Get your tea ready, because the 2026 season opener has been heavy, chaotic, and full of opportunities we cannot afford to miss. We are 20 days into the year, and the chessboard is already moving. But remember: a Queen never folds, she just reshuffles the deck.
Community Alert: A Queen Needs Her Court
We need community now more than ever. We are clutching our pearls and our hearts today with the shocking news that the Take 3 x Grumpy Burger Lady has announced the closing of her restaurant.
But in true Queen fashion, she isn’t fading away; she is reclaiming her narrative. She has released a daily countdown for the final 30 days of her legacy. It saddens me, but it also lights a fire under us. Now is the time to show up.
Drag Story Hour and I are stepping in to help facilitate a “Going Out With a Bang” celebration for our QUEEN Burger Lady. We are taking over the space to ensure her final days are filled with love, laughter, and sales!!
🚨 THE ASSIGNMENT: RSVP for the book club, pull up to the restaurant, and get you a burger! Let’s send her off with the abundance she deserves.
The Community Calendar: Taking Up Space
If you are looking for your tribe, here is where we are gathering
BlaQueer Meet-up
PpTue, Jan 20 @ 6:00 PM
BreakBox Thought Collective
The weekly strategy and joy session for Black & Queer folks.
Gay Speed Dating
Wed, Jan 21 @ 6:30 PM
Vibez Lounge (Olive Ave)
“Men Seeking Men” edition. Tired of the apps? Go meet a husband.
Drag Story Hour Book Club
Sat, Jan 24 @ 12:00 PM
Take 3 (Grumpy Burger Lady)
Wish of the Wicked (Week 2). Support the venue, read the book, feed your soul.
✊🏾 Black History Month is Loading…
February is around the corner, and we are shifting from “Planning” to “Celebration.”
LGBTQ+ Games & Snacks
Fri, Feb 4th @ 6:30PM
Fresno Woodward Park
Low-stakes, high-fun. Perfect for a sober night out.
“Reflections” Art Hop:
Thu, Feb 5 @ 5:00 PM | Downtown Fresno | A showcase of Black queer visual artists.
IDC Trans Ball:
Sat, Feb 7 @ 5:00 PM | Fresno City College Cafeteria | The category is: 70 Disco.
The Political Rundown:
If you felt a shift in the air, you weren’t imagining it. Since the inauguration, we’ve seen over 200 executive orders—many aimed at dismantling what this administration calls “woke” treaties. On Jan 7th, the U.S. formally withdrew from agreements focused on gender equality and racial justice.
They are also proposing cuts to federal arts funding for programs promoting “divisive concepts” (aka us). This puts pressure on our local non-profits to find private funding fast.
On Jan 13th, the Supreme Court heard arguments for West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox. These aren’t just legal titles; they are the battleground for trans students’ rights to exist in sports. The ruling drops in June, but the message is clear: they are coming for the T in LGBTQ.
Local Beat: The “Great Fresno Shuffle”
Fresno politics is undergoing a massive facelift. Open seats mean open doors.
On Jan 9th, downtown Fresno erupted for Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother killed during an ICE operation. Over 100 people marched. We see you, we honor you, and we will not stay silent.
The Gerrymandering Tea: News just dropped regarding the racial gerrymandering lawsuit involving Assemblymember David Tangipa’s district. The argument is that current maps dilute Black and Brown voting power. If this lawsuit gains traction, we could see new district lines. If the maps change, everything changes.
Heavy hitters are moving. Annalisa Perea (D1) is running for Assembly. Miguel Arias (D3) is terming out.Filing deadline is March 6th. We need candidates who will protect our strides. Is it you?
Culture & Entertainment: Black, Queer, & Golden
The Golden Globes on Jan 12th gave us the visibility we starved for.
The Winners Circle
Teyana Taylor
Best Supporting Female Actor – Motion Picture
Teyana gave the speech of the night. While she is often cited as a fierce ally to the community, her win is a massive victory for Black women in Hollywood. She dedicated the award to “brown sisters and little brown girls,” reminding them that “our softness is not a liability.”
Erin Doherty
Best Supporting Female Actor – Television
The out lesbian actress took home the gold for playing a therapist. In her speech, she gave a nod to the mental health journey we are all on, saying, “Life can be tough. Mental health is everything.”
Rhea Seehorn
Best Female Actor – Drama Series
Though Rhea herself is an ally, she won for portraying a complex lesbian character, Carol. She emphasized that she loved how her character’s sexuality wasn’t “the remarkable thing” about her, but just a part of her humanity.
The “People’s Champ” Moments
These icons didn’t take home a statue, but they won the night.
Wanda Sykes: The MVP of the evening. When Ricky Gervais (who wasn’t there) won for Stand-Up, Wanda accepted the award on his behalf with the read of the century: “If you win, I get to accept the award on your behalf, and you’re going to thank God and the trans community.”
Colman Domingo: Our King of the Red Carpet was a presenter this year, gracing the stage to present Best Male Actor. He continues to be the standard for Black queer elegance.
Chase Infiniti: The breakout star was nominated for Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for One Battle After Another. She didn’t win, but being nominated alongside industry giants in her breakout year is a victory in itself.
The Ancestors Are Speaking
Billy Porter x James Baldwin: It is confirmed—Billy Porter is in final talks to star in/produce a James Baldwin biopic. He’s focusing on Baldwin’s “unapologetic queer existence” in the 60s. We are already reserving our tickets.
Music Radar: Jill Scott is coming to save us with To Whom This May Concern in February. J. Cole released the trailer for The Fall-Off.
On The Page: Laverne Cox dropped the cover for her memoir Turning the Tide (Spring 2026), promising to spill the tea on the “Hollywood Machine.”
Cerinass’s Note
The laws are changing, but we aren’t going anywhere. The new California laws that kicked in on Jan 1st—like AB 628 requiring landlords to provide fridges and stoves—show that when we push, we get wins.
The lawsuit involving Tangipa’s district proves one thing: They are afraid of our numbers. They wouldn’t try to redraw the maps if we weren’t a threat.
Don’t let the national news paralyze you.
🚨 ACTION ITEM:
Go to the Vibez Lounge mixer.March for Renee Good.Buy a burger from Take 3.
Stay regal,
Cerinass 👑
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