The Queens Lounge: The Royal Report  March 3, 2026

Welcome back to the Lounge, Darlings!

March is always a special month for me, but this year it means so much more. We are going on the road!! To celebrate a year of learning, growth, and being so incredibly inspired to highlight my skills and talent as your Miss Gay Fresno 2025, I am taking the next step. With grace, conviction, and a whole lot of spirit, I am officially your candidate for Miss Gay California 2026! Join me on the road to Long Beach. It is sure to be an absolute blast, and I am bringing every ounce of Central Valley fire with me to that stage.

But as I step up to compete for the state title, it also means it is time to step down locally. Stepping down as your Miss Gay Fresno is incredibly bittersweet. This reign has been one of the most transformative eras of my life. To the community who showed up to my shows, donated to my causes, and let me be a voice for our city: thank you. But the crown must be passed! I cannot wait to crown the new Miss Gay Fresno and watch her elevate this platform to new heights. The legacy continues, honey!

If you want to follow the journey, see the looks, and help fund the fantasy, please visit Queens Circle to support!

From the Governor’s Mansion to Fresno City Hall

California 2026: The Governor’s Race is On
Now that we are in March, the June 2, 2026 Primary Election is breathing down our necks. Because Governor Newsom is term-limited, the race to replace him is completely wide open. We have a highly fragmented field of candidates, which means every single vote from the queer and Black communities in the Central Valley holds massive weight. Do your research now—we need leaders who protect our rights, not politicians who use us as talking points.

Governor Newsom’s “Normalcy” Tour

We need to talk about our Governor. Gavin Newsom is currently on a national book tour, likely laying the groundwork for a 2028 presidential run. But in a recent interview, he stated that the Democratic Party needs to be “more culturally normal” and spend less time focusing on “pronouns and identity.”

Girl, Bye?

The California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus immediately released a statement pushing back, noting that defining who is “culturally normal” is a dangerous game that adopts the language of extremists. We cannot allow politicians who claim to be our allies to throw the queer and trans community under the bus just to appeal to the political center. We are watching, Gavin.

Fresno Local: The Arts Council Embezzlement Scandal

Fresno, we need to talk about the absolute mess happening at the Fresno Arts Council.

If you haven’t heard the news that broke in February, a former employee is under FBI and police investigation for allegedly embezzling $1.5 million in Measure P arts funding. Yes, you read that right: $1.5 million meant for local artists, community projects, and creatives just vanished.

Right now, dozens of artists and organizations are sitting in limbo, some even dealing with bounced checks. The City of Fresno has stepped in, severed ties with the Arts Council, and is currently trying to figure out how to make these artists whole—possibly by temporarily pulling money from the city’s general parks fund. As a creative who relies on community support, my heart breaks for the local artists who were counting on those grants. We demand transparency and we demand that our local creatives get paid!

Stay up to date, and follow @Dolceupfront to find out whats next.

Fresno Local: Measure C on the Horizon

Locally, keep your eyes on Measure C. The Fresno Council of Governments recently approved a massive $7.39 billion renewal plan for this transportation tax that will hit our ballots in November 2026. This impacts our roads, public transit, and how we move around our city. We need to ensure those funds actually serve all of Fresno, especially our underserved neighborhoods.

National: The Fight in Kansas

With the current conservative reality in the White House emboldening state legislatures, the attacks on our trans siblings are escalating. Just last week, a devastating new law took effect in Kansas that retroactively invalidated the driver’s licenses and birth certificates of roughly 1,700 trans people.

The ACLU is currently representing two trans men in a lawsuit to block this dehumanizing law. This is a stark reminder that our rights are fragile. To my trans siblings right here in Fresno and beyond: we see you, we are fighting for you, and we will not go back in the closet.

Health, Heritage, & History: March Awareness

March is packed with advocacy. We aren’t just celebrating; we are educating. Let’s break down what we are fighting for and focusing on this month:

Culture & Community

• Women’s History Month: Honoring the achievements, the labor, and the brilliance of women—especially the Black and queer women who built our movements.
• Irish-American Heritage Month: Celebrating Irish culture and contributions to the fabric of our society.
• Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month: Promoting true inclusion, accessibility, and unyielding support for our disabled siblings.

Body & Wellness

As a community, we have to talk about our health candidly.

Endometriosis Awareness Month: Highlighting a very common, yet painfully underdiagnosed condition that affects the reproductive system and causes severe pelvic pain.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Month: Educating the public on MS and supporting affected individuals whose immune systems attack their nerve fibers.

National Nutrition Month & Kidney Month: Focused on making informed food choices to protect our vital organs.

Workplace Eye Safety Awareness Month: Encouraging protective gear on the job.

Brain Injury Awareness Month & Sleep Awareness Month: Highlighting the importance of rest and protecting our most complex organ.  Brain Awareness Week is March 16-22

March Royalty: Black & Queer Icon Birthdays

Since we are celebrating Women’s History Month and the lingering power of Black History Month, let’s honor the absolute legends born in March.

Click on any of the names below to dive into the Queens Lounge Archive and read my full write-ups on these icons!

The March Calendar:

Mark your planners, Darlings. We have a lot of work (and celebrating) to do:

• March 1: Zero Discrimination Day & Self-Injury/Harm Awareness Day
• March 4: World Obesity Day & International HPV Awareness Day
• March 8: International Women’s Day (Also the start of National Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 8-14)
• March 10: National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
• March 13: World Sleep Day
• March 17: St. Patrick’s Day
• March 21: World Down Syndrome Day & International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
• March 24: World Tuberculosis Day
• March 26: Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness
• March 28: M Pageant
• March 30: National Doctors’ Day & World Bipolar Day
• March 31: International Transgender Day of Visibility

Local  Entertainment

If you need a break from the campaign trails and the serious news, Fresno has you covered.

The Final Word

This month is about visibility. Whether it’s standing up for Trans Day of Visibility on the 31st, advocating for your health at the doctor’s office, or stepping onto the stage in Long Beach to represent Fresno—take up space.

Head over to Queens Circle to support the journey to Miss Gay California.

With Grace and Conviction,

Cerinass Willdohim

Miss Gay Fresno 2025