Solano Pride Center

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.

Can’t find what you are looking for? Go under the Program button in the menu or go to these links:

Events:

Suisun Pride 2025: https://www.solanopride.org/suisun-pride-2025/
Pride Center Events: https://www.solanopride.org/pride-center-events/
Community Events: https://www.solanopride.org/community-events/
Suisun Pride 2024: https://www.solanopride.org/suisun-pride-2024/

Letter from the Center:

Wednesday, October 1, 2025,

Dear Friends,

October includes many health and wellness observances, including these:

Monthly observances in October 2025: What is LGBTQ History Month?

October 2025 features a range of health and wellness observances, including:

• LGBTQ History Month (October): LGBT History Month is a month-long annual observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. It is observed during October in the United States, to include National Coming Out Day on October 11. In the United Kingdom, it is observed during February, to coincide with a major celebration of the 2005 abolition of Section 28.

• October 8: International Lesbian Day

• October 11: National Coming Out Day: National Coming Out Day (NCOD) is an internationally observed civil awareness day celebrating individuals who publicly identify as a gender or sexual minority. The day is observed annually by members of the LGBT community and allies on October 11. NCOD was founded in 1988 by Robert Eichberg, a psychologist from New Mexico and founder of the personal growth workshop, The Experience, and Jean O’Leary, an openly gay political leader from Los Angeles and then head of the National Gay Rights Advocates. The date of October 11 was chosen because it was the anniversary of the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.

• October 15: National Latinx HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

• October 16: International Pronoun Day: Third Wednesday in October

• October 17th Spirit Day: In early October 2010, Canadian teenager Brittany McMillan promulgated the observance of a new commemoration called Spirit Day, the first observance of which took place on October 20, 2010; it now however takes place on October 17. On this day people wear the color purple to show support for LGBT youth who are victims of bullying. Promoted by GLAAD, many Hollywood celebrities wore purple on this day to show their support of this cause, and many websites added a prominent purple shade to their design. The name Spirit Day comes from the purple stripe of the Rainbow flag, whose creator Gilbert Baker defined it as “representing ‘spirit’”. The observance was inaugurated in response to a rash of widely publicized bullying-related suicides of gay school students in 2010, including that of Tyler Clementi. More than 1.6 million Facebook users signed up for the event globally.

• Asexuality Awareness Week (October – November- dates vary every year): Asexual Awareness Week is an international campaign that seeks to educate about asexual, aromantic, demisexual, and grey-asexual experiences and to create materials that are accessible to our community and our allies around the world.

• October 19: National LGBT Center Awareness Day

• October 26 Intersex Awareness Day: Intersex Awareness Day is an internationally observed civil awareness day designed to highlight the challenges faced by intersex people. The event marks the first public demonstration by intersex people in North America. On October 26, 1996, intersex activists from Intersex Society of North America (carrying the sign “Hermaphrodites With Attitude”) and allies from Transexual Menace demonstrated in Boston, outside the venue where the American Academy of Pediatrics was holding its annual conference. Intersex Awareness Day is an international day of grass-roots action to end shame, secrecy and unwanted genital cosmetic surgeries on intersex children.

See the end of the email for more information on each month’s observances!

THE TRANSFORMATION STATION.

This will be a place where our Trans/Non-binary folks can come in and pick out any articles of clothing that they need. They will choose from our community’s donations.

We are heading into Fall which means it just might be getting a bit chilly….or….you might be looking for a job and making the rounds of interviews….or if you just want to look F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S, we’ve got your back!

Right now, we are asking for donations.

Donations of

Clothes( Business suits, dresses, skirts, blouses, sweaters, Jackets, etc)
Shoes( In good condition)
Halloween costumes, Wigs,
Hangers.
Long mirror with lights on the mirror
Donation of a small vanity.

Please contact cristina@solanopride.org for donations and questions.

Dear Solano Neighbors,

Get ready for an incredible day of giving! On October 1st, we’re not only celebrating our amazing Solano County nonprofits, but we’re also offering fantastic prize opportunities throughout the entire day. Here’s your complete guide to all the ways you can boost your contribution by timing your giving!

Please visit https://mtyc.co/v9ycdf to support Solano Pride Center. You can attempt to boost your donation by giving at one of the times below, or you can just go ahead and give to help us meet our needs in this year of difficulty for all of us.

….

How Random Selection Works: For all hourly boosters, participating nonprofits that receive at least one online donation during the specified hour will be eligible for random selection to receive the bonus funds. Remember that there are over 150 local nonprofit organizations participating in LSGS that need everyone to support this true grassroots effort.

