February 8, 2025
Greetings community,
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| Happy Black History Month!
As we start February, we acknowledge the challenges many are experiencing and the sense of uncertainty that can come with it. You are not alone. The Pride Center is here to offer support through resources, events, and providing a welcoming space to connect with both YOU and the community.
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| We hightlight the following observances in February -
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| Queeraoke at the Yard!
We held our first Queeraoke event at the Yard! Thanks to all that came by. It was great to see familiar face and make new friends!
We hope you can join us this month for Queeraoke at the San Mateo County Pride Center on
February 26!
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Join us in saying THANK YOU to our amazing MFT trainee, Jazz! January marked the end of their time at the Pride Center. We miss you already!
Since joining the Pride Center team in August 2023, Jazz has brought an abundance of creativity, joy, and authenticity to their practice. As a teammate, they were collaborative, communicative and always brought their whole self into their work.
Congratulations on all you've accomplished! We're excited for you and the next chapter of your journey <3
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| Resource Guide - Post Election FAQ
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The San Mateo County Pride Center and CoastPride have received many questions about what is in store for the LGBTQ+ community since the 2024 election. In response, we’ve created this list of commonly asked questions and answers, along with a linktree of related resources.
These resources were first created in January of 2025 and will be updated as the political and social landscape develops. There is a lot of fear and uncertainty around LGBTQIA+ and immigrant rights. When you’re utilizing this document we recommend that you consider what risks are imminent (i.e. laws have been changed) and what risks are possibilities (i.e. a political leader said something verbally instead of issuing an official policy). Check your sources carefully and try to avoid doom scrolling.
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Different letters of the LGBTQIA+ community have different needs and are facing different threats. A good place to start to look for supportive organizations in the Bay Area is The Horizon Foundation’s organization directory. Many organizations (including CoastPride and the Pride Center) offer identity specific peer support groups as well as case management and mental health support, virtually and online. You can access types of services on our websites here for more information: https://sanmateopride.org/ and https://coastpride.org/.
This document is a collaboration with CoastPride and San Mateo County Pride Center.
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We encourage you to pass along this information to others in the community who may benefit from it. We're here to support you. Please help us spread the word!
If you have questions or suggested updates to this document or the linktree, please reach out to info@sanmateopride.org and/or contact@coastpride.org.
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Gayme Night
Wednesday, February 19 from 6:30-8:30 PM at the San Mateo County Pride Center
Instead of being bored, join us at the Pride Center for a fun night of board games! From party games to trivia, we will have as much variety in games as we do in our community. Plus, we will even have prizes! You have nothing to lose (except for every game you play)
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| | Registration is encouraged, but not required. Register in advance to be entered to win a drawing prize. There will also be some prizes for some of our game winners as well. This event is free and open to the public. Light snacks will be provided. Doors open at 6:15pm.
Register at: https://tinyurl.com/SMCPCGaymeNightFeb2025
Questions? Please contact info@sanmateopride.org or call 650-591-0133
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Queeraoke
Wednesday, February 26th from 5-8pm at the San Mateo County Pride Center
Can you think of a better way to spend a cold February night than getting together with your besties and singing along to your favorite songs?
Join the San Mateo County Pride Center and Outlet for this fun and fabulous space! This is a sober, all ages event. Snacks will be provided!
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| National Day of Reading
Friday, February 28th from 4-6pm at Reach and Teach (1179 San Carlos Ave, San Carlos)
The San Mateo County Pride Center, Outlet, a program of Adolescent Counseling Services, and Reach & Teach Books and Gifts are thrilled to partner for The National Day of Reading! Join us for an afternoon filled with community and stories supporting Trans* and Non-Binary youth. Readings will be held at 4:15, 4:45, 5:15. And 5:45pm.
We will be reading My Maddy, Kapaemahu, I Am Jazz,
and Felix Ever After.
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| | This event is free and open to the public. Light snacks will be provided. Join us from 4 to 6pm. Reach & Teach Books and Gifts is located at 1179 San Carlos Ave, San Carlos. Register in advance for an extra ticket to win our door prizes.
Register here - https://tinyurl.com/SMCPCNDOR2025
For accessibility information about Reach and Teach, see registration link.
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NeuroQueer Fruitfulness - an online body doubling productivity coworking group!
To learn more about what to expect from this group and/or to register,
please click this link
tinyurl.com/NeuroQueerFruitfulness
UPDATE - This group now accepts Health Plan of San Mateo (HPSM)!
Questions? Contact Drae@sanmateopride.org or
650-591-0133
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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.
