Mission & Vision
Solano Pride Center builds community and provides services for Solano County’s LGBTQIA2S+ people and our allies. Solano Pride Center envisions a community where all LGBTQIA2S+ people live freely and authentically.
Do you get our weekly eBlasts on Wednesday afternoons? If not, or if you need to update your email, follow this link to register for our weekly eBlasts. Look below for some of our latest eBlasts.
SPC is hosting an Art Contest to create some ideas we’d like to put on t-shirts and other products!
Share this opportunity with your creative friends, and let’s share some ideas for how we can expand the welcome! We are extending the contest to Feb. 1st, so please send us your ideas. We will find an artist to make them real!
https://tinyurl.com/solanoprideform
Letter from the Executive Director:
| I hope you had a wonderful holiday season, and that your winter hibernation has been giving the fallow time we each need to rest and recharge this time of year. As we move into the new year, please do check out all of the new programs and the regular ones you have come to know and love. Our friends at Community Congregational Church UCC in Benicia (105 West 2nd Street, Benicia) is hosting a series of conversations. I’ll be giving a history of differing cultures and religious groups relationship with us, how we got to the situation with Right Wing Christian Nationalists today, and what we can do as Progressive Christians to make a difference for the LGBTQ+ community. Community Congregational Church UCC of Benicia hosted this talk “Weaponization of Christianity against LGBTQ+ People” as a part of their 2025 LGBTQ+ Free Lecture Series. Will McGarvey, Executive Director, shared this on Sunday, January 12th, 2025 in Benicia, CA. They are available to share their Biblical Self Defense course in your group or congregation upon request. https://youtu.be/pVImrR6eFIc?si=vvMb8hX1I-9cdYdq   I’ll also be preaching the next Sunday, Jan 19th at 9:30 am at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church (1600 Union Ave., Fairfield) and then leading part 2 of my Biblical Self Defense workshop after church at their education hour after church. I did the Hebrew Scripture’s portion last year, and will be sharing the Christian Scripture’s portion that day. If you are looking for an Open and Affirming, Welcoming or Reconciling congregation, you can check out our list online at https://solanopride.org/welcoming-congregations/. There’s contact info for their leadership there if you wish to get to know them before attending. |
MLK Day activities we are aware of:
We will be doing a Fundraising Day at Panera Bread at 1630 Gateway Blvd, in Fairfield All Day (7 am to 9 pm!) on Thursday, January 23rd.
Upcoming Events:
How are you? Really?
Help us know better how to create programs for our new post-election world.
Here is the link to our Solano County LGBTQIA2S+ Community Needs Assessment. We need to hear from you what you feel are the biggest needs you have given our new post election political and legal reality. Please take the 3-6 minutes to share your voice!
We have prepared a new Parent’s Survey here to help us know when works best to be able to gather parents of LGBTQ+ children for social and support needs. Please fill it out, or share it with those you know who have queer children.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1lg9sg1yXYRLshPRFgbP-ODXHYQcaT2VCOT_1dR6Voxs/edit?ts=673e3e2c
We will be doing another See’s Candy fundraiser for the Center between now and January 31st! (That way they arrive in time for V-Day!)
If you would rather get sugar-free sweets for your Honey, please buy the gift cards, and then you can use them locally or online to get the healthier sweets for your sweetie pie.
https://www.yumraising.com/secure/solanopc_solano_pride_center18/ChaRic2420/candyCan you help us by sharing this link (https://www.yumraising.com/secure/solanopc_solano_pride_center18/ChaRic2420/candy) before January 31st? You can use the qrcode above to share on your social media as well. Please share the link!
| If you are giving to our General Fund to support all of our programming, you can give through our portal on Zeffy at https://tinyurl.com/Give2SolanoPride. |
Every year BAQWA produces an anthology of members’ writing as a benefit for a Bay Area Queer charity
This year proceeds from sales of TOGETHER, the 2024-25 benefit anthology, go to the Solano County Pride Center, which provides support for LGBTQ+ people in the county, offers free HIV testing, and creates Queer Pride events in cities across the county. We hope BAQWA members will come read from the anthology at future SPC events, including the Holiday Dinner. If you’d like to order the book online, the proceeds also help fund our important work here. Thanks to Richard May who had them available at the Holiday Dinner to sell copies!
