Goal for vaccination clinics is to reduce risk of transmission of the Monkeypox virus during the Lazy Bear week among participants and the host community.
WHEN: West County Health Centers will be holding two Monkey Pox vaccine clinics on Friday, August 5th
ELIGIBILITY: Due to a very limited supply of 500 vaccines available from the California Department of Public Health for this event, the following criteria must be met to receive a vaccine:
Registered for Lazy Bear Week – OR –
Current resident or works in the lower Russian River Area – OR –
Active patient at West County Health Centers
REGISTRATION: No appointment required. Please bring reasonable documentation of eligibility.
While CDC works to contain the current monkeypox outbreak and learn more about the virus, this information can help you make informed choices when you are in situations or places where monkeypox could be spread.
How can a person lower their risk during sex?
Talk to your partner about any recent illness and be aware of new or unexplained rashes on your body or your partner’s body, including the genitals and anus. If you or your partner have recently been sick, currently feel sick, or have a new or an unexplained rash, do not have sex and see a healthcare provider.
If you or a partner has monkeypox, the best way to protect yourself and others is to avoid sex of any kind (oral, anal, vaginal) and do not kiss or touch each other’s bodies while you are sick, especially any rash. Do not share things like towels, fetish gear, sex toys, and toothbrushes.
If you or your partner have (or think you might have) monkeypox and you decide to have sex, consider the following to reduce the chance of spreading the virus:
Have virtual sex with no in-person contact.
Masturbate together at a distance of at least 6 feet, without touching each other and without touching any rash.
Consider having sex with your clothes on or covering areas where rash is present, reducing as much skin-to-skin contact as possible. If the rash is confined to the genitals or anus, condoms may help; however, condoms alone are likely not enough to prevent monkeypox.
Avoid kissing.
Remember to wash your hands, fetish gear, sex toys and any fabrics (bedding, towels, clothing) after having sex. Learn more about infection control.
Having multiple or anonymous sex partners may increase your chances of exposure to monkeypox. Limiting your number of sex partners may reduce the possibility of exposure.
Avoid touching the rash. Touching the rash can spread it to other parts of the body and may delay healing.
What should a person do if they have a new or unexplained rash or other symptoms?
Avoid sex or being intimate with anyone until you have been checked out by a healthcare provider.
If you don’t have a provider or health insurance, visit a public health clinic near you.
When you see a healthcare provider, wear a mask, and remind them that this virus is circulating in the area.
Avoid gatherings, especially if they involve close, personal, skin-to-skin contact.
Think about the people you have had close, personal, or sexual contact during the last 21 days, including people you met through dating apps. To help stop the spread, you might be asked to share this information if you have received a monkeypox diagnosis.
How can a person lower the chance of getting monkeypox at places like raves, parties, clubs, and festivals?
When thinking about what to do, seek out information from trusted sources like the local health department. Second, consider how much close, personal, skin-to-skin contact is likely to occur at the event you plan to attend. If you feel sick or have a rash, do not attend any gathering, and see a healthcare provider.
Festivals, events, and concerts where attendees are fully clothed and unlikely to share skin-to-skin contact are safer. However, attendees should be mindful of activities (like kissing) that might spread monkeypox.
A rave, party, or club where there is minimal clothing and where there is direct, personal, often skin-to-skin contact has some risk. Avoid any rash you see on others and consider minimizing skin-to-skin contact.
Enclosed spaces, such as back rooms, saunas, sex clubs, or private and public sex parties where intimate, often anonymous sexual contact with multiple partners occurs, may have a higher likelihood of spreading monkeypox.
The Spahr Center is committed to keeping our community safe, including from the Monkeypox virus. That’s why we’re teaming up with Marin County Health and Human Services to host an LGBTQ+ Monkeypox Vaccination Clinic on August 6th. Due to vaccine shortages across California, we have only 48 vaccines available. To be eligible, you must be a Marin County resident age 18 years or older who also meets one of the following criteria:Gay or bisexual men and transgender people who have had multiple sexual partners in the last 14 days Sex workers of any genderAnyone with known exposure to someone who has monkeypox
Questions about Monkeypox?Equality California has lots of information on the virus, who is at risk, and what LGBTQ+ organizations and public health leaders are doing to keep our community safe. If you want to speak with someone at The Spahr Center about monkeypox (or HIV prevention), reach out to Romario, our HIV prevention navigator, at rconrado@thespahrcenter.org.
Events sponsored by TRANSLIFE for the transgender/gender-expansive community in Sonoma County. Please contact us at info@translifeconference.org for more information.
