Available May 22, Harvey Milk Day in California.
USPS Honors Harvey Milk with a stamp
April 21, 2014
Gay, News equality, Harvey Milk, LGBT, lgbtq, Post office issues Harvey Milk stamp, USPS Leave a comment
Self Evident Truth Project Visalia Pictures posted
January 15, 2014
Gay, Personal, Pictures gay photo shoot, iO Tillet Wright, lgbtq, Self Evident Truth Project 3 Comments
In October New York photographer iO Tillet Wright brought her photographic project to Visalia. Simple black and white photographs illustrate the basic humanity in members of the LGBTQ community. The Self Evident Project’s goal is 10,000 simple photos of people from all walks of life. Here’s mine.
For the complete Visalia set of images, go to Self Evident Truth / Visalia
Demons, Diabolical Lifestyles, and late middle age
December 18, 2013
commentary, Gay, Humor, Personal anti-gay, demon possessed, gay demons, gay persecution, LGBT, religion, visalia gay 6 Comments
Not my demon, apparently
Demon possessed. That’s what the ex-chaplain says. Gays have an “un-human demonic spirit” in them.
A local resident of Visalia, Sam Lukes, said we have a “diabolically twisted lifestyle” in a recent letter to the editor*.
Russian actor Ivan Okhlobystin is ready to toss us in the nearest oven. The government is not far behind, as the Duma (Russia’s Parliament) has passed into law sweeping edicts that seem to make even talking about homosexuality a crime. The 2014 Olympics are taking a hit over the crackdown.
We’ve made some impressive progress over the past few decades, and things, at least in the USA and some other progressive western nations, are getting better.
But to listen to some of these nutjobs talk, you’d think Satan himself was walking the Earth in a leather harness and spiked heels. As they describe what it is to be gay, I’m looking at myself and thinking…
A Day in LGBT America – The Advocate
December 10, 2013
9-1-1, Gay, Personal 9-1-1 dispatcher, 911, A Day in LGBT America, Jim Reeves, The Advocate 1 Comment
The Advocate asked for submissions for a piece on “A Day in LGBT America”, so I sent one in. They chose it as one of those posted on the web. It brings up the end of the day, since I took it at 10:48 pm.
Sticker Shock
November 29, 2013
Gay, Personal barber shop, Caldwell Barber Shop, evolved, Gay rights, HRC equality logo, LGBT, marriage equality, obama 1 Comment
Today I stopped in at my regular barber shop for what I call my “5 minute slash-and-burn”.* I parked across from the shop** and as I walked up to go in, two of the lady barbers*** were taking a break, sitting on the curb out front. We said hello as I passed.
I went inside and sat down with the other waiting customers, many of us fiddling with our phones to pass the time.****
The ladies finished their break, and came in, and I was called up by one of them. After the introductory pleasantries, and telling her how I wanted my hair(s) cut, something new happened. She asked what my bumper stickers meant.
Apparently they sat outside during their break and discussed what they might be about. They were not familiar with the HRC equality symbol, and were a bit confused what the “Obama Evolved” indicated. Internally, I almost groaned, and thought this might not go well.
Another one. This could become a trend this week.
October 15, 2013
commentary, Gay black model, breakfast, grindr, hunk 2 Comments
@Grindr Tweeted this today.
I’m suddenly wanting some hot chocolate…
October 11, 2013
Gay chocolate, Gay, hot men, underwear 3 Comments
The ‘Trophy Wall’ has an addition
September 28, 2013
Gay, News, Personal, Pictures dispatcher of the year, Ham radio, hate in a small town, kc6yru, trophy wall Leave a comment
On Saturday, September 21, 2013, the local newspaper, The Visalia Times Delta, published in the print edition an article I wrote on September 18 and posted to my blog “Alternating Currents” (where I post as one of three community bloggers on their website. You can read “Hate in a small town” here). Partially visible is another Times Delta article from 1996 that mentions me and other HAM radio operators as we were preparing for Field Day. The two identical looking plaques are the 2012 and 2013 proclamations issued by the City of Visalia, proclaiming June LGBT Pride Month in the city. These proclamations were signed by the Mayor Shuklian and the four other City Council members. (Take that, Porterville!) Also on the wall is my certificate from the Visalia Police Department’s Citizen’s Police Academy, issued in May 1999. Down in the corner is my Starfleet Academy diploma, certifying my status as an officer in good standing in the Federation Starfleet. Not visible are documents and diplomas that are work related, including POST training certificates, Dispatcher of the Year (2005), my HAM radio license, and other work related items.
