June 11, 2022
Dear Community,
Happy Pride Month!
June 2022 marks two important celebrations: the 10-year anniversary of the San Mateo County Pride Celebration and the 5-year anniversary of the San Mateo County Pride Center. We are thrilled to be able to be in community with y'all for both of these celebrations & are joyful that during one of those important celebrations we are able to celebrate with y'all in person.
Pride is more than rainbows, flags and glitter. We celebrate, we remember and we demand change. Throughout this year, we've seen some remarkable change but have also felt some terrifying shifts. The Pride Center is united with our community and our community leaders when we say "Gay" and our bodies are our own. Gender affirming care, child-bearing, and access to healthcare and safer education are human rights.
We've already participated in a few flag raisings and thank the cities who have chosen to participate and are in the process of participating. Last year had the amazing distinction of seeing all municipalities and cities in San Mateo County raise a progress flag in June.
Please see this blog that examines the core reasons that Pride is more than a singular celebration. DEI (Diversity Equity and Inclusion) is the skeleton of intersectionality and we can't celebrate pride fully until all our identities are celebrated <3
Just a reminder that we're here, we're Queer and the first brick was thrown by a Black Trans Woman.
We can't wait to celebrate Pride with you.
Scroll down for more details and where you can get in on the fun!
|
|
|
| In May, we celebrated Ellyn Bloomfield's role and lasting impact on the Pride Center with a circle of colleagues, friends and laughs. It was easy to see the impact that Ellyn made in her role at the Pride Center and we are grateful to have worked with her. Thank you to everyone who attended and shared their gratitude of Ellyn.
|
|
| In May, we also welcomed Andrea Roth (she/her) to the clinical team.
|
|
| | We also hosted a series of workshops with our friends at the Community Equity Collaborative in partnership with the Silicon Valley Community foundation called the "Rainbow Kids trainings". In these workshops, participants learned age-appropriate techniques for holding discussions about sexual orientation and gender. For resources shared during this workshop, please see this link.
|
|
|
Important information about PFS/ Pride Center Programming
|
|
|
Peninsula Family Service and the Pride Center will welcome a new LGBTQ+ Older Adult Program Coordinator in mid-June. Although we understand the disruption in services is not ideal, it will take time to properly introduced our new Program Coordinator to the Center, the team, our diverse history of programs and services and YOU! It is our hope we can reintroduce a fuller Older Adult Program in the summer months. Please stay tuned for a special announcement introducing our new LGBTQ+ Older Adult Program Coordinator in the upcoming weeks!
For a full list of programs that have been changed, please see this link to last month's newslettter: tinyurl.com/smcpcnewsletter-may2022
|
|
|
Exciting Pride Center updates
|
|
|
| Are you interested in being an ongoing supporter of the San Mateo County Pride Center? Consider becoming a monthly donor!
Monthly contributions can be made starting as little as $5 and up to whatever you can comfortably afford. If you are able to donate on an ongoing basis, even $5 adds up to a total of $60 per year! Every dollar helps support our beloved LGBTQ+ community by providing essential programs and services such peer support groups and name and gender change support.
If you are interested in becoming a monthly donor, please click this link.
|
|
| We are excited to announce that we have NEW MERCH WITH NEW DESIGNS!
We invite you to wear your Pride throughout the year, proudly announce your advocacy & allyship & look amazing while doing it! There are several new items offered including muscle shirts.
Please note: our online shop will be open throughout the year.
Thank you to the amazing Kristel Bugayong for creating these amazing designs!
Please click this link to see her amazing portfolio.
Please see this link (tinyurl.com/smcpc-merch) or click the button below to access our store:
|
|
|
Trainings and workshops provided by & co-hosted by the Pride Center
|
|
|
SOGIE 101
Ever wondered what's the difference between sex and gender? Want to learn about the difference between bisexual and pansexual? Continue your Pride Month on Wednesday, June 15th from 5:30-7:30 pm PST on Zoom with the San Mateo County Pride Center and ACS Outlet as we go back to the LGBTQ basics. We are proud to offer our virtual Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression (SOGIE) 101 training to all community members! Our goal is to work with YOU to understand how to create affirming environments for LGBTQ youth and adults through an engaging and interactive training filled with matching games, videos, and polls.
Through the generous support of our sponsors, we are able to offer this training at no cost to you! All are welcome! Bring your dinners and an open mind as we break down the latest LGBTQ terminology and work to build your strengths and grow as LGBTQ+ advocates and leaders.
