Opinion – LGBTQ Fresno

Fresno County moves to restrict Pride and diversity celebrations. What’s next?

The ability for Fresno County departments to celebrate cultural, LGBTQ+, and community heritage events may soon be sharply curtailed, after a 3 to 2 vote Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors moved forward a policy that will stifle inclusivity and silence underrepresented voices. The proposed changes would require department heads to seek advance approval – […]

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Beyond the “Save The Children” Rhetoric: True Protection Comes from Empowerment

My first experiences in LGBTQ activism and advocacy go back to the Prop 8 campaign that successfully outlawed same sex marriage in California back in 2008. Here in California, Prop 8 was one of the defining political and social questions of that decade. I was in my mid-twenties and had only recently come out when

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Local Leaders Align with Trump’s Rhetoric, Distort the Facts on Immigration and DEI

Three Fresno Republican officials—Supervisors Nathan Magsig and Garry Bredefeld, and Sheriff John Zanoni—are aligning with Trump’s rhetoric while avoiding the full weight of his controversial policies. Trump’s hardline stances on immigration and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) may not play well in the diverse Central Valley, but these officials are adopting his divisive language and

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How Trump’s Doublespeak Threatens Freedom and Democracy

Several years ago, during Trump’s first term I was talking to a friend about the Masterpiece Cake shop case (in which a baker was sued for refusing to provide services to same sex couples). This friend is not a Trump supporter, but also doesn’t follow politics that closely and wasn’t aware of the issues involved.

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What a second Trump presidency means for our community

As the mail-in ballots come in and disturb our sense of peace regarding this presidential race and all it entails, what does it mean for our community if there is a second Trump presidency? How might our lives change, and what could our communities look like, if, after we close our eyes while votes are

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Dave Chapelle’s The Dreamer: Hatred without Significance

The latest comedy special from Dave Chapelle, The Dreamer, has only brought more of what is already known about himself to the limelight. Concerning his jabs against the transgender community, he stated, “It wasn’t worth the trouble. I ain’t saying shit about them. Maybe three or four times tonight, but that’s it. I’m tired of

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Togetherness: The Chosen Family Holiday Party

Amidst the twinkling lights and holiday cheer, there’s often a hidden truth for many in the LGBTQ+ community: the holidays can be bittersweet. Family dynamics, societal pressures, and isolation can cast a shadow on what’s supposed to be a season of joy. That’s why we created the Chosen Family Holiday Party, an event that not

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On Privacy and “Parental Rights”: The Wave of Forced Outing in California School Districts

“The forced outing policy wrongfully endangers the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of non-conforming students who lack an accepting environment in the classroom and at home.” – Rob Bonta (CA Attorney General) On July 20, the Chino Valley Unified School District–representing nearly 26,000 students–passed a bill mandating schools to notify parents of any pronoun or

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The Importance of Raising the Pride Flag

Pride month is a time of celebration–a month of inclusion, diversity, and hope for millions. Yet something as minor as hanging up a pride flag has recently become a point of contention. Some politicians can’t even let the community have that. This year, Orange County declared that no Pride flags can be flown outside of

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Diane Pearce and the LGBTQ+ Community

Florida bans LGBTQ content in schools. Virginia follows suit. Tennessee bans gender-affirming care for children. But now this legacy has hit all too close to home–in our very state of California. Diane Pearce is a City Councilmember in the city of Clovis in Fresno County. In June 2023, she posted the following on her Facebook,

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