In a city as expansive and diverse as Fresno, everyone must have a place they can feel at ease, somewhere they can find a community and express themselves as they wish. This is no exception for Fresno’s queer community.
We are incredibly fortunate to live in a city that not only supports LGBTQ+ members but encourages queer youth to find their voice amidst the populous and busy landscape of Fresno.
Queer folks can find solace at Fresno EOC’s LGBTQ+ Resource Center. Located on Fulton Street, the center provides various support services to individuals of all ages and identities in Fresno County. These services include but are not limited to virtual peer support groups (both adult and youth), referrals for professional attention, advocacy, case management, and so much more. It is a place where queer individuals can find comfort and support in education, housing, employment, and any other facet of life that they may find themselves struggling in.
The Resource Center also takes part in city-wide events, putting out inexpensive clothes for people to purchase during events like ArtHop and orchestrating fun activities for individuals to partake in during Pride month.
I personally utilized the Resource Center when I was seeking out a chest binder but did not quite have the budget for it. The center granted me access to their Q-Closet, where individuals are welcome to take gender-affirming clothing entirely for free. Though a relatively little service, it gave me relief and a sense of comradery. I felt instantly recognized, and the small gesture opened me up to the uplifting and unifying quality of Fresno that can otherwise be hard to find.
More than resources, queer Fresnans have access to queer-friendly establishments of all sorts. From restaurants to salons to tattoo parlors, there is something for everyone to feel connected and comfortable in.
Among these is Bobby Salazar’s, a welcoming and gay-friendly Mexican dining experience. It is just like any other Mexican restaurant, serving up chips and salsa and the occasional margarita. However, the very fact that it is openly supportive of queer identities makes a huge impact on its significance in the city.
Though seemingly small, the restaurant’s declaration of queer support makes all the difference to its consumers. This is especially important to Fresno’s large Mexican population, among which it is common to find reluctant support for queer individuals. Though the strain of first-generation high standards and the “machismo” mentality found in the Mexican community may make it difficult for queer Mexicans to express themselves, places like Bobby Salazar’s serve to make Fresno a more pleasant (and delicious) place for people to enjoy.
Queer inclusivity can also be found at Judging by the Cover, an LGBT-owned pop-up bookstore located on Fulton Street that serves the Fresno area with books and prose, seeking to amplify marginalized voices and prioritizing works by women, LGBTQ+ members, BIPOC, disabled, and otherwise underrepresented creators.
The store offers all the same commodities of any other bookstore, but it strives to emphasize the importance of uplifting individuals that need it the most. This is a small but incredibly impactful notion. A city such as Fresno has an ever-growing population, much of which is composed of youth who are hungry for knowledge and recognition. It is places like Judging by the Cover that make a difference in this, and give individuals the space they need to feel seen, heard, and connected with others.
These are only a handful of services and experiences that Fresno has to offer. Still, they remind us of the importance of inclusivity. It’s the little things that make a difference, and if a store-owner, founder, or organization as a whole are able to make even a few people feel at home in their city, they are doing a job well done.
