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/

Two ways to Support the Solano Pride Center at Backroad Vines this Pride Month!

BRV Winery – Located Inside Village 360

4949 Suisun Valley Rd, Fairfield, California 94534, United States. Phone: 707.759.0185.

• For the entire month of June: Monday-Wednesday, wine tasting donation. For the entire month of June: Monday-Wednesday, wine tasting donation. It is $30 per tasting and $20 will donated to Solano Pride! Ask for the Pride Pour! Hours: 11:00 am – 05:00 pm on weekdays! Follow this link to register your Pride Pour!

Wine Tastings: https://www.exploretock.com/backroadvines/detail/368335/backroad-vines-wine-tasting

• June 29th: Sound healing with charcuterie & wine after class. It is $55 per person and $25 per person will be donated to Solano Pride. Link to sign up coming soon! Won’t want to miss it! Sound Healing: https://www.wellnessliving.com/explore/locations/yoga/us-ca-fairfield/yogaatvillage360/schedule/classes/gong-bath-sound-healing-followed-by-wine-non-alcoholic-beverages-cheese-and-charcuterie-social-hour-285207734927/?allowHistoryBack=1&wLocationId=285207

• All Pride Month long presentation at the Vallejo Naval Museum (734 Marin Street, Vallejo). Museum Pride & Transgender exhibit “Pride of Trans Posters”

• Thur, June 26th from 6:00pm – 7:30pm Celebrate Pride Month with Drag Karaoke at the Fairfield Civic Center Library, in the Becker Balmer Meeting Room (1150 Kentucky St., Fairfield). Hosted by drag performer Hennessy Williams, who will also be performing a special drag number during the evening. Celebrate Pride Month by dressing up in your most fabulous drag outfit to belt our your favorite tune during an evening of Drag Karaoke. The reigning Mx. NorCal Quing Pageant winner, Hennessy Williams, will provide both hosting duties and perform a special number for the event. Registration required: Show the community just how amazing you are!

• Sun, June 29th at 10:00 am, Will McGarvey will be sharing the Sermon for Pride Sunday at Community Congregational Church UCC in Benicia, at 1305 W. Second Street, Benicia

• Sunday, July 6th from 1-6 pm – Pride Month AfterGlow* – Benicia LGTBQIA Post Pride Month Party (+Christina’s Birthday) at Baxter’s Restaurant, 280 First Street, Benicia. FB Link

Letter from the Executive Director:

Wednesday, June 25th, 2025

Another busy weekend of Pride events occurred on June 22nd. I preached at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Vacaville, one of our 12 Welcoming and Affirming congregations here in the county, for their Pride Sunday service. You can watch it here.

There were over 100 people at Bambino’s first ever Drag Sunday Brunch, congrats to all involved!

The Vacaville People’s Forum put on a great 5th Annual Pride in the Park with wonderful weather, more booths and more people than last year! There was everything from food and drink vendors, tabling, and even a big area of foam for the kids (of all ages) to run through! We got the Proclamations from Dixon and Vacaville that day. Congrats to VPF and all involved!

The Interfaith Pride Service at Community Presbyterian Church of Vallejo was recorded for those who couldn’t be there on June 22nd. Thanks to the many clergy, from our Welcoming and Affirming Congregations, and beyond, for your wonderful leadership.

Rev. Kim Kendrick from Benicia’s Community Congregational Church UCC, giving the message at the Interfaith Pride Service.

Link to the Interfaith Pride Service on Youtube.

Monday, we had a wonderful “How to be an Ally” program with a few neighbors at the Benicia Library. Let us know if you’d like us to bring such programs or trainings for your business, service organization, or community. We are preparing trainings for those that need the SB 293 trainings this summer as well, so please let me know when you’d like me and our team to bring them by.

As Pride month continues, remember that Backroads Vines is having Pride Pours Monday, Tuesdays and Wednesdays during June, and a special Sound Healing and Wine & Charcuterie event Sunday, June 29th from 6-8 in the Wellness program there. Registration information is at the top of the page.

Thanks for all you do to make Solano County a more welcoming, prideful place where we all can thrive! Thanks for your support in the life saving work we do as a Center. Your volunteer hours and financial support make it all possible.

