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  • 2023 Sonoma County Pride Parade Information

Saturday, June 3, 11:00am – 12:00pm
Fourth Street & Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa

Join us for our 38th annual Sonoma County Pride Celebration! We are returning to downtown Santa Rosa after a two-year absence due to the Corona Virus Pandemic. We are so excited to be back and to have you join us! Please read all these pages carefully. To ensure a safe and enjoyable parade experience for participants and spectators, the rules and regulations herein will be strictly enforced.

Our 2023 theme, COMMUNITY!,  is all about being together in the spirit of diversity and belonging.  Celebrating our connectedness through our vast differences and our sameness to realize we are all in this together. Each of us is a unique individual, yet we are united.

Sonoma County Pride invites you to showcase what makes you and/or your group to celebrate what unites our Sonoma County LGBTQ Community and our allies. We encourage you to be as original and colorful as you dare. Decorate, decorate,  decorate. The sky’s the limit. Parade participants are encouraged to use this year’s theme and celebrate to your heart’s desire!

Parade participants were encouraged to use this theme when thinking about their entry concept & decoration.

master of ceremonies

Brent Farris from KZST
He was called a Radio God since the first day he grabbed a microphone with his strong, manly hands. With flowing golden locks and six-pack abs, this Adonis body pales Read More
Brent Farris from KZST

He was called a Radio God since the first day he grabbed a microphone with his strong, manly hands. With flowing golden locks and six-pack abs, this Adonis body pales in comparison to the soothing sound of his voice that some say is a cross between Barry White and Andrea Bocelli.

Debbie Abrams from KZST
Debbie has been working in radio broadcasting for nearly thirty years, and has been employed in such places as Washington State and California, including the Oroville and Chico markets. She’s Read More
Debbie Abrams from KZST

Debbie has been working in radio broadcasting for nearly thirty years, and has been employed in such places as Washington State and California, including the Oroville and Chico markets. She’s been on the air at KZST for more than twenty years. She holds two college degrees; in English from UCLA and Broadcast Journalism at Cal State Northridge. You can find her keeping Brent in line on The Brent Farris Morning Show, owning the airwaves on the Midday Show from 9am-2pm, and anchoring the afternoon news updates.

grand marshals

Kate Kendell
For 22 years, Kate Kendell led the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and Read More
Kate Kendell

For 22 years, Kate Kendell led the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education. Kate stepped down from this role at the end of 2018. From August 2019 to May 2021 Kate was the Interim Chief Legal Officer at the Southern Poverty Law Center. In June 2021 Kate became the first-ever Chief of Staff at The California Endowment.

Growing up Mormon in Utah, Kate learned about the complexities of religion and politics from an early age. After receiving her J.D. from the University of Utah College of Law in 1988 and a few years practicing corporate law, she pursued her real love—civil rights advocacy—and became the first staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah. There she directly litigated many high-profile cases focusing on all aspects of civil liberties, including reproductive rights, prisoners’ rights, free speech, the rights of LGBTQ people, and the intersection of church and state. In 1994 she joined NCLR as legal director, and was named executive director two years later.

Under her leadership, NCLR’s programs, budget, and impact grew exponentially, and the issues facing the LGBTQ community—the safety of LGBTQ youth, violence facing transgender women of color, draconian immigration policy, criminal justice reform and the freedom to marry—have taken center stage in our nation’s discussion of civil rights and justice for the LGBTQ community. Kate is a nationally recognized spokesperson and has an active voice in major media. Kate’s most rewarding responsibilities include fostering alliances and building inclusive cultures on the community and organizational levels and advocating from an intersectional perspective in pursuit of racial and social justice and an end to oppressive structures.

 

honorees

Sonoma County Libraries
County libraries have historically been a safe haven for many LGBTQIA+ people. Recently, Sonoma County Library has been extraordinary in this effort. Based on the information gathered through surveys and Read More
Sonoma County Libraries

County libraries have historically been a safe haven for many LGBTQIA+ people. Recently, Sonoma County Library has been extraordinary in this effort. Based on the information gathered

through surveys and interviews, there was a “Re-imagining” of Sonoma County Library in 2019.

