Marin County’s Center for LGBTQ+ and HIV communities, The Spahr Center, today announces that it has named Joseph Tuohy (he/him) as its new Executive Director. “We are excited to welcome Joe into our organization and our community,” said Amy Schroeder, President of The Spahr Center Board of Directors. “We know that Joe’s experience, passion, and vision will ensure that The Spahr Center reaches the goals outlined in our Strategic Plan: securing a comprehensive safety net for all LGBTQ+ and HIV-affected individuals, increasing community connection, and showing up for racial justice within Marin County.”
“I couldn’t be more excited and grateful for my new opportunity with The Spahr Center,” Tuohy said. “The team at Spahr accomplishes tremendous work with limited resources, and I’m honored to join their efforts on behalf of the full spectrum of LGBTQ+ people, their allies and those most affected by HIV in our community.” Tuohy will begin work at The Spahr Center on May 1, 2023. Tuohy comes to The Spahr Center from the SF LGBT Center where he served as Senior Director of Operations. Previously he worked for seven years at PRC, where he served as both Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy Officer. He has over 30 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, operations and management. His career began at San Francisco Ballet, and later he served as Director of the Bay Area Dance Series. He spent ten years in New York working with School of Visual Arts and Second Stage Theatre, and for five years served as Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Visual AIDS. Recently he served as the Development Chair of the Board of Directors of the Castro Country Club. He has a B.A. from UC Berkeley in English Literature and Interdisciplinary Studies and undertook graduate work in Art Criticism and Writing at School of Visual Arts. “The Spahr Center plays a critical role in the fight against HIV and for the rights of LGBTQ+ residents of Marin County, and Joe’s character, tenacity and compassion for the needs of our community will serve clients well,” said John Cunningham, CEO of the National AIDS Memorial. “As Spahr’s new Executive Director, Joe brings an abundance of nonprofit experience, and over a decade of leadership in the HIV and LGBTQ+ fields. I couldn’t be more excited about the future of The Spahr Center under Joe’s leadership.” Cindy Myers’ last day as Interim Executive Director will be on April 30, 2023. We are deeply grateful for Cindy’s leadership at The Spahr Center over the past eight months, as well as her decades of service to the LGBTQ+ community and community non-profit organizations. We wish Cindy the best in all future endeavors and look forward to continuing our relationship with her. The Spahr Center is the only organization in Marin County devoted to serving and empowering the LGBTQ+ community and those living with and affected by HIV. It provides support services to the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities, including therapy, case management, financial assistance, and a food pantry. Its harm reduction program provides naloxone, a life-saving medication used to treat opioid overdoses to individuals across the county, Fentanyl test kits, and free HIV and Hepatitis C testing. Additionally, they plan community events such as Marin Pride and Transgender Day of Remembrance, leadership development programs for youth, and offer trainings to organizations, schools, and businesses in Marin on LGBTQ+ cultural competency. To learn more and make a donation, go to www.TheSpahrCenter.org.
Lesbian Connection Group meets at Wischemann Hall, Monday, May 1st, 2PM AND Men’s GayBiTrans Connection Group meets at the Sebastopol Senior Center, Monday, May 1st, 1:30PM
Come meet friends and neighbors you already know, or make new ones!
Host:Scott King, LGBT+ Liaison Coming Up:Lesbian Connection Group: meets 1st and 3rd Monday 2-4PM, at Wischemann Hall, Monday, May 1st & May 15th, 2-4PMMen’s GayBiTrans Connection Group meets at the Sebastopol Senior Center, 1st Monday each month, Monday, May 1st & June 5th 1:30-3:30 PMLGBT Free Movie Night, 3rd Thursday, 5:30 PM, May 18th, (no movie in June)MOVIES for May: CHOICE #1 “LIMITED PARTNERSHIP”Movie CHOICE #2 “Notes On A Scandal”(SEE BELOW FOR MORE MOVIE INFO)LGBT Rainbow Connection Folks March in the Sonoma County PRIDE PARADE, Saturday, June 3rd 10AMSAVE THE DATE, Saturday, June 10th, LGBT Pride Pool Party at the Fountaingrove Lodge, includes food and drinksLGBT Green Valley Growers Hydrangea Tour, Wednesday July 12th, 9:30 to NoonGay Bi Trans (GBT) Men’s Connection Zoom Group: Every Thursday at 4 PMGBT Men’s Friendship Mixer: 1st Monday, May 1st & June 5th 1:30-3:30 PMCall the front desk to register for any of these: 707-829-2440
MEN’S CONNECTION GROUP Men’s GayBiTrans Connection Group meets at the Sebastopol Senior Center, 1st Monday each month, Monday, May 1st & June 5th 1:30-3:30 PMPlease come, and tell your gay bi and trans men friends to come as well. This is for men wanting to connect and maybe make a new friend. You will get a chance to talk 1 on 1 with 4 or more individuals, then we meet in a circle. This time we will be drawing fun cards from the Health Deck: “We’re Not Really Strangers.” We provide coffee, water & tea.