Register at tinyurl.com/SMCPCSOGIE2022
|
|
|
| **New Group announcement!**
Perpetually Multisexual (18+)
Are you feeling isolated? Invisible? Erased? Like your identity as a multi-sexual person isn't recognized? Join us for $15/session in creating a space where we can come together as a community, counteract stigma, and heal through visibility!
An 8 to 10 week process group for people 18+ who identify as bi-, multi-, ambi-, omni-, or pan-sexual or who are romantically or physically attracted to more than one gender.
This group meets weekly on Thursdays from 5-7:00 PM PST on Zoom and starts on 7/21/22 through 9/22/22. This group will be hosted in english and closed captioning will be available.
Register at: tinyurl.com/PerpetuallyMultisexual
Hosted by Kiera/Ki Willow (ey, she, he, they), MFT/PCC Trainee and Andrea/Drae Roth (she/her), AMFT #117800, APCC #7800
Questions? Contact
k.willow@sanmateopride.org or andrea.roth@sanmateopride.org
|
|
| **TODAY**
San Mateo County Pride 2022- Ten Years of Queer in San Mateo County
|
|
|
San Mateo County's 10th Annual Pride Celebration is a space to champion inclusion and wellness for LGBTQIA+ folks and allies in SMC.
This year's Pride Celebration (in-person) will be TODAY, Saturday, June 11th at San Mateo Central Park from 11am-5pm. We will have live entertainment, live DJ, resource and vendor booths, family friendly and more. This is a sober-space and attendance is FREE.
Come celebrate our community's effort to build a connected, supportive and well
San Mateo County for all!
For more information about the celebration, opportunities for sponsorship, donation and more, please see the button below.
|
|
|
|
For the latest updates follow us on social media:
|
|
|
PENINSULA FAMILY SERVICE UPDATES
|
|
|
Please see update about PFS programming at the beginning of the newsletter for more information.
|
|
|
|
LGBTQIA+ Youth group (10-18)
Weekly on Mondays from 4:30-6:00 PM.
If you're interested in joining the group, please contact outletprogram@acs-teens.org or 650-424-0852 ext. 107 for more information.
|
|
|
QTBIPOC Group (14-25)
A weekly group that takes place Tuesdays from
6-7:30PM
If you're interested in joining the group,please fill out intake form here:
https://tinyurl.com/outletintakeform or
call 650-424-0852 ext. 107 for more information.
|
|
| | Trans Talks:
Trans Talks: How Public Health Affects Gender Affirming Care -
presented by Sidney Owen (She/Her)
|
|
|
The Pride Center and Stanford LGBTQ+ Health Program co-host Trans Talks, a free, monthly workshop series that centers the health and wellness of our Transgender and Non-Binary community members. All are welcome to attend. Community members are invited to ask questions on their health and wellness. Every month, a different professional from Stanford's LGBTQ+ Health Program will share information, lead a discussion and answer your questions. This is a free workshop open to all community members.
In June, the topic that will be discussed is how public health affects gender affirming care, presented by Sidney Owen (She/Her). During this presentation, there will be a discussion about public health policies past, present and future and how it can affect wellness and outcomes in trans populations.
Content warning:
There will be use of generalized language that may not apply to anyone. Minimal discussion on health disparities in Trans populations.
Please register for this workshop through this link: tinyurl.com/transtalk6-16
For a link to May's Trans Talks workshop, please see this link: tinyurl.com/TransTalk-primarycare
To access recordings of previous Trans Talks, please use this link: tinyurl.com/transtalks-recordings
Please note: all recordings utilize closed captioning.
If you have questions, need support or would like to suggest a topic please contact neilwary@stanford.edu
|
|
|
The Pride Center Clinical Team has CURRENT THERAPY AVAILABILITY.
We are ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS via both PRIVATE PAY and MEDI-CAL*.
(Services are currently provided via telehealth)
Services are available to everyone and
priority is given to LGBTQ+ community members based in San Mateo County.
Our clinical team looks forward to hearing how we can support you on your journey!
You can:
Fill out our online Service Request Form at sanmateopride.org/mental-health-services
Email: clinical@sanmateopride.org
Call: (650) 591-0133 ext. 146
*San Mateo County Medi-Cal members:
Call ACCESS Call Center: (800) 686-0101: TDD: (800) 943-2833
|
|
|
Upcoming dates for this workshop are June 29 & July 27.
This is a free workshop, registration is required! Please see button below to RSVP.