The Queer Advocacy Team was created in 2021 to advocate on behalf of the LGBTQIA+ community regarding library services, outreach, programming, and collections. Partnerships with community groups of similar purpose or intent were established.  They provided electronic resources and LGBTQ+ books as well as book lists making it easy to identify Queer books for Teens, families, and Trans/Gender Expansive people.  LGBTQ+ posters, rainbow flags, and banners have been purchased and displayed prominently. Online programming has featured Sonoma County LGBTQ+ History including presentations on the Sonoma County LGBTQI Timeline, Russian River LGBTQI+ History, and National Coming Out Day.

The Here & Queer program rolled out in 2022, interviewing individuals in our LGBTQ+ Sonoma County community. The Library’s Bookmobile was prominent at Pride 2022, providing LGBTQ+ giveaway books, resources, and information.

The libraries host monthly virtual Queer Book Club for adults, Teen Pride Club, as well as Family, which is a Rainbow program for kids and families. Panel presentations bridged generational gaps by including local LGBTQ+ elders and youth activists.

The breadth and quality of these services come at a critical time when LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC people have been targeted in the media and by politicians.

 

Out Watch Film Festival
OUTwatch – Wine Country’s LGBTQI Film Festival, brings to Sonoma County outstanding films that explore the vast diversity of our community and celebrates our unique history. Every year we celebrate Read More
Out Watch Film Festival

OUTwatch – Wine Country’s LGBTQI Film Festival, brings to Sonoma County outstanding films that explore the vast diversity of our community and celebrates our unique history. Every year we celebrate Pride with Don’t Blink!, short films for and about all of us; Our annual 3-day OUTwatch Film Festival in October features the best new US-made and Internationally- acclaimed LGBTQI releases. Look for us around Sonoma County as we present OUTwatch pop-up screenings out at the River, in the city of Sonoma, and when we present films by, for, and about LGBTQI youth in the short film series we call youthQUAKE!

OUTwatch is powered by volunteers, and we get along with a lot of help from our friends: and our Community Partners. Outbeat Radio on KRCB, Santa Rosa Gaydar, LGBTQ Connection, and Sonoma County Pride is essential in helping announce OUTwatch events. Greeters, ushers, and our famous raffle wranglers all volunteer their time to make each OUTwatch event run smoothly and make our audience feel welcome.

Sponsors provide the revenue that insures ticket prices remain affordable. Look for Sponsors in the program and check out the services they offer. These businesses offer hard-earned money and support to many LGBTQI efforts and their contributions help make Sonoma County a great place to live. Join us in thanking them.

The OUTwatch Annual LGBTQI Film Festival is proud to call the Rialto Cinemas home. Their welcoming hospitality and great food and drink make it the perfect place to gather before or after a film and to catch up with friends. Look for OUTwatch Special Events at the Rialto throughout the year as we partner to bring more LGBTQI films to Sebastopol.

The OUTwatch family believes the very act of bringing an audience together to watch a film builds community and inhibits the isolation of too many experiences. It is important for all of us who are part of the LGBTQI Community, as well as the

Laurie Fong
Laurie Fong has been an educational leader for over 40 years and was twice named Sonoma County Principal of the Year. She is a 3rd generation Chinese American and has Read More
Laurie Fong

Laurie Fong has been an educational leader for over 40 years and was twice named Sonoma County Principal of the Year. She is a 3rd generation Chinese American and has raised two daughters in Santa Rosa. Laurie is passionate about public education and currently serves as the statewide Asian Pacific Islander School Board President. She recently resigned from her role as a trustee of the Santa Rosa City School District Board, to resume her former role as the Principal of Montgomery High School.  She and her longtime partner support anyone in need, and believes that we should “Do all the good you can, wherever you can, whenever you can.”

 

Natalie Rogers (Mayor of City of Santa Rosa)
Natalie was elected to the City Council in November 2020 as the first person ever to represent District 7 on the Council. Upon her election to the Council, her colleagues Read More
Natalie Rogers (Mayor of City of Santa Rosa)

Natalie was elected to the City Council in November 2020 as the first person ever to represent District 7 on the Council. Upon her election to the Council, her colleagues selected her to serve as the Vice Mayor for a one-year term. On Dec. 13, 2022, her council colleagues selected her as Mayor of the City of Santa Rosa for a two-year term. She is the first female African-American Mayor and the first female African-American Vice Mayor for the City of Santa Rosa. District 7 includes the neighborhoods within Southwest Santa Rosa.

