My friend Linda and I arrived in Fresno just in time for the press conference for local media. Before the radical right could get any start demonizing all of us as "teh homosexual invaezjon army!!111!!!!1", such luminaries as Cleve Jones, Lt. Dan Choi, and Robin Tyler & Diane Olson explained that they're here in Fresno not to provoke controversy but to start dialogue on marriage equality and greater issues of civil rights. Local activists like Robin McGehee also explained that they're here all the time and they're committed to working with allies in other social justice movements to achieve equality for all in The Central Valley.
Not too long after the presser, I checked into the hotel... But only for a few minutes. I then rushed off to the other "first event of Meet in the Middle", which was the pre-party hosted by Equality Army and Erase the H8 with most of the proceeds benefitting Meet in the Middle. I connected with a few old friends, met plenty of new ones, and all around had a blast partying with my fellow queer love warriors. It was a great way to get fired up and ready to go marching today!
So now, I'm getting up and getting prepared for the big day. A march from downtown to City Hall starts at 12:00 PM, then the main event starts at 1:00 PM. We will be seeing not only celebrities and statewide LGBT leaders, but more importantly many thousands of people from all over the state and the country converge here to send a message that we will spread the message of equality all over California and all over the US. Yes, we'll even do it here in Fresno. After all, how will be able to reverse Prop H8 if we can't make any type of effort in places like Fresno?
I'll have more from Meet in the Middle soon. Stay tuned!
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