A Tale of Two Cities
June 5, 2013
commentary, Gay, News, Personal city council meeting hostile to lgbt community, LGBT, porterville, Porterville city council issues lgbt pride month proclamation, visalia 2 Comments
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”
A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens
What a difference a day makes! On Monday, June 3, 2013, the City of Visalia‘s City Council issued it’s second LGBT Pride Month Proclamation. On Tuesday, June 4th, the City of Porterville issued it’s first. The two events could not have been more different.
Both cities provide online applications for proclamations, with instructions on how to turn them into the city. Such requests are routinely handled by cities across the country, and are ways for cities to recognize citizens and groups. Here’s Porterville’s “Request a Proclamation” page.
Visalia’s proclamation resulted in applause and friendly chatter in a standing room only crowd that overflowed into the hallway. This year’s proclamation went mostly unnoticed by the greater community in Visalia. Last year it provoked some media coverage and talk-radio interviews with the Mayor of Visalia, Amy Shuklian. Porterville’s proclamation, in a meeting room at least twice the size of Visalia’s, also with standing room only and overflow into the hall, resulted in boos, catcalls, the arrest of a anti-gay protestor, and at least two calls for the death penalty for homosexuals.
JimmieJoe / KC6YRU 
I see gay people
May 24, 2014
Jim Reeves commentary, Gay discreet gay men, gay couples, gaydar, lesbian couples, lgbt couples Leave a comment
Gay couple, circa 1875
Growing up, I had always viewed Visalia as hostile to gay life. In the 70’s (the 1970’s mind you), I didn’t see any gay people. There were some everybody suspected (everybody as in my classmates at Mt. Whitney High School. That’s a representative sample, right?), but none who I knew for certain. That’s part of the reason it wasn’t until the 21st century, and my 40’s, that I even began my coming out process. No positive role models.
Today, I notice something completely different. The gays are everywhere! No, really. I see them all the time.
How do I know? Easy. Every time I go into a local supermarket, they’re there. It’s clear to me they aren’t just “roommates” from the apartment complexes nearby, but are actual couples. Watch them if you don’t believe me. (be discreet about it, though)
I suppose part of it is that I’m “in tune” to spotting them now. My “gaydar” has been upgraded since my teens, thank goodness. But at some point in the last thirty years Visalia has become home to a rather large, if publicly silent, group of gay and lesbian couples. (The 2010 US Census listed Tulare County as the #1 County in California with gay couples raising children, per capita)
It’s an interesting mix of individuals, too. Seen alone, you’d probably never spot them as gay or lesbian (I’ve noticed you gals, too… it’s not just the men I’m noticing out there!). But in the store, engaged in one of those mundane chores of daily life, I see them. Most of them tend to be younger couples, guys and gals in their 20’s. (That may reflect the demographics of those apartment complexes I mentioned.) I have noticed some older couples, too, although the higher in age they get, the more they tend to be a lesbian couple.
Now it’s almost a game for me when I go shopping. I’ve got the gaydar on max, and I’m letting it sweep the store as I walk, seeing what I find. (I’m easily entertained at times.) There goes a couple now. Yep, gay. There’s another pair, but it’s clear they’re NOT a couple, but probably are, honestly and truly, roommates. No sharing of toothpaste or bedrooms there. Once you start paying attention, it really is rather obvious.
Or maybe I just know what to look for these days. Now all I have to do is figure out how to spot *single* gay men!
Share this: