children who may not otherwise have a reason to celebrate. Let's get in the holiday spirit and make this our biggest collection ever!
If your group or organization would like to get involved and help us, please contact me for more information. The more help we have, the more help we do!
From Melissa: I would be more than happy to make house calls and pick up items/donations in the area as well just get in touch with one of us. Also, be sure to stay tuned for an upcoming event to help raise awareness, funds, and collect toys all in one evening of fun. Details coming soon.
From a Porterville resident...
- Details
- Created on Wednesday, 16 November 2011 05:01
- Written by Melissa
The following article came to me from a Porterville resident. I was asked to share this story with you in hopes of shedding some light and possibly receive some advice from the community as to what the couple should do, if anything.
Vanessa Bazaldua and Heather Sisemore are embarking a new journey in their relationship. They are pregnant! While most of us in the community find this an exciting time for the couple we unfortunately still live in a society where this type of news is not as celebrated by everyone else.
Hey, Melissa,
I was wondering if you could do me a favor. Me and Vanessa had something crazy happen to us last night. And we want to get this out. Or want to know if we should get this out. We wrote a little article on it. So if you could read it and send advice. Greatly appreciated.
On Saturday November 12th at approximately 2300 hrs. My girlfriend and I (Vanessa) went to a Quinceñera, invited by her friend Gabriella Garcia, at the Kings County Fair Grounds. Currently being nine weeks pregnant I was feeling very nauseous, so I asked Heather to please accompany me to the bathroom. She joined me in a small stall to comfort me, rubbing my back and holding my belongings. After being in there for fifteen minutes maximum, Heather had suggested we go and get some food to see if it would ease my stomach. Before I could even move away from the toilet a security officer was knocking on the stall door. Heather being the closest answered to them telling her that we needed to exit, because I could not be in there, referring to me as a male. After Heather politely assured them that I was a female, she then proceeded to tell them that I was pregnant and not feeling well, also noticing that they had cleared out the entire bathroom. One of the officers then made the remark of "are u sure she is a girl?" Heather again made it clear that I was a female, pregnant, and she was my girlfriend simply taking care of me. Even then, they told her we couldn't be in the same stall, so they asked her to please wait outside. Heather then said she would not leave me alone, and asked if she could please stand outside the stall with the door open. They refused, and a guard then told me that there was nothing wrong with me so I had to leave. I was then very upset and offended, and in tears. As I exit the bathroom, a lady was commenting to a security guard, saying how gross we were. After hearing that, and seeing the guard didn't even hesitate but to agree, I told her I was a pregnant female with my girlfriend, trying to have privacy so that they wouldn't have to see me throw up. After going to the car, bewildered by what had happened and feeling very harassed. Heather went back to talk to the security guard, who she repeatedly told I was a female, and he still continued to call me a him or a boy, and told him that we felt very offended. He then said he was just trying to do his job, and said someone had reported to him that there were two boys in a stall for a long time, she then asked him why after making it very clear to him that I was a female he proceeded into kicking us out, he repeated with "I'm sorry, I was just doing my job." Heather then told him, that his job was to check and see what was going on, and after seeing it was two females, one of them being sick, to make it known that there was no boy in the restroom and that they could be at ease.
Now I understand that not everyone agrees to our lifestyle. Nor are we trying to push our lifestyle on anyone else. I understand that some may confuse me as a boy, by my short hair and my manner of dressing, but I don't mind reassuring people I am a female. Never have I felt as harassed as I did that night. As if I was a human with a deadly disease, that was very contagious. I know that I can't change what happened to me that night, but I want to make sure this is known, and make a difference, so when the day comes and it happens to someone else, they are treated differently, with dignity and respect.
The couple experienced great ignorance this past weekend. It is not fair that any member of our society should have anxiety upon entering a restroom for fear they will be ridiculed and questioned. I get so angry knowing this happens. It strikes a personal cord for me and just wish some people could expand their mind just a tiny bit.
Aside from the events that transpired for them this past weekend, both families of the couple are very open and happy about the pregnancy. The baby's due date is June 15, 2012 and the couple will be registering for domestic partnership in the near future. A big congratulations to the happy couple!!
New Gender Breakout Group at PFLAG
- Details
- Created on Thursday, 10 November 2011 17:44
- Written by Brooke
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
GSA Youth Summit in Visalia
- Details
- Created on Monday, 24 October 2011 16:25
- Written by Brooke
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!
