Mike Thompson

At a few minutes past 11 a.m. on Monday, June 1, a crowd of more than two dozen people gathered outside the Sonoma Community Center to watch as rainbow-colored banners were raised and posted along the columns of the historic building’s facade in recognition of the start of Pride Month.

A ceremonial “rainbow” ribbon-cutting by the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce kicked off Monday’s Pride celebrations at the community center, 276 E. Napa St.

Gary Saperstein, Sonoma Valley Pride co-founder and owner of the local LGBTQ+-focused event and travel company Out in The Vineyard, highlighted this year’s Sonoma Valley Pride theme.

“What we really also are celebrating is queer joy. We want to bring joy because we need to celebrate joy,” Saperstein told members of the assembled crowd.

“For generations, LGBTQ+ stories have too often been told through the lens of our struggle and while our history includes all those hardships … it is equally important to celebrate our happiness and our joy; our friendships, our families, our partners, our communities and our ability (to) thrive even in the face of adversity.”

Matthew Long, creative director and co-founder at Sonoma Valley Pride, said that volunteers at the organization help create art for everyone.

“We’re all into making something a very beautiful community space — safe for the queer community but also creating something for our allies; (for) everyone to come together,” said Long about the the organization’s vision.

Sonoma Valley Pride has been organizing pride events including hoisting the flag for the past four years now. The celebration has grown over the years with this year’s events spread across Pride Weekend from June 12-14.

On June 12, Portland musicians and drag queens, including Kochina Rude, will take over The Sebastiani Theatre; June 13 will welcome back the Pride Dance Party, which will be held at the recently reopened The General’s Daughter in Sonoma. From 2 to 5 p.m. June 14, The Plaza Queer Music and Arts Festival, featuring performers, food, wine, local businesses and music will take place at the Sonoma Plaza.

Rainbow banners have been raised at the Sonoma Community Center for several years to celebrate Pride Month but Monday’s ceremony was the first time community members were invited to join the event.

“I feel like we’re really leaning into joy this year,” said Cat Smith, director of marketing for the community center. “I felt like this was a good year to bring people together and really celebrate and show our support for the community because there’s a lot going on in the world right now so we should take time to celebrate each other.”

The community center, in collaboration with Sonoma Valley Pride, will also host a queer art show highlighting the work of eight queer artists.

The event, which opened on Thursday, June 4, continues through the month.

Other happenings at the community center during Pride Month include a “Queer Trailblazers” evening of storytelling and music on June 18 and a “Priscilla, Queen of the Center” evening on June 20, inspired by the 1994 film “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.”

Emma Diaz, who works during the weekends as the community center’s facilities caretaker said she showed up for the ceremony Monday to support the LGBTQ+ community and this event. “It’s colorful and it’s fun and everybody can be happy about it,” she said.

Also in attendance were various local, state and federal officials, including Sonoma Mayor Ron Wellander, Vice Mayor Sandra Lowe, Interim Sonoma City Manager Cristine Alilovich and and U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena.

“Everyone has something to offer. Everyone needs to be part; needs to belong and this community understands that and recognizes that and is very public about it,” said Thompson.

June has long been celebrated as Pride Month — in recognition of the culture and contributions of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community — across the world.

Tickets and more information for the events can be found at sonomavalleypride.com or sonomacommunitycenter.org.

You can reach Staff Writer Ruchi Shahagadkar at [email protected] or 707-521-4247.