I remember the days when conservative religious groups loved their witch hunts. They would find people who were either gay or friendly to the LGBTQ community; then they would expose them, out them and ruin their lives. These groups toppled political figures, decimated careers and in some cases were the lead cause of suicide. It is my thought, shared by many others, that sometimes these groups were the reason that we were so slow in responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Now that the tide has turned and of course, these groups are crying foul.  A news article by the Portland Press Herald exposed seven major donors who tried to defeat marriage equality laws by donating to the National Organization for Marriage.  Chris Plante, a director for NOM says that “it is a tactic of same-sex marriage advocates across the country to try to chill the free speech… We find there is a particular effort to attack and force retribution against those who stand in the public square.”

Seriously?!?

This group and other groups that have spewed hate and contempt for years are now saying that they are being discriminated against.

Other than the irony that makes me giggle – I also feel great about the strides that our society is making in recognizing sexual orientation equality. We are not 100 percent there yet but we are moving in the right direction. This article written even 10 years ago would have been slanted completely different. 

Remember back in grade school when the still-damp ditto sheets were passed down the row before a test or quiz? You took a deep whiff of that awesome mimeograph ink and put your Number Two pencil to work. The next day you waited with nervous anticipation – would you receive a coveted gold star? Then, the crushing revelation: a big red C Minus. Letting you know you are average. Or just below it.

From the moment we are old enough to comprehend what it means to be graded, evaluated, praised and ranked, we strive for that big red A, the bright gold star, the shiny blue ribbon or the hypnotic gleam of the first place trophy. We study, we train, and we learn to channel our abilities to be the best. But what about the constant study of relationships? How do we know when we are good at what we do in the bedroom and not the classroom?

We don’t receive a textbook and a syllabus of how to be an amazing partner or a fantastic lover, so where do we glean the knowledge that takes us through our personal lives? We see the romantic gestures that people make in the movies: the anonymous love notes, the grand declarations of love in the pouring rain, even the rushing to the airport to stop the one you love from leaving for Paris. By the way, why are they always jetting off to Paris? Just once I’d like to see someone stop their beloved from flying off to Newport News or Jackson Hole.

These cinematic sequences look great on film and we dissect them and take what we need from their dialogue and hyper-real situations. But in real life, unsigned love letters seem creepy, not everyone looks stunning when they are soaking wet, and there is no way you could make it through the airport in time due to all the constant restrictions. Besides, everyone’s definition of what is and isn’t romantic is different. For me, the most romantic ending to a movie is still Sixteen Candles. Why couldn’t the breathtaking Jake Ryan be waiting for me when everyone was leaving my sister’s wedding?

The only other option is to study those around us: our parents, our friends, even other couples that we don’t even know, just to see how they act and spar within their relationships. The problem with that is, no two couples are ever alike. So how the hell do we know what to do? And how do we know we are doing the right thing?

Read more: Pecs and the City

Las Vegas. Lit in a blaze of neon and fueled by alcohol, the city itself seems to be weighed down with secrets and promise. The polished gloss of its sparkling skyline is a siren song to anyone searching to become someone else – if only for a weekend. Whether it’s the darkness of the kinky sex that permeates the background on CSI or the sunlit drunken amnesia of The Hangover, Las Vegas has been the setting for numerous stories that twist like tangled vines through its history. The truth is, most of the fiction couldn’t hold a candle to the facts.

They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but is that really true? The basic premise of this catchy and oft-repeated slogan is that Vegas cultivates the idea that it’s okay to lie, to change who you are and to do things you would never do, because when you leave, you leave it behind. But memories are like fingerprints; everyone has a unique set and they will always be a part of you. Everywhere you go, your experiences are stamped in your brain like initials in sealing wax.

My experience in Vegas is usually a whirlwind of bad behavior, chance encounters, dance beats and hotel sheets- somewhere between Ke$ha’s “Take It Off” and Katy Perry’s “Waking Up In Vegas”- but nothing I wouldn’t do in any other town, including this one. The only difference in this equation is the introduction of a brand new catalyst. Or two. Or three at a time. Maybe it’s because for the very reason that people believe they can be and do whatever they want within the confines of this jewel embedded in the desert, it changes their attitude and their approach to others.

