For more than 50 years, pride events have been held in cities throughout the world to celebrate the accomplishments of the LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex and Asexual/Allies) community and promote acceptance. Many of these events are typically held the month of June, designated as Pride Month in commemoration of the Stonewall Riots which occurred in 1969 and became a watershed moment in LGBTQIA rights.
Vacaville will have a Pride Month celebration of its own this year in the form of Pride in the Park, scheduled for this Sunday in Andrews Park. Hosted by Vacaville People’s Forum (VPF), Solano Pride Center, the event promises to be a spirited day filled with music, trivia, crafts, a community open mic and a whole lot more.
VPF founding member Sara Palmisano said the event came about as a way for VPF to continue to meet its goal of giving voice to different groups within Vacaville.
“The ultimate goal of our project is to amplify voices of marginalized communities,” she said. “LGBTQIA folks are a marginalized community, especially around these parts.”
Although Vacaville has issued Pride Month proclamations in recent years, Palmisano said a full-on pride event has never been held in the city and decided to put one on. Concurrently, VPF members were also pushing for the city to fly the Pride Flag. With the support of Solano Pride Center, Mayor Ron Rowlett and Vice Mayor Nolan Sullivan, that became a reality when a Pride Flag was raised next to the Three Flags Monument by Andrews Park.
The flag use the same design that was created by artist Daniel Quasar in 2019, which uses the colors of the familiar rainbow flag, while also incorporating black and brown stripes to represent people of color and the white, pink and light blue colors of the transgender flag.
Jonathan Cook, executive director of Solano Pride Center, said the organization assists with requests for Pride Month proclamations and other acts of recognition. He said this was the first year all seven cities in Solano County have issued proclamations, as the Dixon City Council read one last week, and Vacaville and Fairfield have joined Vallejo and Benicia in flying the Pride Flag.
Palmisano said it was important for the city to fly the flag.
“One of the things that we learned in doing research about Pride Flags and why they’re important is that it’s something that queer youth look for as a signpost to show that they’re safe and wanted and going to be healthy and have a positive future,” she said.
Palmisano said studies have indicated that LGBTQ youths are among the most at-risk for self-harm and it was often a result of a harmful environment.
“One of the things that flying the Pride Flag shows is, ‘You guys are welcome here, just as normal as anything, and to everyone who might not agree with that, it shows that their hate and discord isn’t welcome either.'”
Pride in the Park organizers encourage everybody to come by with a blanket and picnic lunch for an afternoon filled with activities. Music will be performed by DJ Rene Ortiz and the students of School of Rock and Live Music Center, and there will also be a trivia game with questions on LGBTQIA topics, a Photo Booth, vendors, crafts, a temporary tattoo station and art booths.
The event will also feature a tie-dye booth, which Palmisano said ties in with the history of the original Pride Flag. The flag was designed by San Francisco seamster Gilbert Baker with tie-dye artist Lynn Segerblom, also known as Fairy Argyle, helping to concoct the dye formulas for the original template.
“A lot of pride festivals have a tie-dye booth,” Palmisano said.
There will also be open mic sessions and a dessert auction, where people can bring in confections to auction off. Proceeds will support the Solano Pride Center.
Palmisano hopes attendees will come away from the event with “a sense of joy in themselves and who they are.”
Cook hopes the event will showcase Vacaville as a diverse and modern city.
“I think it is important and symbolic that this happens in Vacaville,” he said. “Folks shouldn’t have to go to Sacramento or San Francisco to be celebrated and have a good time. I’m really excited to see this happening in Vacaville for the first time this year.”
Pride in the Park will begin at noon Sunday at Andrews Park, 614 E. Monte Vista Ave. The event is free, and masks are required, although masks will be provided for anyone who arrives without one.
For more information, email vvpeoplesforum@gmail.com.
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June 08, 2021 at 07:00AM
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Groups come together for first Vacaville Pride Month celebration - Vacaville Reporter
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