Dana Van Gorder joined the agency as its Interim Executive Director in February of 2019. In June of the same year, the Board of Directors appointed him our permanent Executive Director. On December 31 of 2021, after 2 years and 10 months of strong stewardship of the agency, Dana will retire at 65 years of age. Under Dana’s leadership, The Spahr Center has grown its HIV, LGBTQ+ youth and senior and advocacy programs; doubled its annual budget; increased its visibility and community support; strengthened its relationship with public policy makers; and created a visionary Strategic Plan to guide its work for the next five years. We are grateful for the knowledge, skill, dedication and spirit he has brought to this work. Dana deserves his retirement after a career of effective service to the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities beginning in 1981.
He has been a Legislative Aide to two openly gay and lesbian elected officials, helped guide campaigns to defeat three ballot measures seeking to quarantine people with HIV, staffed two International Conferences on AIDS, guided LGBTQ+ services for the San Francisco Department of Public Health, lobbied in Sacramento to ensure a strong state response to HIV, served as the Executive Director of a leading national HIV patient advocacy group, and is the founder of the San Francisco LGBTQ+ Community Center. He has accomplished much for both communities to which he proudly belongs. I asked Dana to comment for this letter about his thoughts on leaving the agency. This is what he had to say:
“What a complete honor and joy it has been to become friends with wonderful clients and community members, serve a strong Board, support a highly capable staff, nurture generous donors, and partner closely with supportive County officials. Together, we have ensured that the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities of Marin enjoy greater health and well-being, a stronger sense of community with one another, more visible public support, and increased empowerment. In December, I will leave my position proud of what we have built, happy to have come anywhere close to sustaining the legacy of the great Jane Spahr, and thrilled that The Spahr Center is positioned for even stronger stewardship.”
The Board and I will communicate regularly to you about the results of our search for a powerful and effective new Executive Director. In the meantime, we welcome your questions and comments, and your continued support of our lifesaving and life-affirming work.
The Motet • Monophonics • Full Moonalice: THC Revue featuring The New Chamber Brothers & T Sisters • Ron Artis II & The Truth T Sisters • Lebo, Artist at Large • SambaDá • Plus many more ON SALE NOW! General Admission: $55 | VIP Tickets: $149 Ticket prices will go up on day of event.The VIP ticket scores you a reserved seat in the shade under our big tent with complimentary hors d’oeuvres, wine tasting, and beer tasting!As always, the Petaluma Music Festival is a very family friendly affair Kids 12 under get in for free! Teens 13-18 can get a ticket for $25 (sold only at the gate).
In-Person! Saturday, August 7th, 2021 Sonoma-Marin Fair Grounds
Sunday August 8th 4-6 PMThe Musers / Familiar Strangers
The Musers are Sonoma County’s goofy folk trio made up of Anita Bear Sandwina playing banjolin, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and harmonica; Megan McLaughlin on guitar and mandolin and Tom Kuhn driving upright bass and mouth percussion. At a Muser’s show you can be sure that each musical dish will be served with laughter. dancing feet, and the pure joy of their love of music and life.Familiar Strangers are a trio of Sonoma County treasures: Kevin Russell, Candy Girard and Tim Sarter. This trio is chock full of talent, positive vibes and musical prowess that is sure to please any crowd with their swing-y and upbeat selection of music.
Use the following info: Course OAP 505. Section 2723.
Instructor: Tina Dungan, MA has taught in the Older Adults Program for over 20 years. She is also founding member of Lesbian Archives of Sonoma County and co-creator of the Sonoma County LGBTQI Timeline. She is committed to keeping our LGBTQI history alive.
This month, we’re honoring Pride with virtual programs and events, summer Take & Make craft kits, booklists for all ages, community resources, and more. Visit this news post for the full list.
Register for the Sonoma County LGBTQI+ History Timeline on Tuesday, June 22, at 5:30 pm. Explore the community building, cultural, and social change forged by local LGBTQI+ people from 1947 to 2000.
Join us in celebrating Pride Month, a time to promote the self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of the LGBTQ+ community. The LGBTQ+ community will always be welcomed and celebrated at the library, not just during Pride Month but every day.Learn More
Thank you for being a member of the Sonoma County Library community. Visit our online library for thousands of films, TV shows, eBooks, databases, magazines, classes, videogames, and more. Be sure to check out open jobs at Sonoma County Library here.
