Kickoff Pride 2008 by Attending A Night of Elegance on May 31, 2008!

The Sonoma County Pride Planning Committee presents Sonoma County Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Questioning Pride 2008 – Loving Self, Loving Others.  The Main Event, a festival that celebrates our diverse community, will happen at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa on Sunday, June 15 noon – 5 p.m.  The festival will include a commitment ceremony, live musical entertainment, our political representatives, community information, fabulous merchandise, delicious food and drinks and much more. 

This year will include a full week of events scattered throughout the county, including the Russian River area.  Our Calendar will be updated as soon as events are scheduled.  Please e-mail us at info@sonomapride.org and ask us to add you to our database, so that we can keep you informed of all Sonoma County Pride 2008 events.

 The Pride Interfaith Service: Loving Self, Loving Others will kick-off the Sonoma County Pride Week on June 8. The 7 p.m. event will happen at the Center For Spiritual Living, 2075 Occidental Road in Santa Rosa.  The service will bring together religious leaders and musicians from diverse religious traditions within Sonoma County. They will join in unity to acknowledge and celebrate the spiritual presence found in every Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Questioning and person as well as our heterosexual family members and friends.

The following local spriritual leaders will offer their wise words to the Interfaith congregation: Rev. Chris Bell, Unitarian Universalist Congregation; Rev. Joyce Duffala, Center For Spiritual Living; Rev. Susan Fleenor, Knox Presbyterian Church Rabbi George Gittleman, Congregation Shomrei Torah; Rev. Leanna Hamilton, New Hope Metropolitan Community Church.

Same-sex marriage is not legal—yet. But for those looking for the perfect time to get hitched, the Commitment Ceremony at this year’s Sonoma County Pride 2008 – Loving Self, Loving Others in Santa Rosa, is the place for both same-sex and straight couple’s to commit or re-commit to their relationships.

The Commitment Ceremony will be held at Wells Fargo Center For The Arts, June 15 at 3 p.m. at the main stage. The ceremony gives couples the opportunity to pledge their commitment to each other publicly before friends and family. This public commitment is a powerful statement about a couple's relationship and their devotion to each other. Straight couples are welcome to participate, and in doing so, to show their support for all committed relationships.

Couples will gather at the Commitment Ceremony sign located near the main stage. The ceremony will be conducted en masse, but you will have a moment to exchange vows or a token of your love privately together. Friends and family are welcome to attend, and commemorative certificates will be available for each couple.

There is no cost or pre-registration for this event. Just show up! There is no Dress Code.  This is your day, so dress how you want to. In years past couples have worn everything from shorts and t-shirts to white dresses and veils to tuxedos and bow ties.

Help us make this the best Pride Celebration Sonoma County has ever seen by getting involved in any way you can.  You can join the SCPPC and join one or more of the exciting committees.  Click on “About Us” to learn all about the committees and their responsibilities.  You can also volunteer to do a number of important tasks.  Learn about them by clicking on “Volunteer.” 

Sonoma County Pride Planning Committee

P O Box 8730

Santa Rosa, CA 95407-8730