Standing Together, regardless of what may come our way. | |
Here is the link to our Solano County LGBTQIA2S+ Community Needs Assessment. We have only had 7 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!
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We are seeing the normalization of anti-Trans sentiment as a function of attempting to enforce the views of what the election has said to America. Sadly, some previous members and supporters of the Trans Community have been sounding more like "Trans Exclusive Radical Feminists" or TERFs, like JK Rowling rather than supporters of the needs of our Trans siblings. We don't throw any part of the Alphabet family under the bus.
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While some Trump supporters were quite celebratory of their win, the actual vote count has shown that it wasn't the national mandate that many of them have been mischaracterizing. In the midst of such hate speech, in the same week we saw the Congress itself, the House of the People, enshrine discriminatory
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bathroom policies on the first out Trans Congressperson-elect Sarah McBride. The fears I'm hearing from more and more of our Gender Expansive community are real, and express a genuine lack of safety that many
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experience here in our "redder than we would like" Solano County. Our solidarity needs to expand, not decrease in times like these, and we will need to be more responsive with our Trans-Intersex-Gender-Expansive siblings ask us to be in streets or at the public meeting with them as accomplices, not just as allies.
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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. Please bring a store bought side dish, dessert or drinks (this helps us be in compliance with health codes). Turkey and Ham will be provided by the Board.
| We are asking those coming to the Holiday Dinner to let us know you are coming, since the Board is paying to have enough turkey and ham for everyone. 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 at will@solanopride.org or 707.200.7916. | |
This year's See's Candies fundraiser is just over one week from ending! If you are a lover of their sugar free sweets, you can always order your gift cards here, and then purchase them at a local shop. You can order today here: https://www.yumraising.com/secure/solanopc_solano_pride_center12/WilWil9151/candy
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Give out Day this year is Tuesday, December 3rd! Can you help us by sharing this link before, during and after that day so we can broaden our outreach? Please share this link: https://givingtuesday.mightycause.com/team/solano. You can share some of the new images like this one, with some of the messages we have created for you! Please do go to the bottom of the email to find and share more info on Dec. 2nd and 3rd!
| Let's keep working to make the world a safe place for all, including all of our intersectional siblings in the BIPOC and working poor communities. We stand with each other, ready to fight for each other's rights, because we have seen the past, and won't go back to the fights with police or any form of erasure. | |
Will McGarvey
he/they
Executive Director
Solano Pride Center
will@solanopride.org
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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 Friday, Nov. 29th 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!
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Upcoming Social & Support Groups! | |
Pan-Pagan/Magickal Support Group (4th Wednesdays from 7-8:30 pm continues tonight Nov. 27th). 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, and a drum or percussion rattle if you have one (extras will be available).
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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 first gathering Tuesday, Dec. 3rd at 7 pm.
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The Gender Expansive Circle will meet again on Friday, December 6th 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.
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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.
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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.
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2-SLGBTQ+ Men's Support Group (3rd Wednesdays – December 18th from 7:00 to 8:30 pm). This group is for all those who identify as male/masc, and is trans inclusive, led by Will McGarvey & Milton Heath Solórzano. Contact us by email for more info at will@solanopride.org or miltonheath@solanopride.org. Let us know if going to do a social at a local restaurant/bar works for you that night.
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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.
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Drop in Parent's group has been discontinued for now. Please look for a Parent's Survey we will share next week to know when works best to be able to gather parents for social and support needs.
Register with our Clinical Director, Colin Amato, at colin@solanopride.org, we may be able to start in mid November 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.
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A new supportive gathering for those who experience Chronic Illness and Chronic Pain. See the new dates and times for the zoom and in person groups on the flyer! Next group will be announced as soon as new leadership is announced.
Contact Ray for more info, and know that you are not alone. Ray can be contacted at ray@solanopride.org or by phone or text at 707.408.2458.
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Ever wondered if the Center is open, or how to contact the staff member you need? | |
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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.
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Updated Youth Programming | |
Next Up for Youth & Young Adults in Rio Vista & Fairfield! | | |
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Rio Vista Teen Pride meets for a special joint Nov/Dec Holiday Party on Dec 6th! (on the 4th Fridays)
from 3:30-5:30 pm at Rio Vista Cares in Rio Vista!
There's always Pizza!
Led by Judy Serafini and Zaida Mungaray.