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

Will McGarvey
Executive Director

Wednesday, June 18th, 2025

Vacaville Pride in the Park this Sunday afternoon! Drag Brunch and Interfaith Pride Service in Vallejo. Drag Karaoke Thursday night at the Fairfield Library!

Dear friends,

Happy Autistic Pride Day today on June 18th!

This Sunday, June 22nd is Vacaville’s Pride in the Park from noon to 3 pm at Andrews Park, 614 E. Monte Vista Avenue, Vacaville!

Get ready to celebrate love, inclusivity, and vibrant self-expression! Vacaville Pride in the Park is back and bigger than ever, inviting the community to gather for a day filled with joy, unity, and celebration of LGBTQIA+ pride.

Celebrate Pride Month with Drag Karaoke Thur, June 26th from 6:00pm – 7:30pm at the Fairfield Civic Center Library, in the Becker Balmer Meeting Room (1150 Kentucky St., Fairfield). Hosted by drag performer Hennessy Williams, who will also be performing a special drag number during the evening. Celebrate Pride Month by dressing up in your most fabulous drag outfit to belt our your favorite tune during an evening of Drag Karaoke. The reigning Mx. NorCal Quing Pageant winner, Hennessy Williams, will provide both hosting duties and perform a special number for the event. Registration required: Show the community just how amazing you are!

Thanks to those who made it to the Pulse Night Club Vigil tonight at Vallejo Naval & History Museum last Thursday evening.

It was a meaningful ceremony remember the many who have died in violence at our LGBTQIA2S+ 3rd spaces, such as the Upstairs Lounge in New Orleans, the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, the Q Club in Colorado. More info at these articles:

“A Brief History of Attacks at Gay and Lesbian Bars” Link

“The Resilience of Gay Bars” Link

We represented at the Vallejo, Fairfield, Vacaville and Benicia “No Kings” rallies around the county! Will taught folx how to sign “We are a Gentle, Angry People” by Holly Near, and Jeriann Guzman shared from the Solano Serenity Center. Here’s Will with Joseph Andrew Hayden at the Vallejo Rally.

Solano Comes OUT At The Fairgrounds !!!!

“The Village” at the Solano County Fairgrounds was the site of another group of local and regional performers, including Ling Ling, Starlight Erotica and our own Mizz Grace Jones (shown here) along with Amelia Need Moore, Ryder Knightly, Jacob Solbux, Ana Flaxis, Chai Auntea, Vallejo Trans Rapper Angel Fox, Chance McCauley, Xavier Toscano and Friends, comedians Wonder Dave and Irene Tu, and the amazing Nathan X Moody Band!

There were many local acts, including Vallejo’s newest metal band – Galvanize – headed by our very own Clinical Director Colin Amato! Very talented group doing their debut show!

And, don’t forget that the Louise Lawrence Trans Archive has an installation Museum Pride & Transgender exhibit “Pride of Trans Posters” all Pride Month at the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum, 734 Marin Street, Vallejo.

Over 50 historic transgender related posters ranging from entertainment to activism across the decades. Last year’s exhibit was one wall, but this year’s is the whole room!

• Postponed until September

– Gen Silent and Cultural Competency Training for those serve LGBTQ+ Seniors(Joseph A Nelson Community Center, 611 Village Dr, Suisun City) register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gen-silent-a-documentary-film-community-panel-discussion-tickets-1384448014279?lang=en-us&amp=&amp%3Blocale=en_US&amp%3Bview=listing

Want to help us raise funds for the Center?

Give Out Day began last week, but you can give all Pride Month long! https://www.giveoutday.org/donate/Solanopridecenter

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!

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. 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.

Give Out Day begins May 22nd, but the Give OUT Day will receive donations all Pride Month long!

https://www.giveoutday.org/donate/Solanopridecenterhttps://www.giveoutday.org/donate/Solanopridecenter

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

This June, the groundbreaking Hollywood feature film, PONYBOI (watch trailer here) RATED R— written by and starring intersex artist River Gallo — will premiere in theaters. It’s already won multiple international awards and debuted at Sundance 2024.

The producers offering national/regional/local LGBTQIA+ nonprofits, GSAs, and queer-affirming orgs a chance to earn $3 per stream with a limited engagement At-Home On Demand program— while helping amplify a beautiful story of identity, survival, and chosen family. You can support the Solano Pride Center by watching the film at this link online!