“Aging Gayfully!” is a unique class being offered online as part of the Older Adults Program of Santa Rosa Junior College. It is free to all California residents. The class provides a comfortable space for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning adults to explore skillful aging strategies that address their unique aging issues. The Fall 2022 semester session begins online on Wednesday, August 17 th from 11 am to 1 pm and continues weekly until December 14th. For more information or for instructions on how to enroll email the instructor Gary “Buz” Hermes MA at ghermes@santarosa.edu.
All are welcome at the Sonoma County Library, an institution built on free speech where people come together to discover, learn, and share. On June 10, a patron came into the Rohnert Park-Cotati Library and checked out all of the books on the children and teens side of the Pride Month display. Shortly after, an anti-LGBTQ+ effort claimed responsibility for the act as part of a national Hide the Pride action. Intended to restrict readers from accessing books about LGBTQ+ characters or subject matter, Hide the Pride is an effort toward censorship that is against the library’s values. After an article detailing the incident came out in the Press Democrat on June 24, the library received an outpouring of support from the community. We thank those who stand up for all members of our community and we will continue to offer diverse and inclusive materials and serve all Sonoma County patrons. Sonoma County Library is for everyone.
Check out our news post for more information, resources, and kind words from library supporters.
Read MoreThank you for being a member of the Sonoma County Library community. Visit us online or in person at one of our branches. Be sure to check out open jobs at Sonoma County Library here.
Questions? Please call your local library branch or click here to send us a message. Lea libremente Todos son bienvenidos en la Biblioteca del Condado de Sonoma, una institución construida sobre la libertad de expresión donde la gente se reúne para descubrir, aprender y compartir. El 10 de junio, un usuario entró en la Biblioteca Rohnert Park-Cotati y sacó todos los libros para niños y adolescentes de la exhibición del Mes del Orgullo. Poco después, un esfuerzo anti-LGBTQ reclamó la responsabilidad del acto como parte de una acción nacional de Ocultar el Orgullo (Hide the Pride). Con la intención de restringir el acceso de los lectores a libros sobre personajes o temas LGBTQ, Hide the Pride es un esfuerzo hacia la censura que va en contra de los valores de la biblioteca. Después de que un artículoque detalla el incidente salió en la Press Democrat el 24 de junio, la biblioteca recibió una gran cantidad de apoyo. Agradecemos a aquellos que defienden a todos los miembros de nuestra comunidad y continuaremos ofreciendo materiales diversos e inclusivos y sirviendo a todos los patrocinadores del Condado de Sonoma. La Biblioteca del Condado de Sonoma es para todos. Echa un vistazo a nuestra post de noticias para obtener más información, recursos y palabras amables de los partidarios de la biblioteca.
Lea másGracias por ser miembro de la comunidad de Bibliotecas del Condado de Sonoma. Visítenos en línea o en persona en una de nuestras sucursales. Asegúrese de consultar los trabajos disponible en la Biblioteca del Condado de Sonoma aquí.
¿Preguntas? Por favor llame a su biblioteca local o haga clic para mandar un mensaje.
The tasteless, anti-LGBTQI+ comic is scheduled to perform three shows at Luther Burbank Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa, July 26-29. Perhaps the LBC staff and board are unaware of Chappelle’s numerous anti-Trans comments that are well-documented and of which he has offered no apologies. Chappelle identifies as a so-called “TERF (Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist)” joining author KJ. K Rawlings in such dangerous hate speech. Netflix has come under fire for producing and airing two recent Chappelle shows that feature anti-Trans comments. Recently, a Minneapolis show switched locations as a direct result of a protest organized after Chappelle refered to Monkeypox as “a gay disease.” Should the North Bay’s LGBTQI+ Community allow hate speech and inflammatory comments to be staged in our backyard? Make no mistake – this is not an attack on free speech. This is about making LBC aware that Trans people are harmed and even killed as a result of such despicable comments. We value this venue, but should not allow them to present a show that so many members of this community finds offensive, inflammatory and even dangerous.
If you aren’t aware of this man’s exploits, check out these articles:
PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO AS MANY OF YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AS POSSIBLE.
Let the Staff and Board of Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, its sponsors, those who share the Center’s campus, and elected officials know that such hate results in harm to members of the LGBTQI+ Community. Email and call, as many as possible and as often as possible.
Let’s stop these shows and send a message to every venue in the North Bay that anti-LGBTQI+ hate speech will not be tolerated!