Social and Support Groups for many sub groups within our community.
| Military/Veterans LGBTQ+ Social & Support Group: Changes to 2nd Tuesdays: Next meets Tuesday, Feb. 11th at the Heretic Brewery and Distillery (1052 Horizon Drive, Fairfield) from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. We hope this group becomes a great social and support group for all active duty military or retired veterans in the queer community. Contact the facilitators by email by following these links: Will McGarvey & Jim Dailey. |
| LGBTQ2S+ Men’s & Masc Social & Support Group (3rd Wednesdays – January 15th from 7:00 to 8:30 pm – at the Center’s Lobby). This group is for all those who identify as male/masc, and is trans inclusive, led by Will McGarvey & Milton Heath Solórzano. Contact us by email for more info at will@solanopride.org or miltonheath@solanopride.org. |
| Grief Support Group will will next meet at an in-person gathering on Friday, January 10th & 24th from 10-11:30 am in the conference room at the Center’s building. Rachel Wilson and Timothy Meyer will be the facilitators for the group that will meet in person on the 2nd and 4th Fridays, and will find another time in the early evening on another day of the week for zoom meetings. Rachel can be contacted at rachel@solanopride.org or by phone or text at 707.681.1887. |
| The Gender Expansive Circle will meet again on Friday, Jan. 17th at 5:30 pm in the Conference Room. GEC meets on the first and third Friday’s of each month unless noted. This group is for Trans, Intersex, Non-binary, Gender non-conforming and those questioning their gender identity or expression. The group will be led by Kacen Cosmos and Cristina Zaldana! Questions can be directed to Kacen Cosmos at kacen@solanopride.org. |
| Pan-Pagan/Magickal Support Group is normally the 4th Wednesdays from 7-8:30 pm, and will meet in our Lobby on Wed, Jan 22nd. For those with any form of neo-pagan, polytheistic, or non-abrahamic practice, to explore the intersections of queerness and pagan spirituality. Led by members of SPC Staff. Bring something from your altar to share about. |
Interested in a book group? Let’s read and discuss The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Kline
(there’s a sequel called “Somewhere Beyond the Sea” Cerulean Chronicles book 2 we can do afterwards). V.E. Schwab said of it, “I loved it. IT is like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket. Simply perfect.”
Let’s meet to discuss it for an hour on the first Tuesdays of the month at 7 pm on zoom (registration link here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0pde-vqT0iE9xxBfjOxd1aiVD8ZZubxO8k, we will use the same link each time). Read at least the first 10 chapters for the February 4th gathering online. Will and Colin will be facilitating the group discussion.
| The HIV Positive Support Group will continue as a zoom group on the 3rd Thursdays of the month, but now from 4:00 to 5:30 pm. The next group meeting is this Thursday, January 22nd. Contact cristina@solanopride.org for more information. This is the first meeting, so plan on attending to share what you’d like to see in future meetings! Facilitated by Cristina Zaldana and Jim Jones. Future dates below. |
| Drop in Parent’s group has been discontinued for now. We have prepared a new Parent’s Survey here to help us know when works best to be able to gather parents of LGBTQ+ children for social and support needs. Please fill it out, or share it with those you know who have queer children. If you know you’d like to attend a Parent’s Support Group, please email our Clinical Director, Colin Amato, at colin@solanopride.org, we may be able to start in mid January in the closest town to the participants. Colin and board member Stephan Clifford have created a beautiful 8-week program for the families and friends of those transitioning. |
We have prepared a new Parent’s Survey here to help us know when works best to be able to gather parents of LGBTQ+ children for social and support needs. Please fill it out, or share it with those you know who have queer children.
| A supportive gathering for those who experience Chronic Illness and Chronic Pain. Next group will be announced as soon as new leadership is announced. Contact Colin for more info, and know that you are not alone. Colin can be contacted at colin@solanopride.org or by phone or text at 707.408.2458. |
We are working to prepare another group as well….