Thank you for helping get the word out. Thank you for helping our community.

Please visit https://mtyc.co/v9ycdf to support Solano Pride Center.

Live Solano Give Solano is brought to Solano County by Solano Community Foundation (SCF). This historic date marks Solano County’s first-ever unique community-wide giving day – a 24-hour online fundraising event that will unite local nonprofits and community members in a celebration of generosity and collective impact.

Live Solano Give Solano is more than a fundraising event – it’s part of SCF’s Building Community Muscle initiative, strengthening Solano County’s nonprofit ecosystem through collaboration and shared resources. Together, we’re building a more resilient community where all organizations can thrive.

Special SPC Poetry & Writing Anthology Benefit Project Announced! Call for submissions by Feb 1st, 2025.

It was a dark and stormy night
When at my desk I began to write
Of things poetic and such
And things that might impress me much. (apologies to Shania Twain)

Of talents wasted or quite unknown
Of slighted authors we bemoan
Yet, what light thru yonder window gleams?
Groupings of stories, prose, and poems, it seems.

Solano Pride doth beg your submission
With cheery smile and signed permission
To share your works for published glory
Be they sweet or silly or even gory

Make haste to share your treasured text
With brains afire and muscles flexed
They be due by end of next January
So send them to us and do not tarry!

M. West

If you’d like to submit an original poem, short story, haiku or other artistic representation by February 1st, 2026. If we have enough to create an anthology of all of our writing as a fundraiser for the Solano Pride Center.

Email submissions to spc@solanopride.org with a short written certification that the item is of your own creation, and that you give permission for it to be included in a fundraising anthology on behalf of the Center.

Want to join the new Vacaville LGBTQ+ Network? https://www.facebook.com/groups/652492897897233/. Check it out here, and join us on Sept 28th for the Poetry Slam in Vacaville!

Why I Say Yes on Prop 50!
by SPC Board Member Trish Abbatiello

As a board member and proud participant of our Rainbow Seniors group, I urge you to vote YES on prop 50. Early on some seniors expressed confusion between a yes or no vote. This became more so with the political ads shown on T.V..

Our board member Audra Orr eloquently stated in her post in the eblast her reasons for a YES on 50.

Our community, our democracy and our voting rights have been under attack and extremely threatened by this administration. We all need to fight back.

All our freedoms are at stake. Let’s stand together, be united and vote YES on 50!

Stephan’s Corner

Stephan’s Corner

Hey there Solano Pride Community!

This last Sunday we had our second annual poetry slam. Last year we were in Vallejo at the Vallejo Naval and History Museum. This year we were at the Vacaville Unity Church.

There was a great turnout with as many new and known faces in attendance. There was music, drag and poetry.

It was truly a beautiful night about and for us the Rainbow Family here in Solano County. We listened to our joys, our triumphs and our tragedies, all whilst showing our many talents, we were: entertained, moved and educated with every performance.

I am always humbled by the many talents within our community. I am so lucky to share space with all of you.

This is what community is all about and I hope you all will join us in these shared moments.

As I said the night of the poetry slam, in the immortal words of Harvey Milk, I am here to recruit you. I am here to recruit you to join one of our support groups, or to attend one of our social gatherings. I recruit you to become politically active to protect this community and the rights of our allies and neighbors. If you have a little extra money, we could really use that to continue everything we do during these anti DEI times and the ever changing landscape of government funding. If you have a little extra time, please contact cristina@solanopride.org, we can always have more volunteers. And, if you’re really motivated to promote change and equity for our community, then contact me to join our board!

The time is calling us all to rise, and I am proud to rise with you.

Your Board President,
Stephan Clifford
Stephan@solanopride.org

Dear friends,

It’s been an honor and my absolute pleasure to serve the Solano County LGBTQIA+ community through the Solano Pride Center! I’ve been fortunate to have been able to work with an amazing team of individuals who care and give their time and expertise willingly, and a dedicated staff that does deep healing work in the community through the grants, contracts, and donations that the center receives. I’m very proud of the collective impact we’ve been able to make through the many events that the pride center facilitates weekly, especially our annual pride festival, that was the biggest ever held in this county! I am grateful for all the support of those individuals and organizations. My heart is full of love and gratitude for my time with this community! I look forward to seeing much growth and being together for it!

I’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to Donna Harris our longtime secretary whose wife Sandy Stelter was our longtime treasurer, who basically built this organization from the ground up those two together were the backbone. They used to have garage sales just to be able to keep the lights on. We’ve had many volunteers over the years for whom without we would never have been able to do the things that the pride center is now able to do every day. Thank you all! I’d like to say goodbye to Donna as she retires off the board and celebrate her many years of service at one of the upcoming SPC gatherings.