Where: Sebastopol Senior Center in person Why: Meet new LGBT+ friends & neighbors Cost: Free to members, $5 for non-members Go HERE to register: Or call our front desk: 707-829-2440 Or DROP IN! But please check-in at the front desk upon arrival.Lesbian Connection Group: NOW ON 1st and 3rd Monday 2-4PM, next is May 1st LESBIAN GROUP has moved to Wischemann Hall (465 Morris St, Sebastopol)From Lucy Whitworth:
“Greetings All! Our next gathering of Senior Lesbian Connections will be this coming Monday ~ May1st May Day! 2:00pm – 4:00pm Wischemann Hall, 465 Morris Street, Sebastopol $2.00 to cover rental fees The facilitator for Monday will be Nancy Moorhead. The format for this meeting will be small discussion groups. The suggested topics will be: Joys and Challenges of being in our 60’s Joys and Challenges of being in our 70’s Joys and Challenges of being in our 80’s Isolation and the continuing Effects of COVID Political Issues Struggles with Health Issues Plan to arrive about 15 minutes early to allow time for parking, Check-In, and schmoozing. We will begin promptly at 2:00pm” –Lucy Whitworth
When: First and 3rd Monday of each month (unless it is a holiday) 2 to 4PM Where: Wischemann Hall (465 Morris St, Sebastopol) Why: Meet new friends & neighbors Cost: $2 Or DROP INS ARE OK TOO!
We are Looking for a volunteer “Movie Captain” for our LGBT Movie night! What would the Movie Captain do, you ask?
1-Pick the next 3 months movies: July, August and September 2-We need two LGBT movies each night. We need one for the men, and another for the women 3-Check the movies out from the library, if possible, or identify which streaming service has it 4-Having both movies on DVD for movie night is excellent, but we can stream as well (I can bring in my Firestick and have access to Netflix and Prime and Disney…) It’s always the 3rd Thursday of the month What do you think? Get back to me if you are interested! Sincerely Scott, email SCOTT with any questions. LGBT+ Movie Night at the Senior Center, FREE! LGBT Free Movie Night, 3rd Thursday, 5:30 PM, May 18th (no movie in June)Last month was great! The movie discussion afterward was lively and created community. We answered questions together, like, “who was your favorite character in the movie?” We felt connected!
It’s FREE, with FREE Popcorn, & FREE hot tea. Bring your own dinner / snacks / drinks. We can have a table for you to eat in the back during the movie.
2 Choices* 2 ROOMS * 2 MOVIES * SAME NIGHT
5:30 PM Arrive for Meet and Greet 6 Movies start 7:30 Discuss movie: Who is your favorite movie character and why?
