Local

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Queer Kickball Game Happens Sunday, January 5

Sunday, January 5, 2025·10:00am – 12:00pm

Herbert Slater Middle School, 3500 Sonoma Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95405, USA

https://www.instagram.com/queersinthepark/   Free event. This is a non-competitive game where no one even keeps score! All ages, abilities, and skill levels are welcome. Not a sporty gay but still want to hang out? Join the cheering section that lounges in the shade. Kickball is really just an excuse we use to meet new people and make friends. Please note this event runs on gay time and so is from 10am (ish) to 12pm (ish). Late arrivals welcome and can still join the game!!!

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Positive Image’s QTBIPOC Hangout Happens Monday January 6 at 6 PM

In recognizing the lack of spaces for Sonoma County’s LGBTQIA+ communities of color to feel safe, seen, and a sense of belonging, Positive Images’ QTBIPOC Hangout program is a monthly joy-centered social space for QTBIPOC adults in Sonoma County to connect with one another. Through different activities and workshops at the PI community center or other trusted local spaces, this program strives to also offer experiences of personal, cultural, and community empowerment & exploration. Since the program’s start in February 2023, hangouts have included: art & movie nights, potlucks, a rock climbing night at Vertex Climbing Gym, a free professional photo shoot/portrait day with QTwithacamera Photography, a clothing drive, and a holiday gift exchange. 

Hangouts are every first Monday of the month from 6-8pm at the PI Community Center, unless shared otherwise. The space welcomes all those who identify as QTBIPOC*. 

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*QTBIPOC = Queer and Transgender, Black, Indigenous, People of Color

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People’s March Happened January 18 on Sonoma Square

PEOPLE’S MARCH SONOMA – A NATIONAL EFFORT PROMOTED BY THE NATIONAL WOMEN’S MARCH ORGANIZATION. 

SATURDAY JANUARY 18TH, 2024 – SONOMA PLAZA 10-12
RALLY AT THE HORSESHOE THEN MARCH DOWN BROADWAY

BRING YOUR SIGNS – NONVIOLENT MARCH
A PEACEFUL SHOW OF COLLECTIVE STRENGTH IS POWERFUL

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Give Back Tuesday @ Rainbow Cattle Company

Tuesday, December 31·2:00 – 11:59pm

Rainbow Cattle Company, 16220 Main St, Guerneville, CA 95446, USA

www.queersteer.com Giveback Tuesdays. 

Every week a local charity will be choosen.  10% of the sales for that Tuesday will be donated to the charity directly by us.  The more the community supports the Rainbow on a given Tuesday, the more the charity will get.  If you want to nominate a local charity for consideration for a Giveback Tuesday, email us. This has turned out to be such a wonderful event, and a number of very deserving charities have received money.  Since it’s start in late November of 2005, over $115,000 has been given to the local charities from the Rainbow directly.  This does not include all of the money raised by the actual charities during events on each and every Tuesday.  It’s impossible for us to say exactly how much money was raised in total, but it’s safe to say it’s in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.  We are very pleased with how the community has pulled together to make this an amazing weekly event, and so much good has come from all of the donations and money raised.

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Sonoma County Pride Invites the Community to Engage in A Dialogue about Law Enforcement’s Involvement in Pride Events January 18

Dear Community,

Sonoma County Pride will be engaging in dialogue

We have received feedback from some community members around concerns with Law Enforcement involvement in our events, and those same community members have called for a ban of police involvement in future events (including LE participation in the parade and tabling at the Pride festival). Other community members have expressed an interest to involving Law Enforcement in some capacity in Pride Weekend. We take these concerns seriously and are opening an invitation for thoughtful dialogue with a hope of enacting healing and repairing within our community so that we can move forward unified. We know that these are particularly challenging times for LGBTQ++ people, and solidarity and unification is more important than ever. We are stronger united, so our hope is that through respectful dialogue we can work together to form a plan that feels safe and welcoming for all at Sonoma County Pride moving forward. We recognize that this conversation will likely be ongoing for months or even years to discuss, and we are committed to allowing it the time and space necessary so that understanding and growth can happen.

Restorative conversations between Sonoma County Pride and concerned community members will be facilitated by Hanan Huneidi, a BIPOC member of the LGBTQ++ community in Sonoma County. Hanan has a long history of community activism and direct experience working for social justice in various realms throughout our community. Hanan has led community efforts in holding police accountable as well as social justice work within the realm of incarcerated youth and adults. She founded Petaluma Pride and served on the Ad Hoc Committee for Community Restructure for the City of Petaluma which focused on the need for police oversight. We are excited to have Hanan facilitate this important conversation.

More details and location to be announced soon.

Sonoma County Pride Board of Directors

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Wake Up Sonoma Springs into Action After Election

We are all in shock, grief, and mourning. I know I am. Literally, the earth beneath our feet has been shaken and we are trying to find our place to hold on. Of course, now our own mandate is to respond to the nationally shared call to action. What can Wake UP Sonoma do? How do we stand for safety and inclusion here in Sonoma when our country is so dramatically divided? Wake UP Sonoma is here to continue on our mission of defending democracy, and to continue to expand our work in the pursuit of the dedication to the advocacy of Human Rights, and to guard against the rollout of Project 2025. However, we need the community to come together to do that. We need to come together as one community and force.Luckily there are other non-profit leaders in Sonoma that are thinking along the same lines, and a collective effort is forming. More details about that effort are to come. 

YOU ARE INVITED to attend a Community Town Hall meeting to answer the ‘Call to Action’ and hear from some of these other nonprofits. They will be there to provide an outline of this effort. There will be follow up meetings to come very soon.

AGENDAPLEASE RSVP BY CLICKING THIS LINK. (not required but will help us plan). https://www.wakeupsonoma.com/townhall11-16

NOTE: This is still very much in process, so there may be changes to the speakers and agenda. Reverend Curran Reichert – will provide an opening and a container for our shock and grief and a place to start building our hope towards the future and the power of community.Speakers from the following organizations may be there, and possibly others to come.Sonoma Valley CollaborativeCatalyst FoundationWake UP SonomaSonoma Valley Education FoundationSupport fromG3 SonomaOut in the VineyardWrap-Up and Q&AClosing Pastor Reichert

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE! BRING A FRIEND.
WE ARE STRONGER WHEN WE COME TOGETHER
END OF YEAR GIVING CAMPAIGN – WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MOVE FORWARD IN DEFENDING DEMOCRACY
WHERE WILL YOUR MONEY GO IN 2025? THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE IN PROCESS ALREADY!DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION are one of the first targets of this new administration as well as Title IV protections for the Transgender Community. We will foster and promote visibility in the community in these and other ways.a) Podcast program for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC youth, seniors and adults to bring their stories forward instead of allowing them to be pushed back into the darkness.b) Transgender visibility activities in Sonoma Valley to elevate their voices.c) Host educational meetings, talks, and forums on Title IV rights and provide educational support for youth and families on their rights and advocacy.d) Promote visibility and inclusion in The Sonoma Business Community.e) We will continue to Advocate for the Civil and Human rights of all, in whatever ways we are called to do with our newly formed Diversity Network.

IMMIGRATION is a major target as well. With the threat of “the largest mass deportation program in history, using the National Guard and empowering domestic police forces in the effort, there is planning underway to support that community. Wake UP Sonoma will support the other non-profits who are working hard to protect this community. Our work there is just now being defined. INFORM AND EDUCATE is still a major area of our work. We will work to bring speakers and films to Sonoma Valley that will shed light on the National issues and help us stay educated for what’s to come, and how best to respond.
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