January 7, 2025
Greetings community,
Happy New Year! As we step boldly into 2025, we’re filled with immense pride and gratitude for the strength and resilience of our community. Through every challenge and triumph, our community has shown time and time again what it means to uplift, support, and stand together.
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| A huge thank you to Filoli Historic House & Garden for having the Pride Center team's Appreciation Party! The hospitality was an unforgettable celebration of gratitude together as a Team. Here's to another year of making a difference together! |
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| Recap of December events!
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We co-hosted our first event at The Yard in December. It was great for y'all to come out and help us keep the season Gaaaay! Thank you to the Yard for co-hosting this fabulous space with us. We hope to see you later this month for Queeraoke at the Yard! For more information about this upcoming event, please scroll down.
To learn more about the Yard, please visit their website- https://www.theyard.coffee/
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| | | Conversation and Community
Join us for these designated drop in times. We want to be your safe space during these uneasy times. Join us to have a little escape or just be with community. Snacks, table games, cards, crafts, video games, and activities will be available, but mostly we want to hold space for YOU!
All are welcome for this free event! Snacks will be provided. The Pride Center is located at 1021 S. El Camino Real in San Mateo, 94402. Our building is located at 11th and El Camino.
Starting on January 2nd
- Tuesdays from 5:30-6:30pm
- Thursdays from 4-5pm
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| NeuroQueer Fruitfulness Group!
Starting Monday, January 13
Work with your neurospicy brain this new year! Learn ADHD and executive functioning strategies from therapists. No goal is too big or too small to tackle! Whether you’re looking to do your dishes or write a novel, this group might help. In this group, you can meet fellow neuordivergent and LGBTQ+ folks in a supportive productivity space.
This group meets 5 days a week on Zoom in 1 hour sessions and starts Monday, January 13th. Sessions are drop in and participants set how many sessions they want to attend. This group is $59/month is in English and is intended for folks 18+.
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FriGay Flicks- Brokeback Mountain
Friday, January 17 at 6PM
About the Film:
Ennis and Jack are two shepherds who develop a sexual and emotional relationship. Their relationship becomes complicated when both of them get married to their respective girlfriends.
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| This film is Rated R and not suitable for audience attendees under 12.
Content Warnings:
- Sex and Nudity (moderate)
- Violence (moderate)
- Profanity (moderate)
- Alcohol & Smoking (mild)
This event is free and open to the public. Light snacks will be provided. Doors open at 5:30 and the movie will start at 6 pm. Closed Captioning will be utilized for this film.
The Pride Center is located at 1021 S. El Camino Real in San Mateo, 94402. Our building is located at 11th and El Camino. For accessibility and parking information, please use this link: https://sanmateopride.org/accessibility/
Register using this link: https://tinyurl.com/FrigayJanuary2025
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Queeraoke at the Yard!
Thursday, January 23 from 6-9 PM at the Yard (1018 Main St Redwood City)
Let's bring in the new year with song! The Pride Center, Outlet and The Yard are excited to host the first Queeraoke event of the new year. Whether you're a seasoned pro, a newbie or someone whose resolution is to try something new, this is a space for you!
Join us Thursday, January 23 at the Yard (1018 Main St in Redwood City) for this joyful event!
RSVP by January 22 to be entered in a drawing for a special prize - tinyurl.com/SMCPCKaraokeatTheYard
Questions? Please contact info@sanmateopride.org
or call 650-591-0133
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| | Join the Pride Center's Community Advisory Board (CAB)!
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Looking for a fabulous way to get involved in your community? Join the San Mateo County Pride Center’s Community Advisory Board (or CAB, for short)! CAB welcomes LGBTQ+ folks and allies to join. They are a diverse and representative group of volunteer members who have a passion for serving the LGBTQ+ community. They work closely with Pride Center staff to support programming, decisions, and design. Some of their awesome collaborations include San Mateo County’s first Adult Queer Prom, San Mateo County Pride Celebrations, Art Parties, and more
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CAB meets virtually on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 6:30pm. This months next CAB meeting will meet on January 8.
For more info, connect with our Community Engagement & Volunteer Specialist, Low Sunga (she/they) at lowellyn.sunga@sanmateopride.org!
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The San Mateo Pride Center is excited to be able to offer a variety of trainings and educational opportunities! To read more about the trainings that we currently offer or request a training, please visit the training page of our website.
If you have any questions about the trainings we offer, reach out to Ishani Dugar (they/xe) at ishani.dugar@sanmateopride.org or call 650-554-1234 (text ok).
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Please note that we do charge a fee for our trainings!
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Mental Health Services at the Pride Center
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We currently have openings for self- pay clients!
