Trials and tribulations of our writers / contributors lives
The Kern County Board of Education voted to postpone the discussion of a parental notification policy at their monthly meeting, during which public comment time was reduced to one minute per speaker. Approximately 130 people, both supporters and opponents of the policy, attended the meeting. The proposed policy would require schools to inform parents of […]
Fresno resident Ashens Limon discovered his queer identity at the age of 10 but kept it hidden due to his religious Latino upbringing. He turned to online LGBTQ communities for support but faced loneliness and struggled with his mental health. At 10, he attempted suicide, leading to his coming out to his mother and seeking
Derrick Patterson, a 24-year-old man from Compton, California, was charged with more than 30 counts of robbery, burglary, grand theft and assault after he allegedly used the hookup app Grindr to lure more than 20 gay men into dates that turned into robberies. Patterson allegedly used Grindr to contact his victims, who he then met
World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said 98% of monkeypox cases detected since outbreaks emerged in May had been among men who have sex with men. He advised them to take action to protect themselves. Early symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion. It will often be accompanied
I was asked by the fine folks at Fresno Rainbow Pride to say a few words at Jeffery Robinson’s Celebration of Life service. The following is the speech I gave, edited slightly to make sense on paper vs in person. ***** I know so many people who looked up to Jeffery Robinson as a father
My heart is full upon learning of the passing of Jeffery Robinson. We met 35 years ago as undergraduate students attending Fresno State. We uplifted each other after the Fresno State United Student Pride booth was burned, and later when the KKK protested our student club. During these and other incidents, Jeff inspired my social
One of the most frightening things someone can face in life is, arguably, experiencing a major life change blindly and alone. Whether that change affects your mental or physical health, your relationships, or perhaps your status in society, dealing with such an event can put a significant strain on you. Dozens of questions may surface
Last year I reached 65 years of age. I have been wondering for a while now what that means to me, how I truly feel inside and what lies ahead. I struggled in my youth with being gay and fought valiantly to act straight and fit in. But was I really kidding my family and
It is with great sadness that we mourn the loss of a dear friend and tireless advocate for many within Fresno’s LGBTQIA+, public health and social services communities – Toni Harrison. A longtime WestCare California staff of over 18 years, the Program Director for The Living Room – Fresno, the Chair for the Fresno AIDS
It has been nearly three weeks since the first case of coronavirus (COVID-19) was confirmed in Fresno. Even with the shelter-in-place order in effect, the number of confirmed cases are rising. As of March 30, 2020, the Fresno County Department of Public Health has confirmed 53 positive cases (Galaviz, 2020). Health officials anticipate the number