Lovingly, Brigid

Today is the start of LGBTQ+ History Month, and if ever there was a time to draw on the strength of our community’s legacy, it’s right now.

Civil rights leaders like Harvey Milk. Marsha P. Johnson. Sylvia Rivera. Bayard Rustin were known for their courage under fire, their tenacity, and their ability to push the needle of progress forward despite the challenges of their time.

It doesn’t escape me that there are, sadly, disturbing parallels between then and now.

A government with nothing but contempt for LGBTQ+ people. Access to essential services and healthcare being criminalized. Unhinged rhetoric coming from the far right that scapegoats transgender people for violence.

They want to overwhelm us, divide us, and flood the zone with lies and misinformation. But we won’t let them.

We fight back by staying informed — which means leaning into our community’s rich history. Since LGBTQ+ History Month is a moment to both celebrate and reflect, we’d like to ask you to share a piece of your own LGBTQ+ history with us.

Do you have a particularly memorable or meaningful coming out story?
Where was the first place you felt like you could fully express yourself/live your truth?
If you’re an ally, who is the LGBTQ+ person that you’re fighting for?

We’ve always found our strength in numbers, whether it was the very first Christopher Street Pride March, or the ACT-UP demonstrations during the height of the AIDS epidemic.

When we stand together, there’s nothing we can’t do.
-Tony

Tony Hoang
Executive Director
Pronouns: he/him/his

Erin in the Morning has an article on the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot, SF’s own Stonewall moment, you can read here.

“If the buttons was on the wrong side, like a blouse, they would take you to jail because they felt it was female impersonation,” said Amanda St. Jaymes, a trans woman and local hotel owner, in Susan Stryker’s 2005 documentary Screaming Queens. “We got tired of being harassed. We got tired of being made to go into the men’s room when we were dressed like women. We wanted our rights.”

Did you know that there’s a play currently going on in the City that reenacts what we know of that riot? The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot.

Presented by the Tenderloin Museum, it’s a play written by Collette LeGrande, Mark Nassar, and Donna Personna, Directed by Ezra Reaves. It’s an immersive theatrical experience… with breakfast.

Izzy will be writing a review from those of us who attended Sept 12th! Look for it in Wednesday’s eBlast. Thank you for attending The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot! We hope you had an unforgettable experience. We’d really appreciate it if you could take 2 minutes to share your thoughts with us. Your feedback helps us grow and keeps the magic alive. Your answers will remain anonymous unless you opt to provide your name.

We’re a small, independent production that relies on word of mouth, social callouts, and community love to thrive—so please come back, and bring a friend! Use discount/voucher code CCRxREF15 for $15 off tickets to any upcoming show that’s not sold out. Shows run through October.

“Let’s build the Queer world we all need, together”

Will McGarvey
he/they
will@solanopride.org
707.200.7916 voicemail

LOUNGE LIBRARY RESOURCES:

We have the power to read books! We don’t need any expensive gadgets to read a book. We don’t need any cables, monitors or electricity for that matter. What we do need is the want to read. We might even have to change some gears so that we can get in the habit of reading. Now in the New Release section!

Bi The Way, I love You: A Charity Anthology of Diverse Bi+ Love Stories

by Frances M. Thompson, C.J. Lucci, Cozy DuBois, Rochelle Wolf, Amelia Lascaux, MK Owens, Julie Brydon, Madison Diaz, and S.C. Muir

You’ll meet teenage frenemies to 30-something lovers Dion and Benji in Something About Us (MM) which features a mixed-race trans MC and a white MC with chronic illness (Crohn’s/stoma bag). In The To-Screw List (FF) best friends Amber and Jade make a sex-pact to be each other’s firsts at well, almost everything, but they’re absolutely NOT allowed to catch feelings. Ash and Luke are the thyroid-cancer-research academic heroes of STEM forbidden romance Experimental Affection (MX) which also features chronic illness rep (migraine disease) and a whole lot of should-we-shouldn’t-we tension! Love on the Airwaves (FFM) featuring Gabby, Stephanie and Adrian, is a short-story teaser for a workplace romance with pansexual and hearing loss rep. In Petty Roots (XX) two grumpy enbies, Eris and Blake, become fake wedding dates for an ex’s wedding and it turns out all these queer idiots needed was a road trip to a small town to realise how much they have in common. In Lattes and Plot Twists (FF), you’ll enjoy the best friend’s sister trope, dyslexia and social anxiety rep, and a whole ton of sapphic mutual pining between Em and Holly! Kami and Evan are the hot bisexual neighbours in Good Things Come in Unexpected Packages (MF) where Kami teaches Evan all about books, and more! We have Iris, an author dating for research in Doing It For the Plot (FX) only to realise their one true love, Hazel, was a lot closer than they thought. And in high-heat Caught in the Middle (MMF), (a different!) Gabby has to work closely — very closely — with rivals Shane and Luca on a project that quickly becomes much more than a working relationship.