Read more: Pecs and the City

And the “time” is now here to write about it, as the Apple Watch is out and available at your local Apple Store for purchase. And our household finally owns one of the illustrious new offerings from our favourite and often-talked-about tech giant.

But before you get out your wallet let me be clear after using our watch for a week or three: The Apple Watch is not for everyone. Ours came at a sizable discount, as husband Ivan is a full “time” Apple employee. And I’m sure even if a discount had not been offered we eventually would have found the cash to buy one. I’m told, too, as I write this that there is now a friends and family discount on them so if I decide I want one for myself it won’t hurt my semi-retiree wallet too much.

But on to the meat of my review…. and what is it, or could it be, that makes the Apple Watch so great that I should at least go by my Apple store for a try on?

Nothing and everything.

The Apple Watch — while it is what Apple refers to as a “Hero product” much like the iPhone and the Apple TV — is not a gadget that offers instant gratification.

When ours arrived via FedEx literally overnight from China (We were in awe at watching it track from China to Alaska, to the UPS Air Hub in Louisville and finally to our door all in 24 hours…) the weight of the long brown shipping box and the yet lighter but still substantial glamour box or retail packaging enclosed were both impressive.

From there we continued to open and unwrap each item. The box contains one extra long charging cable (USB on one end and inductive magnetic charging disk on the other), a new power block, and of course, the watch itself. After turning the watch on and waiting several minutes for its first boot up, we were presented with a spiral graphic with a small Apple logo in the centre and a description of the device spelled out around the outside. At this point we were ready to pair it with our phone.

The process is started by holding the watch screen below our iPhone 6’s camera and allowing it to be connected. Once it was paired, the watch display graphic dissolved into dancing pixels of dust flowing around the screen before ending with an Apple logo in the middle and a circular progress line that started at the top and went clockwise around the entire face until it was fully synced with the phone.

Read more: Hackin' The Net

Morgana Bailey has been hiding her true self for 16 years. In a brave talk, she utters four words that might not seem like a big deal to some, but to her have been paralyzing. Why speak up? Because she’s realized that her silence has personal, professional and societal consequences.

Always the weekend after Labor Day!
Kampout is a 3 day LGBTQ social, fun filled camping event held at Texas Flats up above Oakhurst, CA. The Theme for 2015: Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves.  $30 per person for the entire weekend! Can't beat that anywhere! Includes 2 breakfasts, 1 dinner, a whole lot of booze! Games, prizes, a hilariously fabulous drag show, did I mention booze? An all around great bunch of women to hang out with all weekend. Plus you get to dress up as a gypsy, tramp, or thief!

Check out www.kampoutfresno.com for all you need to know. Get involved with the activities, volunteer to help the Kampout Committee

Mark your calendars!!

REEL PRIDE 26's KICK-OFF PARTY will be held Friday, August 14th! 

Held in the amazing venue of our Festival Partner THE PAINTED TABLE, located at 1211 N Wishon Ave. We hope to see all of our members & festival sponsors/donors. Pick up your Festival Passes; Enjoy the food stylings of THE PAINTED TABLE STAFF; Have a drink at The Reel Lounge. From 5:30pm to 9pm

Still want to donate an item for the Silent Auction? Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Need to purchase a Festival pass? Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or VISIT US AT OUR WEBPAGE: www.reelpride.com

The Fresno Police Department, would not confirm that "CASEY" aka Kenton Haggard was a part of the transgender community and often regards her disrespectfully as "A Man in a Dress"; that further insults and infuriates the Transgender community.