Este mes dedicamos al Orgullo LGBTQIA+ con eventos virtuales, kits de arte para llevar y hacer en casa, listas de lectura recomendada para todas edades, recursos comunitarios y más. Vea todo aquí.
Regístrese para una charla virtual con las historiadoras de la Cronología de la historia LGBTQI+ en el condado de Sonoma el martes, 22 de junio a las 5:30pm. Exploraremos cómo personas LGBTQI+ locales se crearon comunidad y fomentaron cambio cultural y político durante los años 1947 a 2000. *Este evento será en inglés.
Celebremos juntos el Mes de Orgullo LGBTQ+, un tiempo para promover la autoafirmación, dignidad, igualdad y mayor visibilidad de la comunidad LGBTQ+. La comunidad LGBTQ+ siempre estará bienvenida y celebrada en la biblioteca, no solo durante el Mes de Orgullo, sino cada día.Obtenga más información
Gracias por ser miembro de la comunidad de la Biblioteca del Condado de Sonoma. Visite nuestra biblioteca en línea para ver miles de películas, programas de televisión, libros electrónicos, bases de datos, revistas, clases, videojuegos y mucho más. Revise aquí los puestos disponibles en la Biblioteca del Condado de Sonoma.
¿Preguntas? Por favor llame a su biblioteca local o haga clic para mandar un mensaje.
After the cancellation of all in-person events during 2020, Sonoma County Pride is proud to announce our Pride Celebration “Rainbow City” concert. The concert event features a diverse lineup of live in-person entertainment. The rapid improvement in the pandemic situation in California has allowed this live concert to be the Bay Area’s first live, in-person music festival event since the 2020 Covid-19 lockdowns.
This year’s Pride concert is the centerpiece of our June LGBTQI+ Pride activities, and features Todrick Hall, special guest Bright Lights, Derrick Barry from RuPaul’s Drag Race as Britney Spears, and Ryan Cassata, as well as special appearances by Cheer SF & DJ Lady Char. The event will be hosted by Starr Love. Presented by Bud Light and Deep Eddy Vodka, “Rainbow City” will take place at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds on Saturday, June 26th. Ticket prices range from $25 – $100 per person, with seating arranged in private “pods” for two to four people, to follow social distancing guidelines.
Capacity is limited and concertgoers are advised to purchase their tickets early, as they this event will surely sell out.
Headliner on the bill is multi-talented Todrick Hall! From recent spots for Target, Virgin America and the 2014 Kids’ Choice Awards, to original choreographed music videos, Hall has mastered the art of blending live experience with social media. Featured in Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list, he is known worldwide for his YouTube parodies and a breakout appearance on American Idol. He is on track to be one of the next great powerhouses in the entertainment field.
Shawn Brockmeyer, Director of Entertainment for Sonoma County Pride, is proud and hopeful that an event like Rainbow City can be held so soon after the difficulties of 2020. “We recognize that this event and others in Pride month would not be possible without the generous support of sponsors like Graton Resort & Casino, Bud Light, Deep Eddy Spirits and Red Bull, who have graciously doubled their contributions this year. There is no better way to fulfill our mission in 2021 than to unite our community in celebration, and begin to thrive and prosper once more.”
Sonoma County Pride board members Brian Rogers agrees. “What a wonderful way to wrap up an exciting June of community Pride events and kick off the summer season with a burst of positive, hopeful energy!”
PLEASE JOIN US: SATURDAY, JUNE 26 @ NOON NOVATO CITY HALL, 901 SHERMAN AVENUE TO CELEBRATE RAISING THE LGBTQ+ PRIDE FLAGBY CITIES AND TOWNS THROUGHOUT MARIN &TO HEAR ABOUT THE LGBTQ+ AGENDA FOR MARIN COUNTYMasks and social distancing will apply.
This event is in lieu of our annual Pride Picnic, which we hope to reschedule for September.