The QR code: Queer Recovery
The QR Code is a 12-step LGBTQ+ group for those in recovery for any addictions. The first meeting will be Sunday, February 16th at 7 pm. The group will meet in person at the Solano Pride Center’s Lobby on the 1st and 3rd Sunday evenings at 7 pm. Come to the south doors near our offices and knock to be let in. Hosted by Christopher Cortes (christopher@solanopride.org) with shared leadership from other members of the group. Anonymity will be protected.
Other groups are being prepared, including: Women’s Group and a Bi/Pan/Omni support group. Contact will@solanopride.org if you are interested in helping facilitate any of these groups.
HIV Prevention Awareness
| HIV Prevention Awareness! 1st Tuesday of the Month at the Solano Pride Center. The next Testing Tuesday, is January 7th from 4-6 pm at 1234 Empire St, in Fairfield. This FREE HIV TESTING is now being offered at our Center in the evening. Thank you. Cristina Zaldana Cristina Zaldana |
Senior Programs!
Our next Senior Lunch will be Friday, January 17th in the Conference Room at the Center. Board Member Tyler Dorman from Meals on Wheels will be presenting on nutrition for Seniors. We will also be sharing about some upcoming fundraisers that members can participate in, one without giving funds! Contact Kacen@solanopride.org for more info.
We will be having our next Senior Zoom meeting on January 24th! The next Senior Lunch will be Jan. 3rd, and the next Zoom Senior Group will be meeting online on Jan 10th. Contact marlette@solanopride.org to get the link to join the fun!
Solano Pride Center offers counseling and psychotherapy to the LGBTQ+ community of Solano County.
There are openings available for those who wish to be seen for counseling services right now! We are able to see clients for up to six months at no cost to clients, helping you make sense of life as a queer person, get support coming out, or deepening your self confidence by talking about your past. Please call our confidential line to make an appointment at: 707-389-4520.
In addition Solano Pride Center is accepting application from Associate Clinicians (AMFT and ACSW) in addition to trainees needing practicum sites who are interested in providing therapy to the LGBTQ community. Please contact our Clinical Director Colin Amato at colin@solanopride.org for more information.
Youth Programming! Now, All Over the County!
No Queerios at the Kyle Hyland Foundation until January, as the Teen Center is closed all next week (Nov 26th), and will be closed on Christmas Eve as well.
Future Youth Groups in cities around the county!
We are watching Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin this Friday at the Center in Fairfield, next Tuesday the 21st in Vacaville, and Tuesday the 28th in Benicia.
Rio Vista Teen Pride meets Friday, January 24th! (on the 4th Fridays) from 3:30-5:30 pm at Rio Vista Cares in Rio Vista! There’s always Pizza!
Led by Judy Serafini and Zaida Mungaray.
Calling All Volunteers!
Calling all volunteers! If you want to be a volunteer at Solano Pride Center, please let us know!
Our next Volunteer Training is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan 22nd at 6 pm on Zoom. If you are interested in volunteering, just for special events or on a more regular basis at the Center, please email cristina@solanopride.org with the best times that work for you to be trained. These trainings are necessary for anyone who wishes to volunteer at the Center, in one of our Programs, or even for short term events like our Pride celebrations being planned now! Don’t miss this informative background on how to help, knowing our best practices and Community Agreements!
Our colleagues at Equality California have compiled a resource page at their website for us, especially noting what resources we may need post election. Check it out here:
https://www.eqca.org/post-election-guidance/
As they note, “Please keep in mind the information is general guidance that can help each person and each family make decisions that are right for them, but it is not legal advice. We strongly encourage community members to seek advice about their particular situation from an experienced attorney and/or health care provider. You can find more information about organizations that provide free legal assistance in the resources section.”
Equality California is thrilled to announce the official date of our annual LGBTQ+ Advocacy Day. Please save the date and be prepared to join us at the State Capitol in Sacramento on Wednesday, March 26, 2025!