Keep reading to learn more about our clinical services.
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Clinical services are available onsite at the San Mateo County Pride Center, hybrid or exclusively virtual. The Pride Center provides LGBTQ+-affirmative therapy within a strengths-based and person-centered framework. All our clinicians have LGBTQ+ lived and/or work experience.
Priority is given to LGBTQ+ community members based in San Mateo County, but services are available to all community members based in California.
Clinical Services include:
- Therapy: Individual, Couples/Multiples, Family, & Group sessions available! We accept HPSM/BHRS Medi-Cal or self-pay (sliding scale with income verification). Community members based outside of San Mateo County have the option of self- pay.
- Case Management: Work 1 on 1 with our knowledgeable case manager for support with housing, employment, legal, healthcare, gender-affirming care resources and providers, and more. This is a FREE resource.
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| | Come Volunteer with the Pride Center!
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Would you like to volunteer with the Pride Center? We never underestimate the value of donated time, and neither should you! Are you interested and available to give back? If so, please consider some of the possibilities listed below.
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Virtual and onsite volunteer roles with the Pride Center include, but are not limited to:
- Events such as movie and kareoke nights, other social/community events
- Assisting with development goals
- Youth or Older Adult specific programming
- Become a peer group facilitator
- Social media support
- Join or Community Advisory Board
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If you’re interested in learning more about these or any other opportunities, reach out to Lowellyn (she/they) at Lowellyn.Sunga@sanmateopride.org (preferred) or 650-591-0133 who can help you figure out the best match for a mutually rewarding experience.
Thank you for investing in the Pride Center’s essential programs and services. We can’t do our work without you.
For more information about our volunteer program, click the button below.
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Outlet offers 4 FREE, Weekly Youth Social/Support Groups
All Outlet youth groups are safe and confidential spaces to share experiences and build community. You can find more details about Outlet youth groups by visiting Outlet's Website.
If anyone you support would like to join, here's the link to sign up: Outlet Group Form (tinyurl.com/OutletGroupForm). Once the youth has completed it, a member of the Outlet team will reach out with more details.
Monday LGBTQIA+ Youth Group (Ages 10 to 18)
When: Mondays from 4:30-6:00pm
Where: In-Person in Redwood City, California
Tuesday QTBIPOC Group (Ages 14 to 25)
When: Tuesdays from 6:00-7:30pm
Where: Online via Zoom
Thursday Trans Group (Ages 14 to 25)
When: Thursdays from 5:00-6:30pm
Where: Hybrid* (In-Person in Redwood City, CA & Online via Zoom)
*Trans group members have the option every week to join a group meeting virtually or in-person.
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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 Gender Diverse community members. Every month, a different medical student from Stanford's LGBTQ+ Health Program will share information and lead a discussion.
Please stay tuned for information about this month's workshop!
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If you are interested in rewatching/ watching these presentations or if you are interested in seeing recordings* of other previous presentations, please use this link: tinyurl.com/transtalks-recordings.
*Please note: Some workshops aren't recorded at the presenter's request. If a workshop isn't recorded, there is usually a slideshow that can be accessed. All recordings utilize closed captioning.
If you have questions, need support or would like to suggest a topic please contact
Marilyn (she/her) at Marilyn.Fernando@sanmateopride.org or call 650-591-0133
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If you are looking for support in changing your name on your legal documents, join our FREE monthly name and gender marker workshops.
Please note - part 1 of the workshop will take place this month on January 15th! If you are unable to attend part 1, please reach out to inquire about alternate meeting times. Part 2 of the workshop will take place on January 22.
This workshop currently takes place in 2 parts. Part 1 will cover court order forms, filing instructions, and fee waivers. Part 2 will cover updating social security documents, DMV documents, passports, birth certificates, and other documents.
The meeting times of the Name and Gender Change workshop is changing. We will share more information about this soon!
Please reach out to info@sanmateopride.org or call 650-591-0133 if you have questions.
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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:
tinyurl.com/ngc-financial-aid
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As a reminder, our peer support groups are all free, peer-led spaces!
Please note- Peer groups that regularly meet on the first week of the month will meet a week later:
- The LGBTQ+ Book Club and Polyamory Peer Power groups will meet January 8
- The Trans* Group will meet on January 9
For more information about our monthly peer support groups
for community members 18+,please click this link.
If you have any questions, please contact
Ishani.Dugar@sanmateopride.org or 650-554-1234 (text ok)
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Parenting group will now meet on the 3rd Wednesday of the month.