At first in looking over the unclear footage presented to the community for verification of identification; Trans-E-Motion wanted to provide concrete proof that "Casey" was in fact a member of the trans-community. In a long search, Trans-E-Motion has gone through archived records for concrete proof that Casey was in fact actively participating in our community as an authentic Transgender individual. Trans-E-Motion found a sign in sheet with "Kenton (Casey) Haggard" for one of our support groups.
**Attached you will find the sign in sheet described. We have blocked the other names for protection of our members. **

At this time we are asking The Fresno Police Department, ALL news media to acknowledge "Casey" Haggard by using female pronouns and addressing her in the proper respect she deserves under the current Death and Dignity Laws of California for Transgender individuals. Although her CA DMV license may not have reflected at the time, or any medical records which may exist. This could include having seen a therapist for being Trans, or pharmacy records for hormone therapy. These factors may not reflect now, Casey's process; but there is that possibility that she was in the begining stages of the process, and given her life was cut short was not able to complete her goals.

The Board of Trans-E-Motion

Update: According to the interview by channel 21 with Trans-E-Motion after seeing the support group document which indicated that Casey was identifying a transgender, the Fresno Police Department said last night the death in dignity law will be respected from this point forward in the investigation of Casey Haggard and it is being investigated as a Hate Crime and for everyone to be on the lookout for a Gray or Silver 2002 to 2005 Saturn Vue SUV, with a large dent in the passenger side door. If you see a vehicle that fits this description, do not approach or confront anyone. Please contact the Fresno Police Department or call crime stoppers 559-498-STOP with the information as to the location of the vehicle. Please be careful, safe, and use good judgement.

In an email sent to supporters, American Foundation for Equal Rights Executive Director, Adam Umhoefer reveals they are closing up shop. And, expresses his trust in HRC along with a note that they are sending any remaining funds to the Human Rights Campaign:

Together, we made history.

Nearly six years ago, the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) was created with the specific mission of arguing for marriage equality before the U.S. Supreme Court and to, while doing so, dramatically advance the American conversation on equality.

And we accomplished that … and so much more.

We returned marriage equality to California—our nation's most populous state—and, later, to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

With David Boies and Ted Olson as lead counsel, we smashed the partisan barrier that traditionally divided supporters and opponents of marriage equality. Namely, we brought prominent conservative voices to the debate and proved that marriage is not a partisan issue, but an American issue.

We put equality on trial. For the first time ever, a federal court heard evidence as to why denying gay and lesbian Americans the right to marry is unconstitutional. And, more importantly, for the first time, we forced our opponents to make their best cases, under oath, as to why marriage bans based on fear and hatred should stand. And we shared that story with the world.

But, perhaps, most importantly, we drew a line in the sand. We demanded that every American—whether a regular citizen, an editorial board writer, a member of Congress, or a Supreme Court justice—not only listen to the stories of Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, and Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo—the brave plaintiffs fighting for justice—but that they also take a side.

The results were extraordinary. We saw Americans nationwide stand up to support equal marriage. We saw it in the opinion pages of our newspapers. We saw senators scrambling to change their public positions. And we saw it from millions of ordinary people who proudly posted the “equal sign” logo of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) as their Facebook profile pictures, and turned the Internet red.

Today, because of you—and the pioneering work of organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Freedom to Marry, Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD), Lambda Legal, and the National Council for Lesbian Rights (NCLR)—this group of brave plaintiffs and legal teams have finished the work and won every American the right to marry who they love.

Read more: AFER to close up, send funds to HRC

There will be a gathering at the Fresno LGBT Community Center (1067 N. Fulton) this evening, Thursday, July 30th at 6pm in memory of KC Haggard, the local transgender woman who was viciously murdered on July 23rd, as well as all other victims of transgender violence across the country.

There will be a march through the Tower District and brief speeches from local community members.

If you'd like to help in making signs for the march please contact Zoyer Zyndel This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or KarenAdell Scot This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . You can also visit the LGBT Community Center during open hours to make your own signs (we have materials available).

Phone number for the LGBT Center is 559-325-4429. You can also emailGay Central Valley at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Chris Jarvis at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Local media will be invited to this event.

The march and speakers will take place outside, but the Center will be open with air conditioning, water, snacks and bathrooms. It's supposed to be a hot day but we'll do everything we can to make it comfortable for all.

We encourage people to wear red to signify the rates of transgender violence in the U.S. and use the hashtag #TransRemembranceRed

Everyone is invited to this event so please invite your friends.