SebARTSSummer Patio Music Series You are invited to Sebastopol Center for the Arts’ Summer Patio Music Series – live music on our patio on Sunday afternoons, starting July 24. July 24, 12-2 pm, SoCo BlueAugust 7, 2-4 pm, Phil Lawrence QuartetAugust 14, 2-4 pm, Swing FlingAugust 21, 2-4 pm, Dave JenkinsAugust 28, 2-4pm: Backstory TrioEveryone is welcome. Payment is by donation, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
SebARTS Art and Y(art) SaleJuly 23-24, 10am-3pmHelp us shrink our huge collection of art and art supplies. We cannot store it all. Will you adopt a piece of art? We will be selling original paintings, (watercolors, oil paintings, acrylic), collage art, prints, frames, and art supplies such as new canvases, paper, paint, and brushes at the SebARTS Art and Y(art) Sale on July 23-24, 10am-3pm.Be a Yard Sale Volunteer: Looking to volunteer with the center? Help out with the yard sale! Fill out the volunteer form here.
Adv. Ceramic Wheel ClassMaking Lidded Jars, Pitchers, TeapotsThis advanced class will be for students who already know the basic skills on the potter’s wheel and can comfortably make a 6″ tall cylinder. We will make a variety of wheel-thrown forms to which we will attach handles, spouts or lids. The instructor will demonstrate several techniques and styles with the goal of creating more complex and expressive pots for daily use. Lidded jars, pitchers and teapots will be our focus.DATES: Wednesdays and Fridays, August 17 – September 2, 6:30-9:30pm.Sign up for Advanced Ceramics now
College Application Writing WorkshopThis class offers students the opportunity to write, be coached, get feedback, and revise their college application essays. There are four two-hour sessions:DATES: Tuesdays, August 2, 3, 9,10, 5pm-7pm The workshop will be held in the painting and drawing studio at SebARTS.Sign up now!
Hero of the WeekVolunteer Carol RehmThis week our heartfelt thanks go to longtime volunteer Carol Rehm, who has been supporting SebARTS by recruiting and training volunteers and organizing the gallery and opening receptions, and so much more. Thank you, Carol!
Sebastopol Community Sculpture Garden opening, July 23The City of Sebastopol invites the public to meet the sculptors and to enjoy festivities during the opening celebration of the Sebastopol Community Sculpture Garden at Ives Park (and in the SebARTS parking lot), on Saturday, July 23, at 1 pm. The Sebastopol Public Art Committee chose eight sculptures, which will be be on exhibition for one year. The artists include Gordon Carter, Rose Gitlin, Beth Hartman, Briona Hendren, Rod Morgan, Josho Somie, and Jeffrey Zankel.
You’re Invited to thePicturing Sebastopol Photography Exhibition, July 24This spring the City of Sebastopol and Sebastopol Center for the Arts co-sponsored a photography contest called Picturing Sebastopol, looking for photography that really captured what Sebastopol is all about.Come to a reception for the Picturing Sebastopol Photography Exhibition on July 24 from 1 to 2 pm in dining room at SebARTS.In fact, make it an afternoon: come to the Picturing Sebastopol photography exhibition, then stay for the free Summer Music Patio Series concert that starts at 2 pm. See you there!
The Raise The Roof Festival benefiting the Peace & Justice Center of Sonoma County takes place on Saturday, August 13 at the beautiful Monte Rio Amphitheater.
Bandleader, Leo Rosales, says, “MOMOTOMBO SF is honored to be participating in the Raise The Roof Festival benefiting the Peace & Justice Center. It is important for us musicians to give back to the community of fans that have supported us throughout the years. We look forward to bringing the spirit of Latin Rock music and helping to make a difference in the Sonoma County community.” Notably, the Latin Rock band Malo celebrates 50 years in 2022.
Tickets: $50 Advance & $60 Day-of-Show Venue: Monte Rio Amphitheater – 9925 Main St. Monte Rio, CA
Date/Time: Saturday, August 13, 2022 from noon – 8pm
Executive Director, Shekeyna Black explains, “The Peace & Justice Center building needs a new roof. We have been able to postpone this necessary repair for as long as possible with contractors and roofers making patches to the roof every year. Thus, the festival is appropriately named, Raise The Roof. The old-fashioned phrase, ‘raise the roof’ means ‘to make a lot of noise by playing music, celebrating’.”
Additionally, there are other great musical acts on the line-up for the Raise The Roof Festival; including Midnight Sun, THUGZ (Tribal Hippie Under Ground Zone), Un AmOur Band, Ben Roots and DJ Loisaida. The capacity at the outdoor venue is being limited so that people can spread out on the spacious lawn surrounded by the majestic Redwood Trees in a safe and comfortable way.
