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, including one I'm leading this Sunday afternoon at 4 pm there. See above.

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. 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.

Here is the link to our Solano County LGBTQIA2S+ Community Needs Assessment. We have only had 17 people respond so far, so we need to hear from more of you to learn 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.

SPC's Art Contest extended to Feb 1st. Create some ideas we’d like to put on t-shirts and other products!

Top 3 ideas get prizes! We will have a designer make it pretty. Share this opportunity with your creative friends, and let’s share how we can expand the welcome! Follow the link here!

Also, 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.

You would need to print out a flyer (flyers below).

Will McGarvey

he/they

Executive Director

Solano Pride Center

will@solanopride.org

Please print one of these flyers to take in to the Fairfield Panera anytime on Thursday, Jan 23rd and 20% of your meal comes back to SPC! Low color, full color and Spanish. Right click on them to save, and them send to your computer to print or directly to your printer. Or, just show this to them from your phone to get the credit.

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!

Updated Youth Programming

Next Up for Youth & Young Adults in Fairfield & Vacaville!

This group is for teens aged 12-17 or Middle and High School aged.

This drop in group on Jan 17th is for Teens and Transitional Aged Young Adults.

Upcoming Social & Support Groups!

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, December 19th. 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.

The Gender Expansive Circle will meet again on Friday, Friday 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, 2 Spirit and those questioning their gender identity or expression. The group is 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.

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 Klune (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). Will and Colin will be facilitating the group discussion at the next gathering Tuesday, Feb. 4th at 7 pm, when we will be discussing the first 10 chapters. .

Military/Veterans LGBTQ+ Social & Support Group

(2nd Thursdays of the month from 7:00 to 8:30 pm). Next meeting is Thursday, January 9th at the Heretic Brewery and Distillery (1052 Horizon Drive, Fairfield). 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 and Jim Dailey.

Grief Support Group 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.

LGBTQ2S+ Men's 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 or Trans 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.

Drop in Parent's group has been discontinued for now. We have prepared a Parent's Survey here to know when works best to be able to gather parents for social and support needs.

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.

A supportive gathering for those who experience Chronic Illness and Chronic Pain is temporarily on hiatus. 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

A secular 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. Facilitated by Christopher Cortes (christopher@solanopride.org) with shared leadership from other members of the group. 

Senior Programs!

We won't be having a Senior Zoom meeting on January 10th, as the Center will be closed between Christmas and New Year's day. 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!

Our next Senior Lunch will be Friday, January 17th in the Conference Room at the Center. Tyler Dorman 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.

Rustwater Kitchen & Taproom, 800 Texas Street, Fairfield.

Ever wondered if the Center is open, or how to contact the staff member you need?

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. Please contact our Clinical Director Colin Amato at colin@solanopride.org for more information. 

We rely on every donation to the Solano Pride Center to not only keep our doors open, but to serve you and those you love. Please consider how you can help support your LGBTQ+ Center today! Please mail checks to the address below, or send donations via PayPal at PayPal.me/SolanoPride. 

Ever ask yourself, “I really want to help, but I don’t know what to do?”

Did you know that Solano Pride Center provides outreach and support.  What fun things should we do this fall? These experiences are among the most important for many young people as they struggle with coming out, finding their voices, and becoming happy adults.

You can still give at the link above, through the end of the year. Or you can give through our portal on Zeffy at https://tinyurl.com/Give2SolanoPride.

A one-time donation of $100.00 or $200.00 will provide decorations, pizza, help us pay for the DJ, or other costs of our next big youth event. Donations can be made via Paypal, cash, or check.  

Donate

Solano Pride Center is a 501 c (3) non-profit.

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.



If you'd like to order the book online, the proceeds also help fund our important work here.

HIV Prevention Awareness

1st Tuesday of the Month at the Solano Pride Center. The next Testing Tuesday, is February 4th from 4-7 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

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

This week marks the release of "Survey of LGBTQIA+ Older Adults in California:

From Challenges to Resilience", the first statewide survey exploring the current and future health and wellbeing of the state's mid-life and older LGBTQIA+ population. This 2024 baseline survey aligns with the goals of California’s Master Plan for Aging, a blueprint for state and local governments and their philanthropic and private-sector partners to prepare for California’s growing population of older adults. https://lnkd.in/gRm4jYQP

Many of your centers participated in getting the word out and asking their older adult clients to take part in the survey. Thank you for being instrumental to this historic endeavor.

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.

Black Embrace: A Podcast Supporting Black Families Navigating LGBTQIA+ Challenges

By Charlotte Richardson, DSW-C, LCSW and SPC Board Member

This podcast is dedicated to discussing the hard issues at the intersection of Black Family and LGBTQIA+ Youth. Historically the Black Community and LGBTQIA+ issues have been a point of disagreement and Black Family relationship breakdown. This podcast seeks to heal the wounds of family breakdown, create positive communication within Black Families with LGBTQIA+ Youth, and overall improve relationships and connection with Black Families and Community.

Our Clinical Director, Colin Amato, was one of Charlotte's first interviews! Don't miss it!

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/charlotte-richardson4

January 2025 Solidarity Days & Monthlong Observances

January Monthly Observances

Whether you're looking to understand more about a specific festival or find out when key events are happening, our posts will provide valuable insights and stories. Get ready to mark your calendars, embrace diverse cultures, and celebrate the moments that unite us all. Join us as we kick off the year with joy, reflection, and anticipation for the memorable times ahead. Below is the calendar of january 2025

January has:

• January 11 — National Day of Human Trafficking Awareness
• January 12 — National Kiss A Ginger Day
• January 14 — National Dress Up Your Pet Day
• January 19 — Dolly Parton’s Birthday (National Treasure)
• January 20 — Inauguration Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day (3rd Monday)
• January 21 — National Hugging Day
• January 22 — Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day
• January 24 — Compliment Day
• January 26 — National Spouse’s Day
• January 27 — International Holocaust Remembrance Day
• Be Kind To Food Servers Month
• National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
• Cervical Health Awareness Month
• National Stalking Awareness Month
• National Blood Donor Month

JAIN link: https://www.jaincollege.ac.in/blogs/january-2025-important-dates-holidays-and-festivals

Contact us at: https://solanopride.org

info@solanopride.org

707.207.3430 office

707.389.4520 confidential counseling line