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Senior Programs!
No meetings on the 5th Friday, Nov 29th.
Our next Senior Lunch will be Friday, December 6th in the Conference Room at the Center. There will be a short presentation from Rhonda Smith from the Volunteer Center on Emergency Preparedness.
The next week is Friday, December 213th, and the Zoom Senior Group will be meeting online. Contact marlette@solanopride.org to get the link to join the fun!
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Many thanks to these partners, without whom our Senior Groups would not be able to have the same support and experience! | |
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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 also give through our Give Out Day campaign link at: https://givingtuesday.mightycause.com/team/solano to give by credit card, and contribute to our chance to get bonus money as a part of the Giving Tuesday competition among other LGBTQ Centers.
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.
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Solano Pride Center Yum-Raising storefront!
Help Solano Pride Center turn candy into cash.
Sweet Link! Stock up for the Holidays!
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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.
This Thursday, November 7, from 7 to 8pm 5 BAQWA members read from the anthology at Fabulosa Books in San Francisco's Castro District. Copies of the anthology will be on sale. Join Michael Alenyikov Richard May Rich Rubin Jan Steckel Sarah White at 489 Castro Street this Thursday. If you'd like to order the book online, the proceeds also help fund our important work here.
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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
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Please also welcome Christina Ogechi Ochiagha, our new Public Health Intern working with me this Semester. Her contact info is Christina@solanopride.org and can be texted or called at 707.408.3829. While working together with Cristina Z, she will go by Christina O.
Dr. Christina Ochiagha is a passionate and dedicated medical doctor from Nigeria. She is
committed to public health and the fight against HIV/AIDS. She was the president of the
AIDS-Free Club, a prominent student organization at her university that aimed to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention, provide support to affected individuals, and combat the stigma associated with the disease. Her leadership in the club was instrumental in organizing educational campaigns, community outreach programs, and support networks for people living with HIV/AIDS, making a lasting impact on both the university and the surrounding community.
After completing her medical degree, Dr. Christina Ochiagha relocated to the United States of
America, where she pursued a Master's in Public Health (MPH) to deepen her knowledge of
global health issues, health policy, epidemiology, and the social determinants of health. Her
studies have provided her a solid foundation for understanding and addressing complex public
health challenges, particularly those affecting vulnerable populations.
Currently, Dr. Christina Ochiagha is completing her internship at the Solano Pride Center, an
organization dedicated to serving the LGBTQ+ community and providing health services that
address the unique needs of individuals, including those related to mental health. Her role at the center involves:
● Working directly with marginalized groups.
● Conducting outreach.
● Advocating for inclusive public health policies.
Dr. Christina Ochiagha is focused on promoting HIV/AIDS prevention, education, and care
within the LGBTQ+ community, where stigma and barriers to care remain significant challenges. Driven by a passion for improving public health outcomes and advocating for social justice, she is committed to advancing global health initiatives and providing compassionate, evidence-based care to underserved populations. Her diverse experiences as a medical doctor, public health scholar, and advocate make her a well-rounded and empathetic healthcare professional dedicated to making a meaningful difference.
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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.
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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 testing; patients 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.
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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
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Programs for all Teens in Dixon at the Library! | |
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We will be having an event for kids in Grades K through 6. The Dixon High School Key Club will provide Free Homework Help for Kids every Monday from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm beginning September 30th and lasting through December 9th. For more info, contact Ricky Gjertsen (He/Him), Library Associate, Dixon Library, 230 N 1st Street, Dixon, CA 95620-3028
Direct: 707-784-1836 • Email: rdgjertsen@solanocounty.com
Below, on Tuesday, November 19th from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm, we will be having our Teen Indian Cuisine with SS Currey Express at the Dixon Library .
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We want to thank the many businesses and individuals who donated to our Silent Auction at October 11th Poetry Slam and Talent Show! Please do share your business with these Gay Owned & Allied businesses, and give the individuals a hug of thanks for their generosity! | |
Help share the message of Giving Tuesday to help Solano Pride Center raise funds these next couple of weeks! | |
Here are some images and text to start sharing this week and next!
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Here are some samples you can copy and paste! Images to share on Dec. 2nd or before :
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Here are some samples to copy and paste on Dec. 3rd itself:
There are over 40 chances for organizations like ours to win prize funding, but we can’t do it without your support.
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