When: Thursday May 18th (no June movie) 5:30 PM to 8 PM THE 3rd THURSDAY EACH MONTH Where: Sebastopol Senior Center in person Why: Meet new LGBT+ friends & neighbors Cost: FREE Go HERE to register: Or call our front desk: 707-829-2440 OR JUST COME! DROP INs OK, Arrive 6PM at the latest
FOR May 18th:CHOICE #1 LIMITED PARTNERSHIP LIMITED PARTNERSHIP 2014, Documentary/Biography, 53 minutes “A moving documentary about one of the first legal same-sex marriages in the US in 1975.” -HectorThrough archival footage and modern interviews, it covers the 40-year love story between Filipino-American Richard Adams and Australian Tony Sullivan, who, in 1975, became one of the first same-sex couples to be legally married after suing the U.S. government seeking equal treatment for a same-sex marriage. CHOICE #2 Notes On A Scandal
“A Friendship Develops, and Obsession Follows” “The claws draw blood in “Notes on a Scandal,” a misanthropic game of cat and mouse from which no one emerges unscathed, including saps like us who think we’re watching a film about other people. Based on the novel “What Was She Thinking?: Notes on a Scandal” by the British writer Zoë Heller, the film stars Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett as colleagues nearly undone by desire.” Read more here: https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/27/movies/27scan.html Email me, Scott, Films you want to see, and I will add them to this list. we are looking for a movie volunteer, who will help with securing the DVD’s and selecting which movies to show each month. We show LGBT movies THE 3rd THURSDAY EACH MONTH.If You Missed It, Here are some photos from the LGBT Private Home Art Tour IT WAS FABULOUS!!!
We got invited into the Exquisite home of a local LGBT household to view their lifelong collection of stunning artworks before they get relocated to a famous Museum.
We visited with the collector of famous works of art over lunch, then we drove to their West County elegant and distinguished home that’s filled with famous and exquisite works of art. We took the Last chance to see it before it gets curated to a museum in another state.
OUR LIBRARY NEEDS LGBT+ Seniors!If you are interested in participating, please contact Terra at temerson@sonomalibrary.org, or call the Sebastopol Regional Library at (707) 823-7691.
This project is a collaboration between Analy High School, The Sebastopol Library, The Sebastopol Senior Center, and The Sebastopol Community Cultural Center.” (707) 823-7691 x1015 temerson@sonomalibrary.orgCome Eat at Our Harvest CafeDine in lunches are first come, first served. No reservations are needed. Dine in: Mon – Fri from 11:30am – 1:30pm Cost: $10 Members | $12 Non-Members Lunch includes a beverage, soup or salad, 1 entree and dessert. We offer meals to go too! LUNCH OR DINNER ~ Just place your order before 1:30pm and pick up by 3:30. Phone us: 707.829.2440 Placing TO GO Orders: All meals will be need to be ordered between 11:30am-1:30pm. Dinners can be ordered too! All dinner orders will be packed and kept refrigerated, all you have to do is reheat it.
The Harvest Cafe Located at The Sebastopol Senior Center 167 N Hight Street Find the weekly menu HERESincerely,
Scott King LGBT+ Liaison 707-827-8429 direct 707-829-2440 main Sebastopol Senior Center 167 N. High Street Sebastopol CA 95472 scott@sebastopolseniorcenter.orgFYI Hello LGBT+ Friends, Neighbors and Allies, When I started this blog, I included all of my LGBT+ friends and allies here in the Sonoma County area, and we have added many more folks since then. I write this blog to let you know of the valuable work I am doing here, as the LGBT+ Liaison for the Sebastopol Senior Center. I love my job and the important ways we bring folks together: Panel discussions, Monthly friendship mixers, Dances, Day trips, Garden tours, Pride events, Parades, Art shows, Hikes, Weekly zoom groups, and our Guided tour of the Castro.
In this blog you will find information about what LGBT+ activities are happening here at your Center, and events and notices from around our county. Please hit “reply” at any time and let me know your thoughts, suggestions or even compliments are always welcome. Enjoy!
Our LGBT+ Mission: “To foster pride, connectedness, belonging, diversity and inclusion for all LGBT+ adults by providing educational, social, and recreational opportunities in the continuing pursuit of a fulfilling and healthy life. We co-create this through active volunteerism at our in-person and online activities.”We wish to thank the Horizons Foundation in San Francisco for their continued financial support for this program! We also want to thank the Community Foundation of Sonoma County for their support as well, THANK YOU!
Join the Sonoma County Library for eventsthroughout the month of May, from live Afro-Cuban music to anime workshops for teens. All events are free and you don’t need a library card to attend; registration is required for select events. See some of our May events below!
Kids & Families
Children and families are invited to a special interactive story reading of I Am Latinxwith local children’s author Maria Alondra Jasso! Join us at two library locations: Healdsburg and Rincon Valley. For grades K-3.
Join local instructor Elsa Tapia for Bilingual Family Craft Time! Children will paint empty cantaritos while parents make paper flowers. At two library locations: Rincon Valley and Roseland. For grades K-12.