Marin County Library has a stellar array of Pride celebration events this month: LGBTQ films to borrow, a history presentation and more. They are also featuring an enormous array of books – fiction, non-fiction, poetry, memoir and more – on our various identities and expressions.Check it out here. Novato is planning a monthlong celebration of Pride!See more here.
This is the new Progress Pride Flag:
The Progress Pride Flag isn’t meant to necessarily replace the well-known 6-stripe Pride Flag. However, it does carry additional meaning. The flag includes black and brown stripes to represent marginalized LGBTQ+ communities of color, along with the colors pink, light blue and white, which are used on the Transgender Pride Flag.
UPCOMING EVENTS(more info below)June 10 – Our Emotional Well Being:Nancy Flaxman facilitatesJune 15 – Games Day at Sam’s*June 17 – Breakfast Club at Sam’s*June 19 – Buz’s Aging Gayfully Intro Course beginsJune 26 – Pride Rally at Novato City HallJune 29 – Women’s Coffee at Sam’s*July 8 – 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s, etc.Every Mon. & Thu. – Spahr Senior GroupsEvery Tue. – Trans/Non-Binary Support Group * Social Committee Event
To join the Spahr Senior GroupMondays, 7 to 8 pm, &Thursdays, 12:30 t0 2 pm,click the purple button below the Butterfly Heart or here:
Topical Thursdays12:30 to 2 pm June 10Our Emotional Well BeingNancy Flaxman FacilitatesFor most of our lives to be LGBT was considered a mental illness. Even when in 1973, “homosexuality” was removed from the American Psychiatric Association’s official guide to the diagnosis of mental disorders, that decision was considered controversial. Some today would still like to believe there is something wrong with who we are. In fact, the only connection between sexual orientation/gender identity and mental health is the impact of society’s homophobia, transphobia, heterosexism, discrimination, violence, and more. Nancy will talk briefly about this, and we will all discuss creating optimal emotional well being for ourselves and our community.
Conversational Mondays7 to 8 pm We catch up with each other on how we’re doing and have unstructured conversations focused on listening from our hearts and deepening community.
A note from NancyI feel very grateful to turn 75 years old this year, as in 3/4 of a century! I have been privileged to work with and on behalf of LGBT seniors for over 30 years. Our very amazing Spahr/Margaret Todd discussion group has been meeting since 2014, beginning at the Novato Human Needs Center. By the end of this year I plan to transition from being on the staff of the Spahr Center to occasionally consulting with Dana and Bill as needed. My decision is not only because I want to step back while I am still at a high point in my career, but I also feel strongly that for LGBT outreach and services to thrive long term, it is essential that we bring in new professional staff committed to and knowledgeable in LGBT aging issues, programs, and cultural competency. Thank you so much for the support you have given me for many years. Though my role will change at the end of the year, I remain a part of and committed to our LGBT senior community in Marin. My appreciation and deep affection, NancyNancy Flaxman, MSWSpahr Senior Program Advisor
Congratulations Dana! I’m pleased to announce that Dana Van Gorder, Executive Director of The Spahr Center, has been awarded theNorth Bay Business Journal Pride Leadership Award. The enormous energy, dedication, compassion and funding that Dana has brought to our agency in the past couple years have made a huge difference to the lives of many of us LGBTQ+ people of Marin. It is incredibly well deserved!
The Social Committee has been consistently offering fun events to offset the boredom of the pandemic. They want to celebrate your birthday if you’ll let them know when it is. They offer a women’s coffee plus a number of times to gather – now in person at Sam’s Place in Novato! – over games and conversation. People wishing to attend still must register in advance due to room occupancy limits. To sign up for their emails or register for events, clickhere. You can check out their June calendarhere.
Marin County Rental Assistance ProgramLow-income Marin County residents and landlords can apply to receive 80% of unpaid back rent incurred during the pandemic. An online application process is available: here. For more information, phone 415/473- 2223 or email RentalAssistance@MarinCounty.org. Emergency Broadband Benefit is Now AvailableThe Federal Communications Commission launched a temporary program to help individuals or households struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Emergency Broadband Benefit provides a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible households. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. You can learn more about the benefit, including eligibility, by calling 833/511-0311 or by visiting https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit.
