Dear Friends of The Center

Last week, President Obama announced his support for marriage equality. He is the first president to do so. We recognize that this is an important step forward in our goal of achieving full equality for LGBT Americans.

The fight to secure marriage equality is the defining element of our generation, and The Center thanks President Obama for his support. But our community also has other needs: a new LGBT seniors program, a new support group for LGBT parents, a group for young LGBT professionals, and coming out is still a major life-changing experience for some.

To provide these new programs, and to keep and grow our existing programs, we need the continued and expanded support of our community! Our May drive to recruit monthly donors is going great, but we still can use your help if you haven’t yet signed up. Each Board member is a monthly contributor. Please join them by giving $100, $50, $10, $5 per month–whatever you can afford. If we don’t support our community, who will? Please make your pledge today.

Humbly requesting your support,

Shara P. Murphy

We Are Halfway Through Our Monthly Donor Drive

Since launching our drive on May 1, we have gotten over 20 new monthly donors, making us more than halfway to our goal of 40 new monthly donors.

And we are getting nearer to our goal of raising $10,000!

It’s our community’s generosity that allows us to put on great events, like last Saturday’s successful LGBT Health Fair and the upcoming concert by the San Francisco Men’s Chorus on Harvey Milk Day on May 22. Sacramento Pride, including the Courage to Stand Reception, Parade, and Festival is just two weeks away!

If you have become a monthly donor or made a donation, thank you. If you haven’t yet, we need your help to reach our goals. Becoming a monthly donor is easy. Just visit The Center’s website make your pledge today. Even is you can’t make a monthly donation, please make a one-time contribution. Thank you very much for your generosity.

High Tea for Equality on May 19

On Saturday, May 19 from 3-5pm, the Queer Woman’s Event Committee, in association with The Center, invites you to join us for an afternoon of delectable eats, delightful treats, and the opportunity to engage with activists from our community. This High Tea will not only afford you the opportunity to find some direction and motivation in the advancement of LGBTQ equality, but also to spend the afternoon mingling with other phenomenal women. We look forward to seeing you, and fun hats are encouraged! Find out more.

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Celebrates Harvey Milk Day

Their special guests are The Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus. This is exciting: Join them at 4pm on the steps of the Capitol when they will premiere the new Harvey Milk Anthem, Give ‘em Hope! Tickets for their 8pm performance are $35 reserved, $25 general, $40/$30 at the door, and $10 students/seniors. Get them here.

Sacramento Pride is Almost Here!

We are only a little over two weeks away from Sacramento Pride! It will happen on the Capital Mall on June 2. Buy your tickets online and get a free backpack or volunteer for 4 hours and get in free! We have a lot of great events scheduled. Want to participate in the Pride Parade? Find out how. Want a vendor booth? We’ve got a few left. Want to perform on stage? You can do that. Don’t want to drive home that night? Book a room at one of these sponsoring hotels and get two free tickets to Pride. We’ll see you there!

Friends & Partners

FrontRunners/FrontWalkers Sacramento

Inspired by Patricia Nell Warren’s novel, The Front Runner, the first FrontRunner club began in San Francisco in 1974, and other FR clubs quickly began forming in the United States, then in Canada and abroad. There are currently about a hundred FrontRunner clubs around the world and they are as diverse as where they are situated. Some of the clubs have hundreds of members, some start-ups have only a few. Many include walkers, not just runners, and at least one club has many more walkers than runners.

The Sacramento chapter is the only FrontRunners in the Central Valley and offers a weekly schedule of run/walks. All skill levels are represented, and you set your own pace. James Evans-Brown started the club in 1992. They meet Monday and Wednesday nights at 6:30pm at McKinley Park behind the tennis courts for a formal huddle, announcements, and then laps around the park. On Saturday mornings at 9am, they meet at Guy West Bridge behind Sacramento State for a run/walk along the American River. Also, they have social dinners on the first Wednesday of each month, their monthly business meeting on the second Wednesday, and BBQs or picnics on the third Wednesdays during the warm months.

The group is highly inclusive and, while running and walking remain their focus, they have a large number of bikers and hikers. Some FrontRunner organizations refer to themselves as eating clubs with a running disorder and FrontRunners Sacramento is no exception. Check them out at frsac.org.

New Coming Out Support Group Has Started

Accepting one’s sexual orientation or gender identity is not always easy, but support from others can help ease the process. Join us Wednesday nights from 7-8:30pm as we explore challenges and difficulties in disclosing sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression.

Discussion topics will include understanding feelings of same gender attraction and love; examining stereotypes about LGBT individuals, and incorporating aspects of identity (i.e., age, race/ethnicity, religion) into your current self-perception. Learn from others who are coming out to friends, family, siblings, and co-workers. Develop social support, and learn about the LGBT community on Wednesdays at The Center from 7-8:30pm.

Check These Out

NorCal AIDS Cycle May 17-20

Cyclists will be riding 330 miles to raise money and awareness for HIV/AIDS service providers in the Sacramento Valley and beyond! Whether you donate to a registered Cyclist or Crew Member, or register to come along on the adventure, your contribution will go a long way. Read more.

Transgender Advocacy Day is May 20-21

Last year, transgender and allied Californians hit the halls of the Capitol and helped pass two important bills: AB 887, The Gender Nondiscrimination Act, and AB 433, The Vital Statistics Modernization Act. Join the Transgender Law Center at the Capitol again this year to ensure legislators hear the life stories of transgender people, our friends, and our families. Find out more.

Four Freedoms Coming May 30

Celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Stonewall Democratic Club of Greater Sacramento at their Four Freedoms Gala on Wednesday, May 30 at the Woodlake Hotel in Sacramento. Read more.

Election Day is Tuesday, June 5

Voting is very important to our community. The last day to register to vote is May 21 and the last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot is May 29. You can register online, and please vote on June 5!

Argentina First in World to Remove Barriers to People Changing Genders

Activists say Argentina now leads the world in transgender rights after giving people the freedom to change their legal and physical gender identity simply because they want to, without having to undergo judicial, phychiatric, and medical procedures beforehand. Read more.

Chico State Holds First Lavender Graduation

An opportunity for LGBTQ students to be officially recognized for their achievements in higher education and contributions to the University, Chico State’s LGBTQ Student organization held their first annual lavender graduation on May 11.

Queer Youth Leadership Conference at UC Santa Barbara

For the first time ever, UC Santa Barbara is hosting a unique conference for LGBTQA-identified high school students. This all-day conference has guest speakers, workshops, a campus tour, and a community project. It will be followed by a Queer Prom for conference participants and their partners.

20th Annual Long Beach Pride Run on May 19

Long Beach Pride weekend gets a “running” start with the Shoreline FrontRunners’ 20th Annual Pride Run where participants of all ages and abilities will race for rewards in age and gender categories. All funds raised support LGBT youth, education, and health programs.