Richmond Rainbow Pride will hold a virtual Pride celebration Sunday, June 5, beginning at noon on Twitch.
Baron Lorde Valentine and Baroness Princess Monet Sparkle will host the event, the theme of which is "Infinite Pride." Scheduled performers include the Oakland Gay Men's Chorus, the Rebel Kings of Oakland, Kippy Marks, Santana Romero, Septimius the Great, Viva Commotion, and Be Stedwell.
For more information, click here.
The Twitch channel is here.
In Santa Cruz, the city's 47th annual Pride parade will take place Sunday, June 5, stepping off at 11 a.m. on Pacific Avenue between Cathcart and Church streets.
The festival will be held from noon to 4 p.m. at Abbott Square, near the Museum of Art and History, at 705 Front Street, and Cooper Street. There will also be free admission at the museum.
On Saturday, June 4, the Dyke/Trans March will take place starting at 4:20 p.m. at the Town Clock on North Pacific Avenue.
The Diversity Center is the fiscal sponsor of Santa Cruz Pride. For more information on the weekend's activities, click here.
Up in the North Bay, Sonoma County Pride's parade is scheduled for Saturday, June 4, at 11 a.m. at Fourth Street at Brookwood in downtown Santa Rosa. The festival takes place afterward from noon to 5 p.m. at the Old Courthouse Square. This year's theme is "We Are Family."
That evening, "Reunion," a queer dance party, will be held at LaRosa, 500 Fourth Street. Doors open at 9; a drag show is at 10:30. There is a $10 cover.
On Sunday, June 5, there will be a drag brunch, "Wigs and Waffles," at 630 Park Steakhouse, 288 Golf Course Road, West, in Rohnert Park. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. and San Francisco's own Juanita MORE! will host. Tickets are $85.
Later that day, from 1 to 6 p.m., there will be the Pink Pool Party at Graton Resort and Casino, 288 Golf Course Road, West. Tickets start at $30.
For a full list of activities, click here.
San Jose to raise Pride flag
San Jose will usher in Pride Month with a flag-raising ceremony Tuesday, June 7, from 5 to 6 p.m. at the City Hall Rotunda, 200 East Santa Clara Street.
In its newsletter, the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ Community Center said the event is open to all and will feature singing, dancing, and a special City Hall lighting.
AIDS/LifeCycle ride starts Sunday
After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, AIDS/LifeCycle is back as an in-person event. Thousands of cyclists and volunteer roadies will embark on a 545-mile journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles, from June 5-11, united by a common cause: fighting to end HIV and AIDS. AIDS/LifeCycle raises millions of dollars annually to support San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the HIV-related services of the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Participants are HIV-negative or living with HIV, LGBTQ+ and allies, ages 18 to 81, and from nearly every state and 14 countries, a news release from SFAF stated.
The ride leaves from the Cow Palace early Sunday morning.
The AIDS fundraising event debuted in 1994 as the California AIDS Ride before it was reconfigured to what is known today as AIDS/LifeCycle, the world's largest annual HIV/AIDS fundraiser, the release stated. The change came in 2001 after SFAF and the L.A. center broke with AIDS Ride founder Pallotta TeamWorks, citing cost overruns. In 2002 SFAF and the L.A. center held their own ride, and later resolved issues with Pallotta TeamWorks, which ended the California AIDS Ride.
AIDS/LifeCycle is a fully supported bike ride that raises important awareness about the ongoing HIV/AIDS epidemic, in addition to funding critical services such as HIV testing and screenings for other sexually transmitted infections, HIV medical care, harm reduction, prevention services including PrEP, and more.
"Year after year, AIDS/LifeCycle continues to be a critical way that we raise support for HIV services, increase awareness about the impact of HIV, and come together in solidarity as a community," said Tyler TerMeer, Ph.D., who started as CEO of the AIDS foundation in February and is a 12-time AIDS/LifeCycle participant. "We are able to provide lifesaving services in our community that contribute to our goal of ending the HIV epidemic, thanks to the enduring commitment of AIDS/LifeCycle participants."
In the seven days it takes the riders to reach Los Angeles, the AIDS foundation noted that more than 650 people in the United States will contract HIV. One in seven people living with HIV nationwide is not aware of their status. Since the California AIDS Ride first began, participants have raised more than $286 million and completed more than 63,000 journeys on bikes from San Francisco to Los Angeles, according to the release.
To follow the journey during the week of the ride through pictures, stories and videos, people can click here and check out @aidslifecycle on social media.
Curve magazine celebration
Curve magazine founder Frances "Franco" Stevens will be part of the celebration for the lesbian publication Friday, June 3, at 8 p.m. at the Pearl SF, 601 19th Street in San Francisco.
The party will recognize the first year of the Curve Foundation, the release last year of a documentary, "Ahead of the Curve," and Stevens receiving this year's GLAAD Barbara Gittings Award for excellence in LGBTQ+ media.
The Bay Area Reporter noted in an article last year that Stevens bought back Curve after selling the publication in 2010. It is now a nonprofit overseen by the foundation and offers digital issues, according to its website.
In an email, Stevens said she and foundation officials are kicking off Pride Month "with unicorn races, delightful drag, and dancing to the sounds of DJ Rockaway and DJ LadyRyan to benefit the Curve Foundation."
Tickets are $75-$250. A VIP reception takes place from 7 to 8 p.m. For more information, click here.
Panel discussion on possible post-Roe era
Lesbian author and activist Kate Raphael will facilitate a panel discussion and community conversation entitled "Reproductive Justice for the Post-Roe Era" Sunday, June 5, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Bay Area Anarchist Book Fair outdoors at Tamarack, located at 1501 Harrison Street in Oakland. The event is free.
An email announcement notes that the U.S. Supreme Court may overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling legalizing abortion. A draft opinion by Justice Samuel Alito that was leaked to Politico May 2 indicated the 1973 decision would be overturned. The justices are expected to issue their ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson by the end of the term in late June or early July.
The upcoming panel will look at abortion funds and practical support networks; clinic defense, then and now; abortion with pills and self-managed abortions; and other issues.
Raphael is the author of "The Midwife's In Town."
Sonoma County queer prom
LGBTQ Connection, Positive Images, and the gay-straight alliance at West County High School will hold a queer prom Saturday, June 11, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at Barlow, 6770 McKinley Street in Sebastopol.
The event is for youth ages 14-18. Attendees must bring a form of ID and there are no exceptions to the age range, according to an email announcement.
The prom will have a fairytale theme, and attendees can dress up or dress down, wear costumes or cosplay — all attire is welcome, organizers stated.
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here.
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