Started on January 2nd
- Tuesdays from 5:30-6:30pm
- Thursdays from 4-5pm
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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 month's next CAB meeting will meet on February 12. If you are interested and want more information about CAB, 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. Please note that we do charge a fee for our trainings!
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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| Coming in March- Rainbow Kids!
Join us on Thursday, March 6 at 4:00PM PST on Zoom!
This free training is intended for community members who work with, or are the parent/guardian of under 10 year-olds. In this training participants will learn age-appropriate techniques for holding discussions about gender, love and family.
What you’ll gain:
✅ Tools to foster kindness and belonging
✅ Strategies for celebrating and supporting all families
✅ Resources to help every child feel at home in the world
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| Mental Health Services at the Pride Center
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There is currently a waitlist to receive clinical services at the Pride Center. Please note: This does not include case management services.
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 Low (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 2 FREE, Weekly Youth Social/Support Groups for LGBTQ+ Ages 14-25.
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.
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| Monday LGBTQIA+ Youth Group (Ages 10 to 18)
When: Mondays from 4:30-6:00pm
Where: HYBRID online and In-Person in Redwood City, California
Tuesday QTBIPOC Group (Ages 14 to 25) - ON HIATUS
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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| 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.
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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.
The format of the Name and Gender Change workshop has changed! Part 1 of the workshop will continue to take place monthly & part 2 of the workshop will take place every other month. Part 2 is scheduled to take place – April, June, August, October & December.
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| | 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.
*If the times above don't work for your schedule, please let us know. We can arrange for individual appointments or consultations if needed. If you would like to attend part 2 before the scheduled month, please reach out to us!
Questions or want to schedule an individual appointment?Please reach out to info@sanmateopride.org or call 650-591-0133 if you have questions.
Upcoming workshops: Part 1 - February 12, Part 2 - February 26
RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/name-and-gender-change-rsvp
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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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 February 19th.
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: Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
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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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San Mateo County's 13th Annual Pride Celebration is a space to champion inclusion and wellness for LGBTQIA+ folks and allies in our county.
This year's Pride Celebration will be on Saturday, June 14, 2025 in Downtown San Mateo. We will have live entertainment, live DJ, resource and vendor booths, family-friendly activities, a Pride parade through Downtown San Mateo and more. Registration for the Pride Parade opens on Monday, February 10. To learn more about the Pride Parade, click this link. If you are interested in performing at San Mateo County Pride, visit this link.
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To learn more about San Mateo County Pride, click the button to the right.
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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.
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| Planning committees includes:
- Volunteer/Outreach
- hild/Youth Space
- Website
- Older Adult
- Parade
- Booth Vendors
- Food Trucks
- Entertainment
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| The San Mateo Union High School District, San Mateo County Office of Education, College of San Mateo, Coast Pride, LGBTQ Commission of San Mateo County, and San Mateo Pride Center invite San Mateo County High School Students to attend Pride Prom 2025!
Celebrate the 3rd Annual Pride Prom, an inclusive, safe, welcoming, night to remember for 9th-12th grade students who attend high school in San Mateo County.
This FREE event celebrates and uplifts LGBTQ young people and advocate for the sustained and continued efforts in our County to build places where youth are seen and supported in environments free from hate and discrimination.
We recognize that while high school district proms are inclusive and welcoming, not all students have an opportunity to celebrate themselves at their prom. This event will provide a variety of activities, including dancing, DJ, lots of food, drinks and much more.
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| Celebra el tercer baile anual de graduación del Orgullo, una noche inclusiva, segura y acogedora para celebrar a los estudiantes de noveno a duodécimo grado que asisten a la escuelas preparatorias en el condado de San Mateo. En este evento GRATUITO, celebraremos y animaremos a los jóvenes LGBTQ y promoveremos los esfuerzos continuos de nuestro condado por construir lugares en los que los jóvenes se sientan tomados en cuenta y apoyados en entornos sin odio ni discriminación. Si bien la noche debe ser para divertirse con amistades, también es una celebración de esta comunidad entrañable. Las personas de cualquier identidad sexual y de género están invitadas a expresarse y divertirse. Sabemos que, aunque los bailes de graduación de las escuelas preparatorias del distrito son inclusivos y acogedores, no todos los estudiantes tienen la oportunidad de celebrarse en dicho evento. En este evento, se organizarán diversas actividades, incluido el baile y DJ, habrá mucha comida, bebida y mucho más
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| For more information/ para más información
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- THE PRIDE CENTER WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17 IN OBSERVANCE OF PRESIDENTS DAY
- 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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