Queer Fresno

What do you call 50 queers gathering in a lecture hall to discuss various matters relating to the GLBTQ+ community?

Apparently it’s a Town Hall Meeting.

Which is exactly what happened Thursday night at the Health Science building on Fresno City College’s campus. Equality California put it on, which was interesting for several reasons. If you’re not aware, EQCA was one of the major players behind the No on 8 campaign. The campaign which decided that the Central Valley wasn’t worth the time, energy, effort or money to support. Needless to say, that left a lot of people with bad tastes in their mouths…

However, I came away from the meeting with a relatively good impression. Geoff Kors, the Executive Director of EQCA, made a personal appearance and gave what I took to be a sincere apology for what happened last year. He also brought Marc Solomon with him. Marc apparently was heavily involved in the marriage equity fight in Massachusetts and was recently brought on board to head up the efforts here in California. He talked about his plans to have someone based here in the valley to co-ordinate efforts and lend EQCA’s support to the entire state going forward. Which is laudable though it raised a few eyebrows as to exactly how that would play out. Also on the panel were Robin McGehee, she of Meet in the Middle fame, and Beverly from Central California Alliance. Both women gave very powerful speeches regarding where this movement has been and where they see it going in the future. Regarding her work on Meet in the Middle Robin said it “will make sure that people think twice before messing with lgbt community”. A sentiment I personally applauded for. Following them was an attorney from the Stonewall Democrats who explained the current legal status of the court battle and what the likely outcomes are.

Town halls have a tendency to be a lot of talk with very little action, which this one certainly was. Yet I walked away from it thinking that while the events of last November were hurtful and diffficult to handle that it seems to be leading to our community working more closely with another and that we are at least learning from our mistakes. In all likelihood there’s going to be another election battle in 2010, regardless of what the California Supreme Court decides about Proposition 8. Prior to Thursdays meeting I was a little suspect of our chances. Now though, all my fears have not been assuaged but I’m at least confident in the fact next time around it won’t be simple, stupid mistakes that lead to defeat.