She was raised by a maintenance worker mother and an Operating Engineer Local 3 stepfather living in public housing. Natalie’s step-sister died by suicide when she was 13 years old and it changed the course of Natalie’s life. She has dedicated her career and education to helping people and serving the community.

Her top priorities for her four-year term include: police reform, affordable housing, homelessness, balancing the city’s budget responsibly, road infrastructure and strengthening our local economy.

Natalie is a mother of 8 children and licensed marriage and family therapist. She is very active in her children’s schools and her union, Engineers and Scientists of California Local 20. Natalie also volunteers her time with the North Bay Labor Council. She received her undergraduate degree from Sonoma State University. She works for a local health provider and operates her own private counseling business.

parade route

judges

Brooke Hazard
My wife and I moved from Portland, Oregon, to Santa Rosa inJuly 2021, though we are not newcomers to the Bay Area. Raised in El Paso, Texas, I moved to Read More
Brooke Hazard

My wife and I moved from Portland, Oregon, to Santa Rosa inJuly 2021, though we are not newcomers to the Bay Area. Raised in El Paso, Texas, I moved to San Francisco in 1969, finishing my BA at San Francisco State University and a bit lateran MBA/Marketing at Golden Gate University. My career led me into the advertising agency world, in which I was privilegedto work at top agencies in San Francisco, Southern California and Australia, such as the Bates Group, an international agency specializing in branding. Along the way, I owned and operated a restaurant/cabaret in San Francisco and sat on the Orange County Aids Services Foundation Board. I feel honored and proud to be asked to judge at the 2023 Sonoma County Pride Parade. As a marketing and advertising professional, I will employ my background in visual and verbal communications to judge the messages presented by each entry in light of this year’s theme – “Community – United by Diversity”.

Mike Kessler
Mike Kessler (pronouns they/he) is a third gender pansexual human who transitioned from FTM in 2005. They is a founding member of Translife where they has helped put on community Read More
Mike Kessler

Mike Kessler (pronouns they/he) is a third gender pansexual human who transitioned from FTM in 2005. They is a founding member of Translife where they has helped put on community conferences since 2015, which includes facilitating workshops, and providing clinical and crisis support. They is also a founding member of the Solano Pride Center.

Mike is a licensed clinical social worker and gender specialist with a background in crisis work, trauma, homelessness and working with youth & families. Mike worked for Sonoma County Behavioral Health for 7 years including on their Crisis Assessment, Prevention & Education team (CAPE), Mobile Support Team (MST), Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU), Youth Access, and the Child Full Service Partnership team (FSP) and volunteered at Positive Images for a period as a County clinician. Mike provided ongoing training for County staff on working with LGBTQIA and transgender youth, and currently works at Santa Rosa Kaiser’s Child Mental Health and Wellness team as a therapist and their primary gender specialist.

Ramon Merez
Ramon Meraz was Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, grew up in Huntington Beach, California, and moved to Santa Rosa in 1992. A former Sonoma County Pride Committee member ( 1994-1997) Ramon Read More
Ramon Merez

Ramon Meraz was Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, grew up in Huntington Beach, California, and moved to Santa Rosa in 1992. A former Sonoma County Pride Committee member ( 1994-1997) Ramon received a degree in Latino Chicano Studies and another one in Urban Planning from SSU. Ramon pivoted from the private sector to the public/non-profit service sector, first joining AmeriCorps VISTA program through which he worked in the Honolulu Mayor’s Office of Housing, and then managing an island-wide tobacco cessation program for Malama Pono Health Services in Kauai for two years, returning to Sonoma County last year to work as Community Engagement Coordinator for Generation Housing. Sonoma County Housing Advocacy Leading Organization.

Judging Criteria and Awards

  • Judges will be selected from the community by the Parade committee.
  • Each unit will be judged on its overall presentation and the judges’ decision will be final.
  • Awards will be granted to three places in each judging category.
  • Performances in the parade are only allowed at the Judge’s stand (On Fourth Street at E Street) with a limit of one (1) minute. Stopping the parade to perform in other areas of the parade may result in being pulled from the parade lineup without a refund.
  • The awards will be presented on the Festival Stage at 2:00 pm, June 3, 2023. If the winner is not present the award will be held by the parade committee and the winner contacted to receive their award.