Tweens & Teens
Love looking at the stars? Come to the Windsor Library on Tuesday, May 23, at 6:00 pmfor the Young Astronomers Club! Club members will study the night sky, learn how to use telescopes, and meet other kids who are interested in space. For grades 4-9.
Calling all teen anime fans! Join us for Anime Clubs & Workshops that are all about this Japanese art. At seven library locations: Windsor, Rincon Valley, Central Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Northwest Santa Rosa, Sonoma Valley, and Roseland. For grades 7-12.
All Ages
Join Carlitos Medrano and the Afro-Cuban trio band Sabor De Mi Cuba at the Petaluma Library on Saturday, May 6, at 2:00 pm. You won’t want to miss this performance of traditional Cuban and current Latin music!
Adults
Paint your own stylized picture frame with Oaxacan artist Irma Rodriguez! Frame Painting Workshops are available at four library locations: Guerneville, Rohnert Park-Cotati, Cloverdale, and Roseland. These events are in Spanish with an English interpreter.
Protect your personal information and securely dispose of unwanted documents with Becoming Independent’s Secured Document Shredding Truck! Limit of three boxes per person. Catch the truck at three libraries: Windsor, Healdsburg, and Guerneville.
Thank you for being a member of the Sonoma County Library community. Visit us online or in person at one of our branches. Be sure to check out open jobs at Sonoma County Library here. Questions? Please call your local library branch or click here to send us a message. Eventos de mayo Únete a la Biblioteca del Condado de Sonoma para los eventosofrecidos durante el mes de mayo. Presentamos eventos como música afro-cubano en vivo hasta talleres de anime para jóvenes. Todos los eventos son gratuitos y no necesita una tarjeta de la biblioteca para asistir; sí es necesario registrarse para algunos eventos. ¡Vea una selección de los eventos de mayo a continuación!
Niños y familias
Niños y familias están invitados a una narración de cuento especial e interactiva con la autora local de literatura infantil, Maria Alondra Jasso! Ofrecido en dos bibliotecas: Healdsburg y Rincon Valley.Para los grados K-3.
Únete a la instructora local Elsa Tapia para una clase bilingüe de manualidades familiares. ¡Los niños pintarán cantaritos mientras que los padres harán flores de papel! Ofrecido en dos bibliotecas: Rincon Valley y Roseland. Para los grados K-12.
Jóvenes y jovencitos
¿Te gusta mirar las estrellas? ¡Ven a la biblioteca de Windsor el martes 23 de mayo a las 6 de la tarde para el Club de Jóvenes Astrónomos! Los miembros del club estudiarán el cielo nocturno, aprenderán como usar telescopios, y conocerán a otros niños que están interesados en el espacio. Para los grados 4-9.
¡Llamando a todos los fans adolescentes del anime! Acompáñanos para los clubs y talleres del anime que son todos sobre el arte japonés. Ofrecido en siete bibliotecas: Windsor, Rincon Valley, Central Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Northwest Santa Rosa, Sonoma Valley, y Roseland. Para los grados 7-12.
Todas las edades
Únete con Carlitos Medrano y el trío afrocubano Sabor De Mi Cuba en la biblioteca de Petaluma el sábado 6 de mayo a las 2 de la tarde. ¡No querrás perderte este concierto de música cubana tradicional y música latina de hoy en día!
Adultos
¡Pinta tu propio marco estilizado con la artista oaxaqueña Irma Rodríguez! Talleres de pintar marcosestán disponibles en cuatro ubicaciones de la biblioteca: Guerneville, Rohnert Park-Cotati, Cloverdale y Roseland. Estos eventos son en español con un intérprete de inglés.
¡Protege tu información personal y destruye de forma segura los documentos no deseados con el camión de trituración segura de documentos de Becoming Independent! Límite de tres cajas por persona. Visita el camión en tres bibliotecas: Healdsburg, Windsor, y Guerneville.
Cheryl King hosts this extravaganza of burlesque, song and dance, sketches, comedy, and more. Also appearing: Velvet Thorn, Martin Gilbertson, Shannon DeJong, Alia Beeton, Serena Elize Flores, Noah Sternhill and Blue. PLUS another Dirty Limericks Contest! Bring your own original limerick. The audience votes on the best one. Top three win a prize! (Prizes graciously donated by Secrets Boutique in Santa Rosa).
