It had been a particularly warm summer in 1966 and the city of San Francisco was finally enjoying the cool Pacific winds that the month of August brought in. The Bay Area metropolis bustled alive with sailors, hustlers, immigrant families and tourists, all scurrying atop the seven peninsula hills like ants over great concrete mounds. Already reputed as an “anything goes” kind of place, San Francisco had been able to maintain a number of “libidinous” establishments open for years – including “homosexual gatherings” like The Black Cat Café and Finocchio’s Nightclub in North Beach. These bars stayed open through an extensive negotiation with local law-enforcement and assistance from the local *Homophile organizations located in the city. Cross-dressing, however, was still illegal in 1966 and SFPD could use the presence of transgender people in a place of business as a pretext to make a raid and close down a bar. As a result, many trans-people (or hair fairies, as they were often referred to) were not welcome. The only place trans-people could really congregate safely was in a little chain restaurant, on the corner of Taylor and Turk, called Compton’s Cafeteria. It is here that a civic revolt took place – one that would pre-date Stonewall as the first recorded transgender riot in United States history.

*Homophile: A term used in the 1950’s and 1960’s to describe LGBT-rights organizations. With the emergence of the Gay Liberation, the word began to disappear from the LGBT vernacular.

On this one August night, SFPD was called in under the premise that a group of hair fairies had become increasingly raucous at Compton's. The SFPD, assuming a routine deviant arrest, promptly showed up and proceeded to manhandle the clientele – as it happens, this was also a routine thing for them to do.

There are several accounts as to what occurred next or what prompted the riot itself, but the most popular version is that a trans woman, exhausted with the abuse implemented by the San Francisco police, threw her hot coffee in the face of the officer who was roughening her up. In a matter of mere seconds, dishes, furniture, wigs and high-heeled shoes went flying about the cafe. Shouts and screams were heard from the outside, and the restaurant’s plate-glass windows were violently smashed. The riot spilled out onto the dark, wet streets of the Tenderloin District. Police called for reinforcements as a sidewalk newsstand was toppled over and burned to the ground. The first night of the riots had begun.

The following night, the plate-glass windows at Compton’s Cafeteria were replaced, just as an even larger crowd of street hustlers, drag queens, transgender women and gay men picketed outside the restaurant. When news broke out that transgender people were not to be allowed inside Compton’s again, the newly replaced plate-glass windows were once again smashed. That shattered glass became a bold symbolic call to action for American transgender people, demanding equitable treatment and respect for their identities and lives.

Although the riot marked a major turning point for transgender rights in the U.S., the struggle continues somewhat-incipiently – not just for transgender rights, but for any movement that promotes freedom from oppression based on gender-identity and expression, economic status and class.

This violent, angry event resulted in peaceful demonstrations and better negotiations with the city. It is these negotiations that eventually created more access to city healthcare for trans-people, trans-support services and an annual transgender-march down Market Street – and it all began with a cup of coffee.

This year, as we move forward in fighting for LGBT equal rights, let us remember those places, events and people who fought the first rounds before us and won – or sometimes lost. Let us honor those who stood up for their rights, even when it wasn’t the coolest or hippest thing to do. Let’s never forget that it is because of these people, who celebrated themselves amid persecution and injustice, that we are able to celebrate ourselves a little more today.

I encourage you to consider actively searching for your LGBT activist ancestors, take their strengths and courage and continue to fight for your share of the American Dream.

What LGBT activists or events inspire you?

On October 20, 2018, WestCare California will be presenting the 6th Annual Fresno AIDS Walk & 5k run in support of the Living Room, a project of WestCare California.

Thanks to the efforts and generosity of our supporters and donors, previous year's events were a tremendous success and a wonderful tribute to those that we have lost and to those that are currently living with the virus. We hope to make this year's walk even bigger with your continued support. 

The walk will take place at Woodward Park's Park View Shelter and will also feature a 5K run. 