Donald Trump and his allies in Texas and other far-right-controlled states are waging an all-out assault on our democracy. They are trying to rig congressional maps to steal control of the House of Representatives — no matter how the people vote.

That’s why California is taking emergency action and calling a special election to redraw CA’s maps — to defend fair representation and push back against Trump’s election rigging.

This isn’t politics as usual — this is about protecting democracy. And the gloves are off.

Proposition 50 levels the playing field, safeguards our redistricting process, and makes sure voters — not politicians — hold the power.

For LGBTQ+ people, this fight is deeply personal. We know that when extremists seize power, our community is often among the first to be targeted. We’ve seen it already: attacks on nondiscrimination protections, efforts to silence transgender youth, and more anti-LGBTQ+ legislation than ever before. If congressional seats are rigged and voters are silenced, those attacks will only escalate.

That’s why today — National Voter Registration Day — matters so much. Check your registration, update your information if you’ve moved, and make sure your friends and family are ready to vote this November.

Ballots will begin arriving in Californians’ mailboxes starting October  6,  2025, with official ballot drop‑off locations opening on October  7 so voters can cast their vote early or return ballots by Election Day: November  4, 2025. For more information, visit stopelectionrigging.com

We can’t do this without you,
-Tom

Tom Temprano
Managing Director
Pronouns: he/him/his

Did you miss some of the letters from Will this year? There are links near the end of the home page with links to every eBlast going back a couple of months, or you could find all of the 2025 Pride messages here on our Suisun Pride 25 link. https://www.solanopride.org/suisun-pride-2025/.

The recording of Will’s fall of 2024 presentation on the “Weaponization of Christianity” against our community can be found here: https://youtu.be/pVImrR6eFIc?si=vvMb8hX1I-9cdYdq

His Pride sermon at Community Congregational Church of Benicia UCC on Sunday, June 29th entitled “Expecting Diversity” can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYuvuRyUvhM&t=2s

Gen Silent and Cultural Competency Training for those serve LGBTQ+ Seniors

If your Senior Living setting or agency serving Seniors need Cultural Competency Training for your staff, which is mandated by the state of California, we are willing to come do a training or create a training specifically for your staff and leadership! Contact will@solanopride.org for more info.

Attorney Laura Marquez-Garrett will be attending to answer questions and speak with people. Laura is an LGBT community member who wrote the LGBT platform of the Kids Online Safety Act which passed the Senate and failed the House due to ACLU and their big tech money claiming it would hurt Queer kids. She can address those concerns and any others. For more info on the act, visit: https://www.losangelesblade.com/2023/09/05/the-revised-kids-online-safety-act-protects-lgbtq-youth/

Want to help us raise funds for the Center?

Thanks to all who supported us at SPC Panera Day in Vallejo on September 17th!

Contribute without cash!

Raise money for the Center without sending a check or buying a thing!

HundredX Causes is an online agency that provides feedback to companies or brands. They say, “we believe in “listening to the crowd” – that is, real customers who share unprompted feedback with HundredX – to inform the outlook for businesses and industries. Every time your supporters submit feedback on a brand they’ve interacted with over the last 6 months, they are providing insight into their customer experience with the leaders of those companies.” Here is a link to their FAQ for supporters!

Our next HundredX money free fundraiser – giving feedback on businesses online from November 3rd to December 2nd will be our winter participatory fundraiser. We will have a training again beforehand. Let Will know if you are interested in joining! Great to give funds to the Center without writing a Check!

Can you spare a few dollars to help keep the Center open during these trying times?

LGBTQIA2S+ Centers across the state are experiencing a drop in donations, and your support is crucial to help us continue delivering the life-saving services our community depends on.

We at Solano Pride have noticed that we have received $20,000 less in donations from the community over the last six months since the election than the previous years. We are recognizing that the uncertainty since then has definitely affected giving for our life-sustaining programs. If you are in a place to share financially right now, we definitely need your help right now. You can even set up a monthly donation of as little as $5 a month, which helps us more than you can know.

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. Donate today!

Help Solano Pride Center turn candy into cash.