LGBTQ+ Advocacy Day is a critical opportunity for community leaders, activists, and allies from across the state to come together to raise awareness about the growing threats facing the LGBTQ+ community — especially transgender youth and their families — and build collective power to advance change. Next year’s event will be more important as the incoming Trump administration will attempt to undermine protections for LGBTQ+ people across education, employment, health care, housing, immigration, and more.
The event will kick-off at 9:00 AM with advocacy training on LGBTQ+ legislative and budget priorities followed by a press conference at the State Capitol with the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. Participants will then have the opportunity to meet with legislators and their staff to advocate for priority bills to safeguard our rights and ensure that California remains a safe haven for the LGBTQ+ community. There will be a closing reception at 5:00 PM for participants to celebrate our successes and recharge for the work ahead.
We look forward to sharing more details about LGBTQ+ Advocacy Day — including our policy platform and other logistics — early next year.
Need to contact one of our staff? Would you like to drop by to check out a book from our Queer Library? Contact us this way.
If you find yourself in crisis during this time, please call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or our partners at these crisis numbers!
• Trevor Project Crisis Line: 1-866-488-7386
• Trans Lifeline Crisis Number: 1-877-565-8860
• Solano County Mobile Crisis Number: 707-806-0866
• Solano County Crisis Stabilization Service Number: 707-428-1131
Please also welcome Christopher Cortes, our new MSW Intern working with us this Semester. His contact info is christopher@solanopride.organd can be texted or called at 707.408.3136.
Hello Everyone,
My name is Christopher Cortes (He/Him/His) I am an Intern here at Solano Pride Center working towards gaining my Masters Degree in Social Work. Currently I have my Bachelors Degree in Social Work and am a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor (CADC III ICADC). I am looking forward to working with the center to support the LGBTQ+ population in our community.
Let me know if you need me to include more information, thank you.
See all of our staff and Interns at our newly updated page on our website here:
| Vallejo Gay Network Events! |
 |
| Jan 2025 VGN Potluck Hosted by Lou O’Connor January 18th, 2 pm 1918 Virginia Street, Vallejo, CA 94590 Join your community as Lou O’Connor hosts an our first Potluck of the year! Bring a dish, and don’t forget your favorite drink to wash it down with and a friend or three. We’re all about growing our LGBTQ+ community in Vallejo, Benicia and beyond. As this will be both an outdoor and an indoor event (weather permitting), we are asking that you please be vaccinated and boosted or wear a mask. If you have any cold or flu like symptoms, please give this one a miss. #VGNForAll #VGN #LGBTQNetworking #GayVallejo #CommunityPride Save the Dates: If you want to host, please email tom@vallejogaynetwork.com February 15th VGN Valentines Potluck @ 6 pm – Hosted byJimmy and Steve May 2025 Michael Harris June – Pride Weekend 2nd Weekend July – Wendell & Manny October – Peter and Adam November – Tom & Chris (Food Bank) |
| Benicia LGBTQ+ Network Events! |
| Hi everyone. We are going hiking January 11th at Lake Hennessey Shoreline/Moore Park trail – We will meet at Moore Creek Park, 2602 Chiles Pope Valley Rd, St Helena, CA 94574 at 10 am. This is a fairly easy loop trail near St. Helena, California. It’s up to 5 miles but it’s easy to do less if that sounds like a lot. This is a very popular area for birding, hiking, and usually has bald eagles nesting in winter. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. If you need a ride, message me and we may have a few spots in my car. I will be doing this rain or shine and Robert will be joining me as long as it’s not raining. Afterwards if anyone wants we can get lunch at the Forge in Napa. Message me if you want more information. To see more, visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3251983318281379/?checkpoint_src=any |
Weekly Eblasts – Links below:
Do you get our weekly eBlasts on Wednesday afternoons? If not, or if you need to update your email, follow this link to register for our weekly eBlasts.
