Have you rsvp'd for Wednesday night's Multicultural Holiday Dinner?

Plan now to join us on Wednesday, December 11th, when there will be an Interfaith Queer Holiday Party at the Center to celebrate all of the winter festivals together.  We will have altars for Thanksgiving, Chanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Yule, Solstice and other winter festivals. Come for your friends, stay for the queer Christmas carols. We will also be sharing another of Sean Chapin's new music video as Podium Butterfly - End Of The Rainbow!

We are asking those coming to the Holiday Dinner to let us know you are coming! Use this link to let us know how many will be joining you, and donate if you wish: https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/december-11-2024-holiday-gathering. We ask that you bring a store or restaurant-bought side dish (cranberries, stuffing, gravy, etc, or an ethnic/family favorite: lumpia, tamales, etc.), or a dessert to share. PLEASE NO HOME-COOKED ITEMS. The festivities begin at 7pm and go until 8:30 pm. So come and join us for food, fun, carols, a silent auction, and friendship. For more info, contact Will McGarvey awill@solanopride.org or 707.200.7916.


We will be saying "see you later" to Ray McIntosh at the party, who is finishing their internship with us! Among all of the other contributions, thanks for helping us include Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness to our support groups!

Here is the link to our Solano County LGBTQIA2S+ Community Needs Assessment. We have only had 15 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.

At our staff meeting today, Colin Amato, our Clinical Director encouraged us all to see the new film "Queer" by Luca Guandagnino, which is playing in a small theater in the City right now, but may also be some other places online soon. You can read about it here: https://thepinktimes.com/love-and-longing-in-queer-daniel-craig-and-drew-starkey-in-guadagninos-latest-vision/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=2024-12-10&utm_campaign=+Keep+up+with+the+latest+LGBTQ+news+and+updates+from+around+the+globe

As we saw in 2016 before the first Trump administration, there are couples getting married before he takes office again, with his and SCOTUS members threats against the 2015 Obergefell decision. If you or someone you know needs an officiant, let them know they can contact me, and either I can do secular or religious ceremonies, or I can refer them to others I know who can serve their needs with dignity and respect. (link to article here at https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2024/12/marriages-skyrockets-in-nyc-as-couples-rush-to-tie-the-knot-before-donald-trump-takes-office/?utm_id=sidebar1&utm_term=readmore&utm_content=election&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20241210%20LGBTQ%20Nation%20Daily%20Brief&utm_content=20241210%20LGBTQ%20Nation%20Daily%20Brief+CID_d5c5446c1ab1e33d8596eb08c216c048&utm_source=LGBTQ%20Nation%20Subscribers&utm_term=Read%20More or from the image above.)

Will McGarvey

he/they

Executive Director

Solano Pride Center

will@solanopride.org

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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. Richard May from the Association will be on hand with books at the Holiday Dinner! Pick one up then!

Upcoming Social & Support Groups!

Military/Veterans LGBTQ+ Support Group


(2nd Thursdays of the month from 7:00 to 8:30 pm). Our next meeting is tomorrow night, Thursday, December 12th in the Conference Room. We hope this group becomes a great social and support group for all active duty military or retired veterans in the queer community. Let us know if you'd rather meet on zoom, or meet up for pizza or dinner at a Fairfield restaurant.


Contact the facilitators by email by following these links: Will McGarvey and Jim Dailey.

Grief Support Group will next meet in-person gathering on Friday, December 13th 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.

2-SLGBTQ+ Men's Support Group (3rd Wednesdays – December 18th from 7:00 to 8:30 pm – this month at the True Symmetry Brewery -  315 Marina Center, Suisun City). 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.

The HIV Positive Support Group will begin as a zoom group on the 3rd Thursdays of the month from 6:00 to 7:30 pm, beginning 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.

The Gender Expansive Circle will meet again on Friday, December 20th 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, but the December gathering will be a potluck at Will’s house at 6 pm on Dec. 22nd.  (Email will@solanopride.org for the address). 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. We will be playing the Queer Radical Witches game.


Led by members of SPC Staff. Bring something from your altar to share about, and a drum or percussion rattle if you have one (extras will be available).

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, Jan. 7th at 7 pm, when we will be discussing the first 10 chapters. .

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. 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.

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, Dec. 19th 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!

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. 

Updated Youth Programming

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

Senior Programs!


This week is Friday, December 13th, and the Zoom Senior Group will be meeting online. Contact marlette@solanopride.org to get the link to join the fun!


Our next Senior Lunch will be Friday, December 20th in the Conference Room at the Center. We will have an Arts & Crafts after the lunch portion, so contact Kacen@solanopride.org if you'd like to share a craft you can share.

Many thanks to these partners, without whom our Senior Groups would not be able to have the same support and experience!

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.

Donate

HIV Prevention Awareness

1st Tuesday of the Month at the Solano Pride Center. Except the County ran out of testing kits for December. 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

Please also welcome Christopher Cortes, our new MSW Intern working with us this Semester. His contact info is christopher@solanopride.org and 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.

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.

Mpox Update from the State:


CDPH/Health Advisory- November 19, 2024 - On November 15, 2024, testing at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) confirmed the first case of mpox infection from clade I monkeypox virus (MPXV) in the United States. The patient recently traveled from an affected country, where clade I MPXV is actively spreading. The patient has relatively mild illness and is recovering after seeking medical care for mpox symptoms. CDPH along with local health departments (LHD) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating potential contacts to the patient; no additional cases have been detected to date. Historically, clade I has caused more severe illness than clade II; however, recent infections from clade I mpox may not be as clinically severe as in previous outbreaks, especially when cases have access to quality medical care. The overall risk of clade I mpox to the general population in California and the United States continues to be low.
 Health care providers are advised to follow infection prevention and control recommendations for all patients with mpox symptoms and have a heightened index of suspicion for clade I mpox in patients who present with signs and symptoms consistent with mpox and who report either: (1) recent international travel, or (2) sexual contact with someone who recently traveled internationally, particularly to Central or East Africa. If clade I mpox is suspected, providers should notify their LHD immediately and collect specimens for clade-specific testingpatients suspected to have mpox should be advised to isolate themselves from others.
This California Health Advisory: First Clade I Case Confirmed in California and the United States in a Returning Traveler expands upon CDC Health Advisory 519 issued on November 18, 2024 and summarizes California specific guidance for mpox management.

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

December is HIV/AIDS Awareness and Flu Vaccination Month.

All Month: Universal Human Rights Month


• 1st: World AIDS Day

• 3rd: International Day for People with Disability

• 8th: Pansexual Pride Day

• 10th: International Human Rights Day

• 13th: Purple Friday

• 14th: HIV Cure Research Day

• 20th: International Human Solidarity Day


Purple Friday link: https://workplacepride.org/event/queericulum-vitae-empower-your-career-on-purple-friday/

Contact us at: https://solanopride.org

info@solanopride.org

707.207.3430 office

707.389.4520 confidential counseling line

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