Gay Central Valley

Gay Central Valley exists to contribute to and enrich the cultural life of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons, their families, friends and supporters in California's Central Valley. The organization's goals are to create awareness, educate and develop in the Central Valley the diversity of cultural expression in the LGBT community. Along with informing and promoting cultural events in the Central Valley, the organization has as one of its purposes the education of the public about the history, contributions and diversity of the LGBT community, especially in the Central Valley.

Jason Scott

Jason has spent over a decade working towards full marriage equality with leading statewide/nationwide non-profit marriage equality organizations and continues to represent Marriage Equality USA in Fresno County. As a small business owner since 1999 he understands the value of fiscal responsibility and accountability. Mr. Scott began operating local LGBT resource websites in December of 2000 after the devestating loss in the Proposition 22 campaign in California.

jason (@) gaycentralvalley.org
President

Chris Jarvis

Chris Jarvis has been writing his entire life, driven by a passion for truth and justice. After a career in Hotel Management, Chris joined Gay Fresno in 2005 as lead journalist in order to become more involved as an activist in the erupting battle for equal civil rights for LGBT Americans. Chris worked together with Jason Scott to expand Gay Fresno from a not for profit website into Gay Central Valley, an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating several Valley websites, all dedicated to supporting the Central Valley's LGBT Community, as well as its supporters and the greater community at large.

chris (@) gaycentralvalley.org
Vice President

Brooke Burk

Brooke Burk has successfully run the Gay Visalia website for a few years now. During that time she has become a community activist hosting and organizing various events throughout the south valley for marriage equality and human rights. She instrumented a holiday toy drive, created a successful and fun LGBT softball team, hosts the yearly event Family Fest and is always willing to help out other local community organizations. Brooke is now a volunteer with The Trevor Project and will be educating youth throughout the upcoming school year. Raising 3 children with her partner; she knows how important the youth of our community are. Brooke has great energy and we are glad to have her part of our organization.

brooke (@) gaycentralvalley.org
Treasurer/CFO & GayVisalia.com Division Leader

Kate Henry

During the campaign to pass proposition 8, Kate realized that the civil rights of the gay community were in jeopardy and she was moved to take action. Believing that no group should have rights taken away and that rights are not constitutionally subject to the vote, she began to volunteer with Gay Central Valley. "This is the civil rights cause of this time in our history." Kate has been an active community member as a youth program director, a counselor in programs for mental health clients and those seeking recovery from drugs and alcohol. She is the former Executive Director of the Fresno Nonprofit Advancement Council where she assisted community benefit organizations in incorporating nonprofit best practices. She holds a B.A. in Social Work and a Certificate of Nonprofit Leadership and Management. As a volunteer, Kate has worked with local programs including the American Red Cross, Lao Family Community and Woodward Shakespeare Festival. She also devotes time to the American Humanics Nonprofit Leadership Program at Fresno State as an alumna volunteer and manager of the student mentoring project. She is a member of Advisory Board for the American Humanics Program, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and the National Association of Social Workers. In 2005 she received the Community Engagement Award from Fresno State.
kate (@) gaycentralvalley.org
Secretary & Community Engagement Team, Team Leader

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