To register for the walk as a team or individual for FREE or for our 5k run, which will include a FREE participant shirt and race bib with the $25 registration fee, please visit: http://fresnoaidswalk.org/register.asp

Readers often ask me about my daily routine as an author. Do I write every day? How many hours per day do I write? And, did I write when I was younger? The last question is easy and straight forward. Yes, I wrote in high school and college. However, the answer to the first two questions has changed over the years. Now, the answer to those depends on where I am in a manuscript, whether it’s plotting out the outline, writing the actual storyline, doing the final edits, or gearing up for a release.

A good example of a typical day for me is that I am in the office by eight. With my second cup of Java in hand, I check emails and respond to any and all inquiries. Then, I move on to social media and marketing. Since my assistant does all of the advertisements on Facebook, I spend a little time there just trying to keep up on the buzz feed from around the industry.

Next, I turn my attention to Twitter, Instagram, Amazon, Ibooks, Smashword and a whole host of other sites were my books are sold to see what’s happening there. All of these sites require a daily check-in to ensure there aren’t any problems with my information. Since I have paid advertising on some of these platforms, I also have to check the sales and data trends. All of this activity usually takes a couple of hours.

By late morning, with the ‘up-keep’ of being a writer completed, I finally get to work on actually writing. Right now, I am working on the edits for my next novel, Escaping Camp Roosevelt. First round edits amount to almost a complete make over of the original draft. This is where holes in the plot are discovered and my characters begin to shine. I call this stage in a manuscript, the “frosting on the cake”. The cake has been baked, but it is just a cake. Now, it is time to make it pretty. As I “frost the cake”, I am layering depth in my characters and further developing the subplots to keep the reader engaged and the story line moving forward.

Read more: A Day In The Life Of A Writer

5 days. Over 50 films. September 19th-23rd.

Fresno Reel Pride is proud to bring you films like TransMilitary, The Life of Lei: The Man Behind The Makeup, 50 Years of Fabulous: The Imperial Council Story, and The Miseducation of Cameron Post to the 29th Annual LGBTQ Film Festival beginning Wednesday, September 19, 2018. Purchase a festival pass and gain access to all the films! UPGRADE and enjoy exclusive parties and the Sunday Brunch by The Painted Table. Passes and Tickets are on sale now! Learn more by visiting www.ReelPride.com.

FREE EVENT

MUSIC
GAMES
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
BOUNCE HOUSE
MASCOTS
PICNIC

LGBT Fresno is proud to be sponsoring food and drinks for this event.

RSVP & More Information

CENTRO LA FAMILIA ADVOCACY SERVICES INC. — CENTRAL CALIFORNIA LEGAL SERVICES INC. — TRANS-E-MOTION — PLANNED PARENTHOOD MAR MONTE — PINK PANTHERS MOVEMENT — CALIFORNIA HEALTH COLLABORATIVE — THE HOLISTIC CENTER — RCS — BABIES FIRST — PARENT FRIENDS OF LESBIANS AND GAYS — CALIFORNIA SPCA — FRESNO BARRIOS UNIDOS — LGBT FRESNO — FRESNO EOC WIC — MI FAMILIA VOTA — FRESNO POLICE DEPT — KIDS DENTAL KARE — AND MANY MORE VENDORS

Fresno's own Cara Coronado takes us on a tour of Fresno's first Drag Festival

Are we really past the half way point in 2018? Where the heck did that first part of the year go?

Last month I turned thirty; okay fifty…-three-ish! For the first time in many years, I spent my birthday with my family. My husband Brian barbequed and mom made my favorite cake, a homemade German Chocolate cake. She still makes her cakes from scratch. It was a relaxing day with the six of us hanging out in the pool and just talking.

The day was not all that different, (except for the pool) than when I was a kid. Coming from a large family, our weekends often turned into a party. The men took to the backyard to tend to the grill and drink beer while the women chatted and laughed in the kitchen as they prepared side dishes and desserts.