Judging Categories:

  1. Best Use of Pride Theme: COMMUNITY!
  2. Most Creative / Original Design
  3. Best Overall

parade contingents

ALLIANCE SONOMA COUNTY
ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION
AMOR PARA TODOS
ANDREW ENGDAHL
BECOMING INDEPENDANT
BUCKELEW PROGRAMS
CHEER SF
CHURCH OF THE INCARNATION
COMM. CHURCH SEBASTOPOL
COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMON GROUND SOCIETY
COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNER
COMMUNITY MARKET
COMPASSION W/O BORDERS
CONGREGATION BETH AMI
CONGRESSMAN MIKE THOMPSON
COTATI POLICE DEPARTMENT
COUNTY OF SONOMA
DEMOCRATIC PARTY SOCO
DYKES ON BIKES
EXCHANGE BANK
FAIRMONT MISSION INN & SPA
FIRST UNITED METHODIST
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
FORGOTTEN FELINES
FOUNTAINGROVE LODGE
FREE MOM HUGS
HAPPY MIDDLE THEATER CO.
SLATER MIDDLE SCHOOL
HOGAN LAND SERVICES
HUBBUB BAND

inRESPONSE
KAISER PERMENENTE
KATE KENDELL (GM)
KEYSIGHT TECHNOLOGIES
KNOX PRESBYTARIAN CHURCH
L3HARRIS SONOMA
LAGUNITAS BREWING CO.
LAURIE FONG
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS SC
LESBIAN REUNION, SOCO
LGBTQ CONNECTION
LIFE ON EARTH ART
LOS CIEN
MACYS
MAYOR NATALIE ROGERS
MEDTRONIC
MISS SONOMA COUNTY
NASCAR
NORDQUIST TAYLOR DANCE
NORTH BAY ORGANIZING PROJ
OAKMONT RAINBOW WOMEN
OCCIDENTAL PRIDE
OFFICE OF EDUCATION SOCO
OUTWATCH FILM FESTIVAL
PETALUMA POLICE DEPT.
PETALUMA PRIDE
PHOENIX DANCERS
POSITIVE IMAGES
PROVIDENCE
RAISE A CHILD

REDWOOD THEATER COMPANY
REI CO-OP
ROHNERT PARK FIRE DEPT.
ROHNERT PARK POLICE DEPT
ROLLER DERBY, SOCO
SANTA ROSA COMM. HEALTH
SANTA ROSA FIRE DEPT.
SANTA ROSA JUNIOR COLLEGE
SANTA ROSA METRO CHAMBER
SANTA ROSA POLICE DEPT.
SEBASTOPOL SENIOR CENTER
SHERIFF SOCO
SIMONS
SOCO AG AND OPEN SPACE
SOCO LIBRARIES
SONOMA CLEAN POWER
SONOMA LAND TRUST
SONOMA LIFE SUPPORT AMR
SONOMA STATE POLICE DEPT.
SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
STARBUCKS
STATUS OF WOMEN SOCO
SUMMIT STATE BANK
SUTTER HEALTH
TARGET
THTR PRODUCTIONS
TRADTIONAL MEDICINALS
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
VIDAS LEGAL SERVICES
WINDSOR PRIDE
YMCA, SOCO FAMILY

travel information

We've tried to make planing your visit to Sonoma County Pride easy. Here is some local hotel, travel details you might find helpful.

Ground Transport

By Bus, By Smart Train or By Car

Accommodation

Where to stay is always important when planning a trip.

Cafe & Restaurant

As for any trip, you need to know where to eat!

Ground
Accommodations
Restaurants

FAQs

The Sonoma County Pride planning committee is working hard to finalize details for this year’s Pride events. Once we have finalized the details we will publish FAQs and answers in this location. Thank you for your patience.

What should I wear? – Be festive! Wear lots of color! Don’t be afraid to show your pride and wear rainbows and tons of color! Be sure to dress comfortable, and remember it could be warm so be sure to wear sunscreen!

Are Dogs Allowed? – dogs are allowed so long as they are on a leash and well behaved. Owners are responsible for cleaning up after them. Please take into consideration that we expect a very large crowd and there will be music and controlled chaos.. Some animals might be stressed.

Stay Updated!