Thank you for supporting the Solano Pride Center! We’ll receive profits from any items you purchase below. Order more to help us reach our fundraising goal!

Copy and paste this link in your marketing emails and social media posts:
https://www.yumraising.com/secure/solanopc_solano_pride_center2/Wilwil2345/candy

VGN & Louise Lawrence Trans Archive host “Upstairs Inferno: The 1973 New Orleans Gay Mass Murder.” October 11th at 7 pm at Odd Fellows Lodge, upstairs at 342 Georgia Street, in Vallejo.

“Upstairs Inferno” refers to the 1973 arson attack at the UpStairs Lounge, a gay bar in New Orleans, Louisiana, which resulted in the deaths of 32 people and injured 15 others due to fire and smoke inhalation. The event is also the subject of a 2015 documentary film of the same name, directed by Robert L. Camina, which details the tragedy and the city’s reaction. The cause of the fire, which occurred on June 24, 1973, is officially listed as “undetermined origin,” though a primary suspect was identified but never charged.

Foreign Film – Oddfish

Look for this beautiful little film back at the Empress in October. Dates to be announced.

A film about friendship and dreams, about acceptance and identity. Two friends, Björn and Hjalti, run a popular seafood restaurant in a fishing village in the Westfjords of Iceland, where they were born and raised. Hjalti is a confident family man; Björn, a reserved, single guy who has always lived in his parents’ house. They usually close their restaurant during the winter, but a good opportunity arises and they decide to grab it. At the same time, Bjorn comes out as a trans woman. Prejudice is around the corner and the friendship sways under this unexpected turn of events. With a delicate and Nordic narrative, we live the doubts and fears of a person who finally makes the step to become who she is, and of a man who was raised with strict beliefs who has to work on himself to understand and to keep close to one of the most important people in his life. The inspiration came to the director by growing up in a similar small fishing town; he has shared the writing credit with Veiga Grétarsdóttir, herself a trans woman who brings much warmth, humour and authenticity to the story.

Renay Conlin, Executive Director, Vallejo Center for the Arts

renayconlin@vallejoarts.org, 707-346-7328.

Protests and Advocacy!

Other local and regional gatherings:

Wednesdays from 4:15 to 5:15 pm in front of the Vallejo Ferry building.

Thursdays at 5 pm in Benicia, Vallejo-Benicia Indivisible hosts flag waving by the Gazebo in City Park (Military & First Street, Benicia). https://www.facebook.com/events/1077820594478484/1077820677811809/?active_tab=about

Sundays at noon in Benicia, Vallejo-Benicia Indivisible hosts flag waving by the Gazebo in City Park (Military & First Street, Benicia). https://www.facebook.com/events/1077820594478484/1077820677811809/?active_tab=about

Prop 50 Save our Democracy Rally at Vacaville City Hall, 650 Merchant Street.

Saturday, October 4th at 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Prop 50 is on the line! Our democracy deserves our non-stop energy. Let’s not be silenced!

Democracy work isn’t always smooth sailing, but that’s exactly why it matters so much. Every challenge we navigate makes us a stronger & a more resilient movement.

Bring your signs, flags, friends and spirit of American Protest. The sidewalk is our stage, we’ve got that kind of energy lighting up Merchant St.

This is a peaceful protest, when tensions arise, WE ARE the ones to cool things down and keep our message crystal clear. We lead with strength, unity, and purpose! Dictatorship DEPENDS on Silence. Democracy REQUIRES our Participation and Voices. Your Voice matters. Your Presence matter. Let’s do this!

The Fairfield Hands Off group has a Facebook page you should join! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1197790722132920

No Kings Day 2 in Vallejo.

Saturday, October 18th from 10 am to noon, Unity Plaza, 505 Santa Clara St., Vallejo

In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings. Our peaceful movement is only getting bigger and stronger. “NO KINGS” is more than just a slogan—it’s the foundation our nation was built upon. Born in the streets, carried by millions in chants and on posters, it echoes from city blocks to rural town squares, uniting people across this country to fight dictatorship together.

The president thinks his rule is absolute. But in America, we don’t have kings, and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty. Grow our movement and join us. A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events. FB Link.

See more at our Protests & Advocacy page here: https://www.solanopride.org/protests-advocacy/

Trangender Law Center’s ID Please Resource for helping Trans, Intersex and GNC people change their identification cards

This guide was created to help you navigate the often confusing process of obtaining California and federal identification documents that reflect your gender and identity. It is designed to be used without the assistance of an attorney. However, in some cases it may be quickest or easiest to work with one.

