June 1, Biggest Best Pride Ever in Sonoma County, CA!
Reporting on ‘Heroes Sheroes and Queeroes’
Our Sonoma County Pride celebration took place in Santa Rosa, where we live, a city of 177,000. After the parade, we checked out the booths and music at the town square. This year saw more marchers and watchers than ever. And if there were haters (as there have been in past years), I never saw them. The vibe was joyful.
The theme this year was Heroes Sheroes and Queeroes. So there were lots of superhero capes among the marchers. The Sebastopol (a nearby small town) Senior Center had a large contingent. Volunteers made 60 capes with messages, and they won the Best Overall Float prize. Seven local queeroes were honored.
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence has a big congregation here in Sonoma County. They fundraise to support the comunity with fabulous parties, bingo games and campaigns. The Sisters were the sponsors of Gay Pride for many years when it was in Guerneville, a resort town on the Russian River.
I think maybe there are more old dykes in Sonoma County than anywhere else in the world! We were well represented at Pride. A new organization just started called Senior Lesbians in Community (SLIC). At the first meeting, 60 women showed up. They had to rent a hall! I’m also a member of Old Lesbians Organizing for Change (OLOC) and Lesbian Reunion. The village of Oakmont, a retirement community, has its own lesbo contingent.
The Democratic Party always shows up at Pride. They sponsor postcard writing parties to help get out the vote for Congressional races around the country. In California we are working to turn red districts blue this year.
The Pride parade wasn’t our only chance to gather the first weekend of June. The Pride organizing committee outdid themselves with a flag raising ceremony, pre- and after-parties, a gay pool party at the local casino, a movie night on the square, and a Sunday drag brunch the next day.
Sonoma County queers will be gathering to celebrate Gay Pride all summer. Locals have organized the OUTwatch Film Festival June 8 in Sebastopol. The Gay+ Rodeo (Best Buck in the Bay) takes place September 14–15 in Monte Rio. Bayarearodeo.com. Out at the Fair is a day for queers at the Sonoma County Fair August 9. Lazy Bear Week starts July 29 in Guerneville. And Gay Wine Weekend is coming up July 19–21. Advertised as a weekend of wine and celebration in Sonoma Wine Country. Outinthevineyard.com. As we say, “Cheers Queers!”