Wednesday, January 8th: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/New-Year—New-You–update-on-our-social—support-groups–St–Patrick-s-Day-event—.html?soid=1141190051998&aid=p_WRXsm0wH4
Tuesday, Dec. 10th: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/RSVP-today-for-the-Multicultural-Holiday-Dinner-Wednesday-night–New-social—support-groups—-.html?soid=1141190051998&aid=yryUheWpGi4
Wednesday, Nov. 20th: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Post-Election-Needs-Assessment–Multicultural-Holiday-Dinner–New-social—support-groups–and-more—-.html?soid=1141190051998&aid=tanVkqGbm0s
Wednesday, Nov. 13th: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Queering-Faith-series-postponed-tonight–Trans-Day-of-Remembrance–New-social—support-groups–and-more—-.html?soid=1141190051998&aid=cg5s_bfMSKg
Thanks to all of our Donors for the Silent Auction at the Poetry Slam and beyond! Please do shop at these Gay owned businesses, and our supportive Allies!
Another Survey for Trans Folx centered around Gender Affirming Vocal Therapy
My name is Andi Reuda (they/them) and I am a transgender undergraduate student at California State University Long Beach in their Speech-Language Pathology department. I am conducting a research survey around gender affirming vocal therapy (GAVT) that’s aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the disconnect between getting clients in need of GAVT to competent providers. The reason I am reaching out is to see if you are able to post the recruitment flyer attached on your community bulletin board or forward it to those who may fit the criteria. If you have anyone in your community who is interested in receiving GAVT either now or in the future, I invite them to take our voluntary anonymous online “GAVT Client Interest Survey” focused on further understanding the barriers to access and complexities of picking a goal in GAVT from a client’s perspective. This anonymous survey will take 5-10 minutes and participants will rate their level of agreement to statements provided, answer multiple choice as well as free response questions. Participants may take the survey through scanning the QR code provided on the flyer or typing in the link attached to their browser. This is only intended for those 18+ years of age interested in receiving GAVT, whether now or in the future. No compensation is offered but participation is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and if you have any questions or want to opt out of future communication, please feel free to email me at the address provided: Andi.Reuda01@student.csulb.edu
Survey link: https://csulb.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4ZafwdcGs80aOwK
Warmly,
Andi Reuda, They/Them
Undergrad Student @ CSULB
Department of Speech-Language Pathology
Solano Pride Center
The Board of the Solano Pride Center shares our sadness that the Mayor of the City of Vacaville continues to use his position to give cover for the discrimination many in our community experience there. Like we did for every city, our Executive Director sent proposed language to use in a proclamation that actually gives an account of our history of discrimination and need for civil rights protections from our elected leaders.
This year we sent the request early, and attempted to hear back when the proclamation would be shared, and have not had that time confirmed. In preparing the so-called “Proclamation,” the Mayor’s office produced a document to be signed by the Vice Mayor that was similar to those of previous years, but with no proclamation that June 2024 would be Pride Month in the City of Vacaville. We also noticed a change to the text, including the deletion of the phrase “celebrate and build”, which was changed to “while building,” without an actual declaration of Pride Month. The language is so vague that it could apply to any other community, without addressing the violence members of our community experiences every day. Every other city we have received Proclamations from have adapted the language we have offered, but has still included the historical portions because that was the point. The language the Mayor used further white washes the history of America as if our country wasn’t created with the legality of slave states and the second class citizenship of women.
Furthermore, our biggest frustrations have centered around the lack of notification of when the flag was to be raised, as we experienced in almost every other city of the county today. Because we were not notified of the time of the flag raising, our community was denied the opportunity to be in attendance and participate to mark the moment. We understand that the Pride Flag has been raised on the School Street site, and will remain except for a day to honor the Army on June 14th (veterans comprise a significant portion of our community). Though we sent our request to the whole City Council on April 17th, we have had to ask for responses rather than a friendly sharing of events. The lack of communication feels intentional.
The erasure of our community happens on a daily basis, and the policies coming out of the Mayor’s office continues to discriminate against our civil rights and treats us like second class citizens. We call upon the good people of Vacaville to remind their Mayor that his oath of office is to serve all of the city, and not just those of his particular religious tradition. Leading Vacaville together means including your LGBTQ+ family and protecting their civil rights.
Will McGarvey
Executive Director
On behalf of the Solano Pride Center’s Board of Directors, June 2024