Buz Hermes brings his informative, community-building Aging Gayfully Class to your computer or phone.Saturdays 11 am to 1 pm. Free! See flyer below for more details.
Vivalon* Resources for Seniors Whistlestop, now renamed Vivalon, offers many resources for us seniors, now listed in this easy-to-print one-page guide. Access to rides, food, classes, activities, resources, referrals, and more. Membership not required for most classes and services during the pandemic. Some in-person events are being planned. To get Vivalon’s listings, click here.
Covid-19 News for Seniors We are not out of the pandemic yet, much is still uncertain, and yet all the seniors I’m in touch with are now vaccinated and seem to be educated about continued precautions. For more on continued precautions, click here. May we all be safe & well! Bill Blackburn BEWARE POST-VACCINATION SCAMS!Scams offering monetary and gift rewards for those taking post-vaccination surveys are efforts to fraudulently gather personal information such as credit card numbers. Moderna, Pfizer, and J&J are NOT sending out these offers. Avoid them!
FEMA Assistance Programs Related To Covid-19:FEMA will provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. (No income- or citizenship-related requirements.) Call 844/684-6333. More info here. Free legal assistance to low-income people affected by the pandemic includes help with hospital bills, estate administration, problems with landlords, and much more. Call 888/382-3406. More info here.
Do you know people who may need help making an appointment for vaccines, especially if they are not online or need multi-lingual or transportation help? Please let them know of this resource:Marin Access Services Call Center1 (833) 641-1988CA Relay use 711
Building Community in the Midst of Sheltering-in-PlaceSee old friends and make new ones! Join us!The Spahr Center’s LGBT Senior Discussion Groupscontinue everyMonday, 7 to 8 pm& Thursday, 12:30 to 2 pm on zoom
To Join Group by Video using Computer, Smart Phone or TabletJust click this button at the start time, 6:55 pm Mondays / 12:25 pm Thursdays:Join GroupAlways the same link! Try it, it’s easy!
To Join Group by Phone CallIf you don’t have internet connections or prefer joining by phone,call the following number at the start time,6:55 pm Mondays / 12:25 pm Thursdays:1-669-900-6833The Meeting id is 820 7368 6606#(no participant id required)The password, if requested, is 135296# If you want to be called into the group by phone, notify Bill Blackburn at 415/450-5339
California Department of Aging ResourcesThe CDA has a website that is packed with information and resources relevant to the lives of seniors in our state. From Covid-19 updates to more general care for age-related health issues, access to legal assistance to getting home-delivered meals to help with housing, you may well find answers to your questions by clicking: here.
Spahr’s skilled therapists are available to work with seniors on a sliding-scale basis. Write toinfo@thespahrcenter.org. A Bisexual Support Group is forming with The Spahr Center, facilitated by a therapist. Let Bill Blackburn know if you are interested. Whistlestop, renamed Vivalon, provides access to resources including rides for older adults. Please note: there is a 3-week registration process for the ride program so register now if you think you may need rides in the future. They also offer free classes on zoom including zumba, yoga, chair exercises, & ukulele! Click here. Adult and Aging Service’s Information and Assistance Line, providing information and referrals to the full range of services available to older adults, adults with disabilities and their family caregivers, has a new phone number and email address: 415/473-INFO (4636) 8:30 am to 4:30 pm weekdays473INFO@marincounty.org
The Spahr Center has opened its Food Pantryto seniors who need support in meeting their nutrition needs. We want to help! Items such as fresh meats, eggs and dairy, prepared meals, pasta, sauces, and canned goods are delivered weekly to people who sign up. Contact The Spahr Center for more information: info@thespahrcenter.org or 415/457.2487
The Musers are Sonoma County’s goofy folk trio made up of Anita Bear Sandwina playing banjolin, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and harmonica; Megan McLaughlin on guitar and mandolin and Tom Kuhn driving upright bass and mouth percussion. At a Muser’s show you can be sure that each musical dish will be served with laughter. dancing feet, and the pure joy of their love of music and life.
Familiar Strangers are a trio of Sonoma County treasures: Kevin Russell, Candy Girard and Tim Sarter. This trio is chock full of talent, positive vibes and musical prowess that is sure to please any crowd with their swing-y and upbeat selection of music. 
