Queer Networks

QN does Oakland Pride!

Mike Martinez — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 22:58:44 +0000

Left to right: Jim Reeves, Michael Dias, Yours Truly, and David Bishop.

QN launches Queer Phoenix

Mike Martinez — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 03:24:30 +0000

We launched our 12th local blog last week, adding Queer Phoenix to our growing national network of sites. Phoenix joins Oakland, Long Beach, Dallas, Miami, and Philadelphia on the metropolitan area front. Our Central California network is anchored by blogs in Stockton, Modesto, Merced, Fresno, Visalia, and Bakersfield. This addition brings our total column count to 17. We’re almost “legal”!!!

Helping to spread the word

Mike Martinez — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 01:06:08 +0000

Half of what we do across our network of sites is help spread news and information that serves local GLBT communities. Some may even argue it is the very reason we exist in the first place and I must might be one of those people. Our whole move to a blogging platform 4 years ago was in part predicated on the idea of getting more people involved so we could be more dynamic and fluid and relevant in the things we talked about.

We’ve always had a very stern and focused eye on keeping people informed. Today, we have enabled across our various networks the new sharing features made available last week by Word Press. As of today, our readers can help spread the word about what they read via email, Facebook, and twitter. We are very excited about giving our readers and supporters more opportunities to get involved and interact with our content and help make our local communities more fluid and efficient with our internal communication. Hell, churches have been doing it for years.

QN removes mobile browser settings

Mike Martinez — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:31:54 +0000

Effective this week QN will remove the mobile browser setting from all sites in our various networks. The WordPress.com default mobile browser is hard to navigate and not very visually appealing. With smart phones getting better and more advanced all the time we feel viewing the full version of our sites on mobile devices will make for a better user experience.

Starline is now 21 and over (via Queer Fresno)

David Bishop — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 01:13:21 +0000

Due to some complications with Starline Grill’s conditional use permit with the City of Fresno, Starline has been informed their venue must now only allow persons of legal drinking age admission during their late night events. Obviously this is a very tough decision to absorb for INTEGRATION but there just isn’t anything to do in the short-term. Wednesday night will continue to be gay night at Starline, sponsored by Queer Fresno, we will just h … Read More

via Queer Fresno

Senior blogger returns to leadership team

Mike Martinez — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 05:58:49 +0000

It is with great excitement that we announce the return of Mr. Adam Growdon to the QN leadership team. After a year and a half absence, Adam returns to his former role of senior blogger effective today. Adam left QN for health reasons that impacted his involvement but has decided to rejoin our ranks! Adam has spent time as in officer with Queer Fresno and QN and brings some positive history and insight back to the project. We’re proud and honored to have him back on the team. Welcome back Ace!

QN salutes federal decision to overturn Proposition 8

Mike Martinez — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 01:32:37 +0000

A U.S. federal court overturned Proposition Hate 8 this week in a landmark decision that reignited the legal battle over gay marriage and equality for California’s GLBT community. As an organization, QN salutes and applauds the decision and the rulings strong language on behalf of gays and lesbians.

No matter how you slice it, gay marriage boils down to one thing: equality. There is nothing more unAmerican than denying rights, privileges, and freedoms to any class of citizens. We learned this when we finally gave women the right to vote, when we legalized civil rights for African-Americans, and when we gave women the right to choose in Roe v. Wade.

Proponents of Prop Hate have already filed their intent to appeal and the issue will undoubtedly continue to work its way through our judicial system. Ultimately, this case will wind up on the front door step of the highest court in the land (the U.S. Supreme Court) and they will have to decide wether to hear the case or reject it.

The war is definitely far from over but this was a great battle won. Woot!

JimmieJoe.com makes Freshly Pressed

Mike Martinez — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:48:32 +0000

One of our columns made WordPress.com’s Freshly Pressed section today. Jim’s blog on NASA’s new robot made the front page of Word Press and this is a great honor. In fact, this is the very first QN blog to be noted like this. Way to go Jim! We’re lucky to have you.

Here is the blog: OMG! Robot Geek! NASA Snuck This One Right Past Me!

QN partners with Fresno Links

Mike Martinez — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:45:38 +0000

We have officially partnered with a new local venture in Fresno. Fresno Links is a collection of local area business and service websites loosely organized by genre and type. Fresno Links aims to be added resource to local business and will be cross promoted on Queer Fresno. We are very excited about this new venture as an added benefit for local residents and visitors to quickly find resources and various services in the Fresno area.

QN expands leadership team

Mike Martinez — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 04:28:26 +0000

We added three senior bloggers to our leadership team today. Jocelyn Brownell, Anthony Ellingwood, and Daniel Hester will be joining QN as junior officers effective today. We have been needing to rebuild our bench for several months now due to growth and development over the first half of the year. We are very excited about our new additions and anxiously await working with them in more official capacities.

Jocelyn, of Fresno, will be coming on board primarily to assist us with managing and supporting INTEGRATION at Starline in the Tower District on Wednesday nights. Jocelyn has been a huge straight ally of Queer Fresno for over a year now and brings strong retail and customer service experience to the team. Anthony (AJ) and Daniel, both of Porterville, have been blogging for Queer Visalia ever since Pride in the Park 2010 last May and bring youth, energy, and small business experience to our team. They also will be assisting with INTEGRATION whenever possible as well as posting regularly on QV.

Leadership is one of our organizational values and we seek to recruit creative, ethical, and progressive minded individuals who are passionate and professional in both their private and public lives. Our senior bloggers are volunteers who wish to help us achieve our mission and goals while also preparing themselves for more senior leadership roles in the future.