US Release Date: June 27, 2025

Starring: River Gallo, Dylan O’Brien, Victoria Pedretti, Murray Bartlett, Indya Moore

Director: Esteban Arango

Synopsis: PONYBOI is a groundbreaking new feature — the first ever written by and starring an out intersex person, River Gallo. Set in New Jersey and pulsing with heart, rage, tenderness, and defiance, it tells a raw and riveting story of identity, survival, and chosen family. RottenTomatoes Link.

We are looking into hosting a local screening here in Solano on Wednesday, September 17th at a local theater! Let will@solanopride.org know if you are interested in helping us host the event by volunteering that night!

Next HANDS OFF! Fairfield, every Thursday afternoon from 5:00 to 6:30 pm at the corner of Pennsylvania Street & Travis Blvd. (in front of Garamendi’s office), & June 14th (flag day) back at the County Building at Texas St & Jefferson.

(Sponsored by MobilizeUS, hosted by Azonia Haney, public citizen of Fairfield). Contact Azonia Haney to help make it happen at (503) 419-8469 or handsoff.fairfieldca@gmail.com.

The Fairfield Hands Off group has a Facebook page you should join!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1197790722132920

To register, see more details, and share, go here: https://www.mobilize.us/freedomoverfascism/event/791514/

My name is Andrew Tuttle and I am the Director of Education Programming at NAMI San Francisco, a mental health advocacy organization.

Our team is hosting a panel event in June that may be of interest to you and those in your community. We would love to invite you to attend!

Event: Third Annual LGBTQ+ Roundtable: Community Support in a Shifting Political Climate

Date: Thursday, June 26 from 6:00 – 7:30pm PDT. Free, virtual via Zoom webinar.

Registration: Please register via the link below; a flyer is also attached.

https://tinyurl.com/lgbtqevent2025

Panelists: Dr. Chase Anderson, MD, is an Assistant Professor in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. His writing has appeared in Newsweek, The New England Journal of Medicine, and other news and journal outlets.Denisse Mendéz, LMFT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the Youth Mental Health Manager at the San Francisco LGBT Center. Denisse specializes in working with gender-expansive transitional-age youth and youth of color.

A. Ning Zhou, MD, is a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist at the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH), volunteer clinical faculty at UCSF, and in private practice. At SFDPH, he works at three clinics, including one that serves queer and trans youth. At UCSF, he supervises psychiatry trainees/students and directs the LGBTQ+ Mental Health Area of Distinction.
Thank you in advance for distributing information about this program!
– Andrew

Red Cross Blood Drives come to Solano Pride Center!

Not everyone can give blood…but everyone is eligible to volunteer.

There aren’t the 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, August 8th between 10 am and 3 pm. Sign up here!

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/

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

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/

This Thursday, June 26, join us for a delicious way to give back!

We are partnering with Ike’s Love & Sandwiches for a special AIDS Walk San Francisco fundraiser!When you show the flyer below or use the promo code “LOVE” at checkout, 30% of your order will be donated directly to AIDS Walk San Francisco.

Your meal will help fund life-changing services for people affected by HIV/AIDS—like healthcare, housing, prevention programs, and advocacy—delivered by more than a dozen amazing local Co-Beneficiaries.Here’s how to help:
📅 Date: Thursday, June 26 10:00AM-9:00PM
🥪 Where: 1090 Dr Maya Angelou Ln G, San Francisco, CA 94158
💬 How: Show the flyer in store or use promo code “LOVE” if you’re ordering online.Whether you’re grabbing lunch, dinner, or both – this is a fun and easy way to make a real impact. Order for yourself, bring your friends, or treat your team!

Thank you for being part of our incredible AIDS Walk San Francisco community. We hope to see you at Ike’s on Thursday!

— Your Friends at AIDS Walk San Francisco

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, July 26th 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!

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/

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 this summer.

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/

This amazing training from the Center for Human Development has been rescheduled for July 30th to August 1st.

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.

Wednesday, June 25th:

Wednesday, June 18th:

Wednesday, June 11th:

Wednesday, April 30th:

Wednesday, April 23rd:

Wednesday, April 16th:

Wednesday, April 9th:

Wednesday, April 2nd:

Wednesday, March 19th:

Wednesday, March 12th:

Wednesday, March 5th:

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

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 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.