This group will continue to meet from 7:30-8:30 PM on Zoom. This month's group will take place on January 15
Accessibility information: this group meets in english and closed captioning is available
Registration is required:
tinyurl.com/smcpc-parentsgroup
Questions? Please contact Ishani (they/xem) at Ishani.Dugar@sanmateopride.org
or (650) 554-1234 (text ok).
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| | LGBTQ+ Book Club: All This Could Be Different: A Novel by Sarah Thankam Mathews
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| Join us for the January book club where we will discuss All This Could Be Different: A Novel by Sarah Thankam Mathews. For a description of the book and content information, please click here.
This hybrid group is scheduled to take place on January 8 from 4:30-6:00 PM on Zoom. Participants have the option of meeting on Zoom or in person at the San Mateo County Pride Center. It’s open to everyone 18+, with folks 50+ strongly encouraged to attend!
Register using this link - tinyurl.com/smcpcbookclub
If you would like more information about the Pride Center's peer support groups, please contact Ishani (They/Xem) at Ishani.Dugar@sanmateopride.org or 650-554-1234 (text ok)
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| 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!
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| Registration is now open for "Aging Gayfully - Exploring Empowering Aging Strategies for the LGBTQ+ Community." This class introduces students to the optimal aging strategies developed by the Conscious Aging Movement and adapted for LGBTQ+ elders. It is offered through the Santa Rosa Junior College Lifelong Learning Program at no cost to participants and will take place via Zoom on Wednesdays, 11 am - 1 pm, from January 15 - May 23, 2025 (with one week off for Spring Break).
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| One of our community members took the class a couple semesters ago. This is what they said about it: "I thought I was just signing up for a class, but discovered that every week I looked forward to being in community. Taking the Aging Gayfully class was an opportunity to reflect on the different stages and parts of my life. People shared their stories about the road ahead at this stage of our lives and how to enjoy the rest of the journey. We laughed, we cried and we all supported each other as we learned new and valuable information about aging as LGBTQ people. I’m so grateful to have found this class."
To register, folks can reach out to the instructor, Gary, at ghermes@santarosa.edu or (707) 227-6935.
Registration will be open at least until January 10, 2025, possibly longer.
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Interested in joining an SMC Pride subcommittee, contact PRIDE Initiative co-chair Dana Johnson at theractivist@gmail.com for the meeting Zoom link. We are actively looking for community members to join a Pride Celebration subcommittee and support with planning an amazing Pride Celebration.
Planning committees includes:
- Volunteer/Outreach
- hild/Youth Space
- Website
- Older Adult
- Parade
- Booth Vendors
- Food Trucks
- Entertainment
STAY TUNED... The SMC Pride Celebration Save the Date flyer and SMC Pride Sponsorship packets are Coming SOON!
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- In February, we will be participating in National Day of Reading. Please stay tuned for more information!
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- If you are hosting a resource fair or another event & would like to invite us to table or attend, please reach out to Elana.Ron@sanmateopride.org or 650-465-2407
- If there is programming at the Pride Center that you'd like to suggest, please use this link
- To access a list of local and national hotlines, please click this link
- If you are experiencing a crisis, please contact 988 or the StarVista crisis hotline at 650-579-0350. We are proud to say that the StarVista Crisis Center is an LGBTQ+ affirming organization.
- Our onsite operating hours are:
- Tuesday - Thursday, 11:30 am - 6:30 pm, except Tuesdays between 1 pm - 3 pm when we will be closed for our team meetings.
- Our programs and services will remain virtual all 5 days/week 11 am - 7 pm or as scheduled with your clinician
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Based on recent wastewater surveillance data, test positivity, ER visits and hospitalizations, levels of COVID-19 infection are now high in San Mateo County.
Following San Mateo County Health recommendations, we are temporarily re-instating our on-site mask policy. Effective immediately face masks will be required while on-site at Pride Center.
We will continue to monitor virus levels and remove this temporary requirement when rates decrease/return to normal and it becomes safer to do so. As a reminder, we have face masks and COVID tests available on-site if you need them. We also continue to take other precautions including using air purifiers, sanitizing surfaces regularly throughout the day, and keeping windows open for increased air flow and circulation.
If you need support or connections to resources, during this time please do not hesitate to contact us at info@sanmateopride.org.
Thank you for your care and understanding. Stay safe everyone!
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U.S. households are now eligible to order 4 free COVID-19 tests. These COVID-19 Tests will detect current COVID-19 variant. For more information, visit this link-https://covidtests.gov/
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In community,
The San Mateo County Pride Center
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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.
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The San Mateo County Pride Center is a program of StarVista in collaboration with Outlet of Adolescent Counseling Services, and Peninsula Family Service.
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