The information in this guide should not be considered legal advice. This guide provides you with legal information but does not seek to apply that information to your specific situation. We’ve tried very hard to make sure that this resource is accurate and up-to-date. Still, the changing nature of laws and policies concerning identity documents makes 100% accuracy nearly impossible. It’s also important to note that this is a guide to policy, and how things are supposed to work. Unfortunately, not all judges and other government employees always implement these policies by the book.

If you have a question about your specific legal situation, feel free to contact Transgender Law Center’s Legal Information Helpdesk at http://www.transgenderlawcenter.org/legalinfo and we’ll do our best to answer your question or point you to resources that may be helpful.

https://tlcenter.app.box.com/s/3da7afk3p7dn1ngoxcz3tuy18q3u1dco

• Our friend Omar Kahn from Health Markets Insurance Agency who helps provide the Backdoor Films monthly at the Martinez Campbell Theater, 636 Ward Street, Martinez! Come on out the 4th Saturdays of the month at 8:30 pm to see a classic film, together.

Red Cross Blood Drives come to Solano Pride Center!

Next Red Cross Blood Drive will be Friday, October 10th!

Not everyone can give blood…but everyone is eligible to volunteer. Registration link is here!

There aren’t the same restrictions there used to be against our community, so schedule a time to come to the Conference Room off the Main Entrance to the Center’s building, and come out Friday, October 10th. https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=SPBDF

See our new Blood Drives website under Programs in the menu above….

Statement on our Agency’s commitment to confidentiality in our care:

We don’t ask questions of our clients around citizenship or documentation. We never have and never will. We also do not disclose any personal or contact information about our clients without their written permission. If any public agency comes seeking such information, they will be turned away and referred to our legal representation. We are contractually obligated by the County and other funders to keep HIPAA privacy laws and protect the privacy and confidentiality of all of our clients. See our “Notice of Privacy Practices” in our Center, and on the paperwork shared during intake of all counseling and case management services.

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 can even talk to you if you just want to make sense of the times we live in. 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 info.

For more Mental Health Resources, https://www.solanopride.org/mental-health-resources/

Have you ever been near the end of your rope, and need someone to help you find the resources you need to survive? Solano Pride Center staff can help! Many of our staff know much about the County’s support system, and can help you sign up for food assistance, Medi-Cal, and even give you referrals to our sister organizations serving those in need around the county. Give Kacen Cosmos, our Associate Clinical Social Worker a jingle or email to learn more.

Social and Support Groups for many sub groups within our community.

New D&D Group starts Saturday, October 11th at the Center at noon! See more at the link below…

To see all of the support and social groups, go under the home button in the menu or go to this link: https://www.solanopride.org/social-and-support-groups

Senior Programs: https://www.solanopride.org/senior-programs/

Youth Programs: https://www.solanopride.org/youth-programs/

HIV Prevention Awareness

Did you know you can get STI testing mailed to your home?
Did you know that PreP and PeP can help you remain HIV negative?
Contact me for more info! Thank you.
Cristina Zaldana

More information now in our HIV Prevention page, under the Programs in the menu above… https://www.solanopride.org/hiv-prevention-support/

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 Thursday, October 24th 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! Next training will be Thursday, Sept. 25th at 6 pm on zoom.

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES

See our Volunteer page under the Programs menu above….

To see more Youth Programming, go to Youth Programs: https://www.solanopride.org/youth-programs/

9-12th Grade Queer History Field Trip to the City.

9-12th Grade Queer History Field Trip to the City, learning how to use public transit, from Ferry, BART & Muni! Download the Permission slip below, having it filled out and given to Trystan by Wednesday, November 26th at 9 am to trystan@solanopride.org!

Registration form inside this link:

https://www.solanopride.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/SPC-Parental-Permission-Queer-History-Trip.pdf

Born This Way is sponsoring a free, one-hour writing workshop open to young people ages 15–24, the Channel Kindness Storytellers Club Writing Workshop on Thursday, September 25, at 8 PM ET.

RSVP at channelkindness.org/the-storytellers-club!

Five years ago, we released CHANNEL KINDNESS: Stories of Kindness and Community, a collection of stories written by young people about kindness, resilience, and community. Thanks to you, the book became a New York Times Bestseller and more importantly, it continues to inspire countless readers by uplifting the power of youth voices.

Learn More About CHANNEL KINDNESS: Stories of Kindness and Community

As we celebrate this milestone, we invite you to revisit these stories and explore new ones written by young people from around the world.