Adult-oriented material, for those 18+. Parental guidance is suggested.
LGBTQI History: A Sonoma County Timeline 1947-2000.
Wednesdays 1:30-3pm. Online via Zoom. On May 3, Frances Fuchs will be talking with us about the Right To Marry movement in Sonoma County. Please contact me to enroll in this FREE class and receive a Zoom invite: cdungan@santarosa.edu
National Library Week (April 23-29) is on the horizon! Held each year in April, National Library Week is an opportunity to celebrate an audacious and remarkable idea —that information and knowledge should be accessible to anyone, anytime, absolutely free. The theme of this year’s celebration is “There’s More to the Story,” and evidence of that theme is everywhere in your local libraries. From streaming video to activities that celebrate our diversity and creativity, we meet you where you need us. Celebrate National Library Week with your library! Click here to read a note from Library Director Erika Thibault on this special week, and join us for eventsthat inspire and delight. From storytimes to book clubs, there’s something for everyone. See you soon!
Thank you for being a member of the Sonoma County Library community. Visit our online library for thousands of films, TV shows, eBooks, databases, magazines, classes, video games, and more. Be sure to check out open jobs at Sonoma County Library here. Questions? Please call your local library branch or click here to send us a message. Semana Nacional de las Bibliotecas ¡Semana Nacional de las Bibliotecas (del 23 al 29 de abril) está cerca! Celebrada cada año en abril, la Semana Nacional de las Bibliotecas es una oportunidad para celebrar una idea audaz y notable- que la la información y el conocimiento deben ser accesibles para todos en cualquier momento, absolutamente gratis. El tema de la celebración de este año is “Hay mucho más que contar,” y la evidencia de este tema se encuentra en todas las bibliotecas locales. Desde transmitir videos a actividades que celebran nuestra diversidad y creatividad, nosotros estamos preparados para apoyarlos cuando nos necesiten. ¡Celebra la Semana Nacional de las Bibliotecas con tu Biblioteca! Haz click aquí para leer un mensaje de la directora de la biblioteca Erika Thibault conmemorando esta semana tan especial y acompáñanos a los eventosque inspiran y deleitan a todos. Desde las horas de cuentos hasta los clubes de lectura, siempre habrá algo para todos. ¡Nos vemos pronto!Celebra con nosotros
Gracias por ser miembro de la comunidad de la Biblioteca del Condado de Sonoma. Visite nuestra biblioteca en línea para ver miles de películas, programas de televisión, libros electrónicos, bases de datos, revistas, clases, videojuegos y mucho más. Revise aquí los puestos disponibles en la Biblioteca del Condado de Sonoma. ¿Preguntas? Por favor llame a su biblioteca local o haga clic para mandar un mensaje.
LGBTQI History: A Sonoma County Timeline 1947-2000. Wednesdays 1:30-3pm. Online via Zoom. On April 26, Janet Zagoria will be joining us for a discussion on the early years of We The People newspaper. Contact me to enroll in this
LGBTQI History: A Sonoma County Timeline 1947-2000. Wednesdays 1:30-3pm. Online via Zoom. On April 19, Ken Kunert will be joining us for a discussion on the history
of the Billy Foundation. Please contact me to enroll in this
“I couldn’t be more excited and grateful for my new opportunity with The Spahr Center,” Tuohy said. “The team at Spahr accomplishes tremendous work with limited resources, and I’m honored to join their efforts on behalf of the full spectrum of LGBTQ+ people, their allies and those most affected by HIV in our community.”
Men’s GayBiTrans Connection Group meets at the Sebastopol Senior Center, 1st Monday each month, Monday, May 1st & June 5th 1:30-3:30 PMPlease come, and tell your gay bi and trans men friends to come as well. This is for men wanting to connect and maybe make a new friend.
CHOICE #2
We got invited into the Exquisite home of a local LGBT household to view their lifelong collection of stunning artworks before they get relocated to a famous Museum.
OUR LIBRARY NEEDS LGBT+ Seniors!If you are interested in participating, please contact Terra at 