When I got bored with the stories the guys were telling over and over again, I would wander into the kitchen and spent a little time with the ladies. Their conversation was always better; no drama, just sharing the best gossip reserved for Sunday BBQ’s.

As a family, we all came together weekly to enjoy each other’s company. It was a tradition that I’m not so sure continues in people’s lives today. We are a nation of drifters and transients, moving our families where ever the jobs take us.

Today, my birth family is transcontinental; we are spread out from California to North Carolina, and everywhere in between. It is rare when we are all in the same room these days. Even with modern technology such as Facebook, Face Time, and any number of other apps that connect us, I often wonder are we truly, really connected anymore?

It seems that ‘family’ today is more by design then by birth. Children have aunts and uncles that are not blood related but love them every bit as hard. We gather just the same, in the parks, and back yards, friends welcoming friends.

In my novel Diego’s Secret, a romantic and heartfelt story, I explore the meaning of a modern family—blended by circumstances, not by choice—and how those complicated bonds add an unexpected richness to our lives. I have included a short excerpt from Diego’s Secret that relates to this issue. After reading the short excerpt, I would love to hear back from you in the comments section where you can tell me what your family looks like today.

EXCERPT
Just past midnight, Diego was still awake. He lay across his bed staring at his phone, scrolling through pictures of his cousins in Mexico sent by his aunt. Though he had left Mexico at age seventeen, there wasn’t a day that Diego didn’t think of his small village of Mezcala in the state of Guerrero. Sure, life was better here, but that place held his family, his friends, and childhood memories of playing in the Atoyac River.
He smiled as he remembered fishing from the bridge of that river with his abuelo, just the two of them. It killed him that he hadn’t been able to see him one more time before he died. Knowing that the entire family had attended the funeral except for him and his brothers, he felt that he had never gotten closure. Maybe that was why he often thought of his abuelo as still alive. Diego would sometimes wonder what he was up to until the realization returned that he was gone.

The memory of his mother’s menudo, cooking on the stove all day, suddenly penetrated his nose, sending a calmness down his spine. Diego listened for sounds from the front room. The muffled noise of guns firing on television told him that Francisco was still up, watching one of his favorite cop shows. Mayra was most likely draped across his lap in a light sleep. Trying to shrug off his loneliness, Diego rolled over in hopes of going to sleep.

This year we are having an opening ceremony with two spirit drumming and a smudge. This will be followed by a premier fashion show by ERINWEAR fashions.

Workshops will include, Name and Gender change documentation, self defense, yoga for stress and anxiety, souvenir making.

Once again we will have a water slide so bring your swimming gear. Other activities will include, a cornhole tournament, and a team twister tournament.

We have a keynote speaker lined up. We will have a comedy show that is sure to leave you in stitches. This year's dinner offering is Taco Bar and all the fixin's.

Facebook event - Free Registration

Are you ready for some Kampout?  Well, it’s just a couple of weeks away.  Time to start putting your gear in order and making your final plans to head up the hill.  Get out of the heat and relax in the cool nights and comfortable days.

Just to remind you, this year’s theme is Kampout goes on Safari.  Lions and tigers and...yes…those bears.  This is the theme we planned for last year’s event which had to be cancelled due to fires, so if you had already started planning decorations, you're ahead of the game.  As always, we will have a contest for decorating your kampsite, and you could win fabulous prizes...and have a lot of fun.

Kampout is, as always, the weekend after Labor Day.  This year it will be September 7-9.  It will be held on the private property across the road from Texas Flat Campground, on the left side, so directions to the event are the same. There will be signs to guide you to the kamp.

 The cost for the weekend is just $30 per kamper.  This includes your kampsite, 2 beer busts, the Progressive Kocktail Party, Saturday dinner, 2 breakfasts, and much, much more.  You can relax, or join in the fun and games we have scheduled during the weekend and compete for prizes.  There's the Yacht Regatta, the Needle in the Haystack, and the always popular and hilarious Kamptown Races.  Don't forget the wonderful Kampstravaganza Show on Saturday night, where you can compete for the titles of Kamp King and Kamp Kween.  We encourage everyone to participate in this fun show.