Please reach out to Alex (he/him) at Alex.Golding@sanmatepride.org or 650-465-6795 for support.
|
|
|
Just a reminder: we offer some financial aide for the legal process and free gender affirming supplies. For more information about this, please see this link: bit.ly/ngc-aid-request
|
|
|
All groups have moved to Zoom video. Please contact Devon (He/Him) at Devon.Dye@sanmateopride.org to access links for our peer support groups.
|
|
|
Peer support group is for LGBTQ+ folks age 18+ who are parents of kid(s) 0-5 years old to support each other, share parenting wisdom, and build community. This group is open to anyone who is a parent or caregiver of young children, with all family formations and ways of being or becoming a parent welcome!
This group will meet twice a month from 7-8:30PM PST on the first and third Tuesdays.
This group is currently meeting via Zoom. Pre-registration is required; please register in advance at: tinyurl.com/smcpc-parentsgroup
If you’re interested in joining this group but the above times don’t work for you, please contact Devon Dye (He/Him) at Devon.Dye@sanmateopride.org
**THIS GROUP IS CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR A SECOND FACILITATOR! IF YOU THINK YOU ARE A GOOD FIT, PLEASE CONTACT DEVON.DYE@SANMATEOPRIDE.ORG**
|
|
| | Upcoming dates are July 6 & August 3
|
|
|
The Trans Peer Support Group (18+) meets monthly on the first Monday from 6-7:30PM. This is a free group & registration is required: tinyurl.com/smcpc-transgroup1
Upcoming dates are: 6/27 & 8/1
There is no meeting date in July as the Pride Center is offline on 7/4. To accommodate this, this group will meet on Monday, June 27!
* As a gentle reminder, we have clinical support available to community members who feel like they would benefit from more support than this social group has available. We will work with you to ensure that these services are accessible.
We also have free gender affirming supplies available. To access these supplies, please contact Alex.Golding@sanmateopride.org or Francisco.Sapp@sanmateopride.org.
|
|
| | | Queer Women’s Group (18+)
Join the Queer Women’s Group’s next meeting on Friday, June 24th from 6-7:30pm PST on Zoom! This group is a place where all women identifying folks 18+ are welcome. Come to meet new people and build community together!
This group meets monthly on the 4th Friday. Upcoming meeting dates are 6/24, 7/22 & 8/26
Pre-registration is required. Register for your unique Zoom access link here: tinyurl.com/smcpc-queerwomxn
For questions or support, please contact Devon Dye (He/Him) at Devon.Dye@sanmateopride.org
|
|
| LGBTQ Book Club (18+) from 4:30-6:00 PM
|
|
|
The book club is a partnership with the San Mateo County Public Library System, Peninsula Family Service and San Mateo County Pride Center. It’s open to all members of the community, including allies and friends.The book club is a partnership with the San Mateo County Public Library System and San Mateo County Pride Center. It’s open to all members of the community, including allies and friends.
Community members who are invited to attend even if they haven't read the book. Come participate in the discussion!
Please consider utilizing the SMCL to access an e-book, hard copy or audiobook of the books.
Registration is required: tinyurl.com/smcpc-bookclub (upcoming books listed here)
|
|
|
| July 6:
The Power of the Dog by Thomas Savage
Now an award-winning Netflix film by Jane Campion, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst: Thomas Savage's acclaimed Western is "a pitch-perfect evocation of time and place" (Boston Globe) for fans of East of Eden and Brokeback Mountain.
Set in the wide-open spaces of the American West, The Power of the Dog is a stunning story of domestic tyranny, brutal masculinity, and thrilling defiance from one of the most powerful and distinctive voices in American literature. The novel tells the story of two brothers--one magnetic but cruel, the other
gentle and quiet--and of the woman and boy, a mother and son, whose arrival on the brothers' ranch shatters an already tenuous peace. From the novel's startling first paragraph to its very last word, Thomas Savage's voice--and the intense passion of his characters--holds readers in thrall
|
|
| As we continue to navigate around COVID-19
|
|
|
- Just a reminder that the Pride Center is currently not open to the public & is available for clinical services and private events. For more information about scheduling to be onsite at the Pride Center, please contact Francisco.Sapp@sanmateopride.org.
- Just a reminder that you only have to register for each peer support group once! The meeting information you receive will remain the same.
- The Pride Center will be offline on Monday, June 20th in observance of Juneteenth.
- The Pride Center will be offline on Monday, July 4th in observance of the 4th of July.
|
|
|
Stay safe and take care!
In community,
Marilyn (she/her)
Marketing and Community Engagement Lead
|
Do you enjoy/benefit from our programs and services? Are you able to/Would you like to support our essential work? We welcome and appreciate donations of any amount, big or small.
It all matters. Yes, we really mean that.
|
|
|
The San Mateo County Pride Center is a program of StarVista in collaboration with Outlet of Adolescent Counseling Services, and Peninsula Family Service.
|
|
|
|
|