Find More Stories Here

Be Part of the Next Chapter

Our next Channel Kindness Storytellers Club Writing Workshop is happening on Thursday, September 25, at 8 PM ET. RSVP today at channelkindness.org/the-storytellers-club! This free, one-hour writing workshop is open to young people ages 15–24. Whether you’re an experienced writer or just curious about sharing your voice, it’s a welcoming space to reflect, connect, and create together.When you participate, you’ll have the chance to submit your story to Channel Kindness and, if selected, earn a $50 appreciation payment. Your story could be the next one to spark kindness and connection in someone’s life.Together with the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), we’ll celebrate the 5th anniversary of CHANNEL KINDNESS: Stories of Kindness and Community, through prompts on self-care and self-love, learning to tell your personal story, and exploring the power of young people’s voices. Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), is the nation’s leading nonprofit providing free, peer support services to anyone struggling with an eating disorder, because healing is possible, and no one should face recovery alone. You can learn more about their work at anad.org.

RSVP for the Channel Kindness Storytellers Club

We’re so proud of what Channel Kindness has grown into over the past five years and we’re even more excited for what’s ahead. Thank you for being part of this community of storytellers and changemakers.

Celebrate With Us

In Kindness,Team Born This Way Foundation

SPC Trainings for your Team

We have Cultural competency Trainings for Schools, Teachers, Professors, Therapists, Social Workers, Case Managers, Businesses, Health Care workers, Senior Centers, and all who work with LGBTQIA2S+ people in every environment. Contact will@solanopride.org for more information about our SB 923 Training available now!

Ever wondered how to find all of the Queer organizations here in the Bay Area? Well, the Horizon’s Foundation has just such a list!

Here: https://www.horizonsfoundation.org/org-directory/

Resource Fair, October 29th at 1234 Empire Street!

Want to table with us? Contact cristina@solanopride.org for more information!

Vendor Applications for the Dia De Los Muertos 2025 Festival

Vendor applications for the 2025 Dia De Los Muertos Festival are now available at the link below. We will stop accepting applications on October 25th 2025, at 5pm.

https://solanoaidscoalition.org/dia-de-los-muertos

Rellik Drag Lunch
Sunday, October 5th from noon to 2 pm.

The Rellik Tavern
726 First St. Benicia, CA

Come join us at The Rellik Tavern for a fabulous afternoon of drag performances and delicious food! Our Rellik Drag Lunch event is the perfect way to spend a fun-filled day with friends and family. Watch as our talented drag performers entertain you with their incredible acts while you enjoy a scrumptious meal. Don’t miss out on this exciting in-person event that promises to be full of laughter, music, and amazing performances. Mark your calendars and get ready for an unforgettable experience at The Rellik Tavern!

After purchasing tickets, please call The Rellik Tavern for table reservations.

1(707)746-1137
Doors open at 11:30am
This is a 21 and over event!

This event will celebrate the coming out journey and the art form of drag, and feature several of the best Drag Kings and Queens throughout the Sacramento Valley along with Solano and Yolo Counties. More information and location announcement coming soon!

Suggested Donation $5, Give what you can, NOTAFLOF*

The venue, Davis Phoenix Coalition, and Davis Pride planning committee will have a ZERO TOLERANCE policy for any form of discrimination, fighting, illegal activities, and/or negative disruption of the show. Violators will be asked to leave and/or escorted out by DPC or venue management. Violators will be evicted from the event and all ticket fees will be forfeited.

*No One Turned Away For Lack Of Funds

Halloween Drag Brunch

Sunday, October 19 · 11am – 2pm PDT. Doors at 10:30am

Zio Fraedo’s
611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill, CA

The Best Drag Brunch Ever! Prepare to have some fun and have the time of your life! COSTUMES ENCOURAGED!

When our original venue closed, we worried the show would be canceled. Then Zio Fraedo’s, a beloved family-owned icon, stepped up with their whole hearts and said YES—and the show goes on! Let’s pack the room, celebrate queer joy, and sell this out in under four weeks.

Hosted by: Behavioral Fitness × Zio Fraedo’s

MC: Chrystal Shazzam — a Bay Area favorite known for charisma, creativity, and commanding stage presence, with roots at Club 1220 in Walnut Creek. Expect glamour, laughs, and heart from first toast to final number .

