Local

Sonoma County took significant action last week to ease the local housing crisis. With actions taken by the Board of Supervisors, the County is now set to expand emergency shelter capacity during winter months, implement innovative programs to boost homeless services, challenge federal Housing and Urban Development regulations to make housing vouchers work in Sonoma County, and invest nearly $4 million in new affordable housing construction in 2017. “Housing is fundamental to the health of our communities,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Efren Carrillo. “Expanding housing opportunities for all in the County and providing the safety net of expanded shelters […]

Thursday, December 1 marks the fifteenth year Food For Thought hosts Sonoma County’s annual Dining Out For Life event, which is also World AIDS Day. 87 area restaurants and cafes will participate, donating 25% or 50% of the day’s sales to Food For Thought, which provides life-giving nutritional services to over 800 men, women, and children living with HIV and other serious illnesses in Sonoma County. Dining Out For Life is a unique event where people can enjoy lunch or dinner at their favorite restaurants knowing that they are also benefiting their friends and neighbors in need. “It’s our biggest […]

For decades, Spanish speakers in many parts of the Western Hemisphere recognize the word ambiente — literally meaning “atmosphere” or “environment” — as a coded reference. Queer Latinas and Latinos have used the word to identify themselves, their distinctive cultures and their spirit of resistance. “Noche de Ambiente” curators Ángel Rafael “Ralph” Vázquez-Concepción (left) and Juliana Delgado Lopera The term is at the heart of a new exhibition that will debut October 28 at the GLBT History Museum: “Noche de Ambiente.” The show opens a window into the meanings of ambiente as reflected in Latino drag performance and LGBTQ and […]

Petaluma’s Mystic Theater has canceled scheduled a September show by reggae artist Sizzla whose lyrics insight violence against the LGBTQI Community and who makes anti-gay statements during performances.  He first emerged onto the Jamaican dancehall scene in the late ‘90s, and quickly became notorious for incorporating hateful lyrics into his songs. The North Bay LGBTQI Community reached out to the Mystic and alerted the local media to bring attention to the concert and Sizzla’s reputation.  Many emails and calls went out to the Mystic to express concern and urge owners and management to cancel the Sizzla show.  Members of the […]

  It is with great pride that West County Health Centers celebrates over forty years of providing comprehensive, quality, and accessible health care services to the communities of western Sonoma County, beginning at the Occidental Area Health Center in 1976.   It is a great honor to care for our communities and provide a trusted “medical home” for thousands of people in western Sonoma County, including the most vulnerable and under-served. While there are countless reasons to celebrate and support West County Health Centers, Occidental Area Health Center among the most important and unique is our long success in providing access […]

Monday, August 8, 2 p.m. Sonoma General LGBT Support Group will happen at Sonoma Community Center, 276 Easy Napa Street in Sonoma, in Room 211.  Young people 12 – 18 years old are welcome. Also Monday, 5 – 6 p.m. Positive Images’ LGBTQI Sonoma Support Group will convene at the Sonoma Community Center, 276 Napa Street in Sonoma.  All those 12 – 24 are welcome Tuesday, August 9 and every Tuesday, 1 – 4p.m. Rapid HIV Testing is offered at Face to Face – Sonoma County AIDS Network, 873 Second Street in Santa Rosa. Also Tuesday at 10 a.m. Napa […]

Monday, July 25,    Positive Image’s Sonoma General LGBTQQI Meeting will be held at the Sonoma Community Center (Room 211), 276 East Napa Street in Sonoma. Also Monday, at 7 p.m. Parents of Trans Youth Meeting will happen at Positive Images Center, 312 Chinn Street in Santa Rosa Also Monday, 5:30 – 8 p.m. Marin AIDS Project hosts ‘Mix It Up’ their monthly mixer. At Four Points Sheraton, 1010 Northgate Drive in San Rafael. Tuesday, July 26, 1 – 4p.m. Rapid HIV Testing will be offered at Face to Face – Sonoma County AIDS Network, 873 Second Street in Santa Rosa. […]

The Arlene Francis Center proudly presents Chrysalis Fashion Benefit, an inaugural solo project by Michael Lee Brandon Powell, 20, of Windsor, CA. This party begins with a fashion show featuring gender-fluid designs presented by local models, and produced using fabric and clothing from local thrift stores repurposed as fashion for either sex. After the fashion portion of the evening, step outside to watch Michael release hundreds of baby butterflies into the night sky. A dinner by Worth Our Weight and a silent auction of Michael’s one-of-a-kind garments will follow. The evening wraps up with a DJ dance party. Self-expression is […]

The wine country comedy production, Crushers of Comedy is launching the inaugural Sonoma County Comedy Fest 2016 at the iconic Flamingo Resort in Santa Rosa, California. The two-day world class stand up comedy festival will feature well-known comics from Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.  The festival will also welcome comedy’s most celebrated photographer, Dan Dion.  Both days, Dan will have his famous comedic photos on display and will be signing his best selling comedy satire book, Satirista. A few of the headlining comics will be Santa Rosa native, Kevin Camia. Kevin’s comedy album was a top ten […]