Camping in the Sierras can cost over $20 a night just for a campsite.  At $30 for the whole weekend, Kampout is definitely the best bargain for your entertainment buck.

We want to advise everyone that, because we are on private property, there is no garbage service.  Be prepared to "pack it in, pack it out".  Private campfires will be allowed only if you bring an above ground, backyard type, pit.  You must also have a fire extinguisher, water bucket and shovel.  All dogs must be on a leash at all times.  This is for everyone’s safety.

So mark your calendars.  We hope to see you all there.

For more information, see our website www.kampoutfresno.com which has all the information you could want, or check out our Facebook page www.Facebook.com/KampoutFresno/

The Inaugural QueerOut Awards Gala will showcase local people and organizations for their outstanding achievements towards advancing our Queer/LGBT+ community in this place we call home. Our event will bring together 300+ people from across the Central Valley for an unforgettable evening of food, music and live performances.

Saturday, October 13, 2018
5:30 PM (Cocktail Reception); 6:00 PM (Awards Gala Begins)
Radisson Hotel Downtown Fresno
Formal attire required

Tickets & Table Prices
$50.00 per person
$500 per table of 10

Purchase a ticket or table today!

Casey Haggard, a 66-year-old transgender woman, was walking along Blackstone Avenue in central Fresno in July 2015 when she was fatally stabbed by a passenger in an SUV that pulled up alongside her.

Amrik Singh Bal, a 68-year-old Sikh, was walking in a neighborhood in west-central Fresno in December 2015 when he was attacked by a pair of men who beat him and then ran over him in a car. He survived his attack.

Sexual orientation or sexual identity was a major motivating factor for hate crimes in the Valley, according to the state data. Thirty-two gay men were targets across the region, and another 16 victims were lesbian women. Other victims included three people who identified as bisexual, while eight victims were transgender individuals. Another 22 victims were targeted by bias against the broader LGBT community.

Continue reading...

Since Donald Trump--the closest thing to an authoritarian leader the country has ever seen--became president, I have increasingly found comfort in the writings of historians and activists. When the current world of insane tweets and receding justice becomes overwhelming, I look back at how the United States handled times of disruption and upheaval.

Believe it or not, it helps a lot. It provides context and perspective that is sorely lacking in today's toxic, clickbait climate. Voting in EVERY presidential and midterm election, organizing and marching, calling your members of Congress, and staying tuned in to current events (from credible news sources) are all vitally important. But if you are looking for meaning and coherence in chaos, I highly recommend the look-back approach.

Read presidential histories. Read about how Americans overcame impossible odds. Read about the work done by generations of activists, work that often seemed to be done in vain.

One of my favorite quotes on the subject is an excerpt from Jon Meacham's new (and incredible book), The Soul of America. In this specific section of the book (Chapter 4: A New and Good Thing in the World), he uses the juxtaposition of the Progressive Era of the early 20th century to make a profound point:

And yet, and yet--there is always an "and yet" in American history. Taken all in all, Woodrow Wilson and his age are revealing examples of the battles between hope and fear. The era of the suffrage triumph, for instance, was also the age of segregation, of the suppression of free speech in wartime, of the Red Scare of 1919-20, and of the birth of a new Ku Klux Klan. The story of America is thus one of slow, often unsteady steps forward. If we expect the trumpets of a given era to sound unwavering notes, we will be disappointed, for the past tells us that politics is an uneven symphony.

Yes, Anthony Kennedy's retirement in the age of Trump is a tragedy. It represents a blow to political progress that may take decades to overcome. I'm not naive to that fact. This is a setback of epic proportions that will impact millions of lives.

But it is definitely not the end of the country. All hope is not lost. Our lives have not ended. Keep moving forward. Stop posting defeatist "jokes" to social media for clicks. We owe it to the country, the future, those who blazed the trails before, and ourselves.