Music by: DJ Pete Fonseca — spinning since 1991, weekend resident at Club 1220 and former KYLD 94.9 radio DJ. He keeps the dancefloor humming—from clubs to weddings to F45 Gym sets. Featuring performers:

Charity Case — fierce, funny, and fully committed to the bit—bring your tipping hands.
Eclectica Michelle — a polished, crowd-pleasing favorite who serves classic showgirl energy with Halloween sparkle.
Miss Holly Bloom — queer advocate and first-time actress in Compton’s Cafeteria Riot (Young Vicki Starlight); trans case manager at SF Community Health Center and East Bay LGBTQ+ youth volunteer through Behavioral Fitness—expect artistry with heart .
Shane Zal-Diva — a pop-up drag queen since 2016 who reenacts the historic 1966 Compton’s Cafeteria uprising; also leads trans education for SF city workers through the Office of Transgender Initiatives

Food & Drink: Brunch by Zio Fraedo’s; Alcoholic beverages, including bottomless mimosas, available for purchase onsite.

Event link.

Vallejo’s Drag Brunch @ Bambino’s SPOOKY EDITION

Sunday, October 26 · 10am – 1pm PDT. Doors at 9:30am

Bambino’s Vallejo – Pizza, Pasta + Full Bar
301 Georgia Street #suite 122 Vallejo, CA 94590

Get SPOOKY and celebrate Halloween at Vallejo’s DRAG Brunch!

Join us for a special Halloween Edition hosted by the incredible Sadie C. Sparkles and MissCherrylane. It’s a chance to embrace the vibrant spirit of the LGBTQ+ community and enjoy a brunch experience like no other. Come on down and be part of this exciting new event that brings drag and queer culture to our community! Event link.

Vanity at Cedar’s Corner Bar & Kitchen!

Monday, Oct 27th from 9 pm to midnight at Cedar’s Corner (801 Texas Street, Fairfield).

Dreamy Dee & Magnifique are hosting a first Drag Show called “Vanity!” They will be joined by Cyah Envy, Billy Freak, and Ana Filaxis. Drag, Raffles & Fundraising to benefit Solano Pride Center!

Anyone else ready for the Holiday Season!? ✨❤️ It’s only October 1st but… Tickets for Adrienne’s Holiday Draguation are LIVE!

Adrienne’s Holiday Draguation—a festive and glamorous drag showcase—is coming to the Downtown Theatre in Fairfield, CA, on November 29th. Inspired by Adrienne LaCielo’s graduation from UC Irvine (Bachelor of Music, Business), the event rings in the Holiday season while celebrating LGBT+ artistry, theatre arts, and education. This unforgettable night brings together community and creativity, with proceeds benefiting local youth theatre arts programs and helping preserve vital cultural spaces, including the Downtown Theatre itself.

Visit my page for links or go to www.antonioxadrienne.com to find The Downtown Theatre’s official box office platform at this link!

You can select and reserve seats anywhere in the theatre, 📍pair those seats with a meet and greet, 🫂 OR get the FULL VIP package with Stage—Level seating 🤩 and the meet and greet experience included! Let’s ring in the Holidays together! 🎁❤️

#drag #bayarea #solano #707 #draguation #draguation25 #holidaydraguation

We are looking to find a few folx willing to help create a Vacaville LGBTQ+ Network that can create quarterly to monthly social events for the East County Queer Community!

Faith in Action programs in west and east county!

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

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.

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Wednesday, June 4th:

My name is Kenyatta, and I am the founder of Learning Self-Love, a wellness-focused brand dedicated to empowering individuals through healing, self-discovery, and personal growth. I am reaching out to explore a potential collaboration with the Pride Center to support your mission through my published works and self-help tools.

I have authored several books and journals including a powerful coming out memoir and a series of self-love and affirmation journals that speak directly to individuals navigating identity, trauma recovery, self-worth, and emotional resilience. In addition, I’ve developed a 36-card Law of Attraction affirmation deck designed to uplift and motivate users of all ages and backgrounds.

These tools have already found success with mental health practitioners, educators, and personal development coaches. I believe they would be an excellent addition to your self-help curriculum or resource library particularly for the people you serve who are actively engaged in healing, empowerment, and transformation.

Warmly,

Kenyatta Edwards
Phone: 707-920-6016
Founder & CEOLearning Self-Love

Learning Self Love: A Guided Journey to Embrace, Heal, and Celebrate Yourself $9.99

https://amzn.to/4jE66Sw

Phoenix Rising: A New Journey To Self-Love: You Are Not Broken, You Are Becoming now $16.99

https://amzn.to/3ZpOmTD

Pride, Pleasure and Liberation: Becoming Me, My Coming Out Story $15.95

https://amzn.to/4mQ4MP8

Learning Self-Love Affirmation Cards Flip book $12.99

https://amzn.to/3T3i9OB

Learning Self 36 Deck of Alphabetical Powerful Affirmations Cards

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8MWjQc5

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 14^th (veterans comprise a significant portion of our community). Though we sent our request to the whole City Council on April 17^th, 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