Twinsies pictures of Snoopy and foster Dolly (fka Penny). This was the day Shea finally got to share his major keto cheesecake concoction. It was well-received and it was a nice way to wind down Pride Day after a sojourn into the city. The dogs, including our two new fosters, really enjoy going to the pool and being around us while we’re relaxing in the warm pool water. It’s nice to have such long days with lots of hours of light to linger into the evenings.
We made it to San Francisco Pride yesterday. This year we were smarter. We took BART most of the way to shorten the trip and make it as comfortable as possible with as few modes of transportation as we could take. I love the rainbow “Dog Dad” baseball cap I bought there. I can imagine places where I will wear it to start a conversation.
Unfortunately not everyone got the memo that street fairs are smokefree, so we didn’t stay long in front of city hall. I wasn’t in the mood to be confrontational during such a festive event, but I did take note of how entitled these people are to take away the fresh air of other people. While the enemy is the industry, some people still lack common courtesy.
It was wonderful to run into our sweet friend Neeraj, who we can always count on being anywhere there is two-stepping! Since it had been a year since Shea and I last two-stepped ourselves, I knew I would be useless on the floor this time. We should practice more.
After working remotely for more than four years, I finally had a good excuse to go down and see our gorgeous campus in Duarte, California. I had sometimes waved to the building from the freeway when driving by on my way to vacation in Palm Springs, but earlier this week I had the privilege of speaking about my pro bono tobacco activism at the Pride Health Symposium. I was also recently asked to join the Board of Pride in the City, which is the LGBTQ employee group. My closest fellow co-workers also came from far and wide to support me, which was so heart-warming. I am very lucky to work with such great people and such an important institution fighting the scourges of cancer and diabetes every day!
Part of Father’s Day meant Sunday Funday with LGBTQIA Benicia Group at the Relik Tavern!
Pictures from others who were there:
I love it when my communities/worlds collide. Mei organized this major dog walk on Mare Island which crossed paths with a major picnic that the Vallejo Gay Network has every year. I brought our two fosters who got a lot of serious attention with their “Adopt Me” vests. It was a little stressful with the four dogs, but we had a wonderful time.
More pictures we took at the picnic:
Pictures others took:
The first weekday of June is LGBTQ Families Day! Many of you know I’m a proud father with a daughter, Alexandra, who is now grown. I served on the Board of Family Equality for six years when she was younger. We attended many conferences and Family Pride Weeks, mostly in Provincetown, Massachusetts. That is where this first picture was taken for the “Love Makes a Family” photo-text exhibit that traveled the world. I’m so proud of that in particular.
Shea (and others, including a bit of my profile) made it to the front page of the Vallejo Times-Herald! This was from the City of Vallejo proclamation recognizing June 2025 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
Tom Bilbo’s Vallejo Pride Proclamation Acceptance Speech
Mayor Sorce, members of the City Council, City staff, and residents of Vallejo, the proclamation just read reminds us of the importance of the alliances we foster within and beyond the LGBTQ+ community. Your allyship and friendship are essential to our collective wellbeing, especially in challenging times like these. Our community faces significant challenges, with members being targeted by political figures and individuals spreading hate. These moments underscore the fragility of our democracy and the critical need for strong alliances to protect and uplift one another. Simply living an authentic life can make us targets on both national and local levels, but having a hometown like Vallejo where we are valued and seen as an integral part of the community means the world. This year, we are proud to host over 17 events in and around Vallejo that celebrate pride and unity. From the flag raising at City Hall next Monday to Pride Night at the Museum, the Solano County Pride Picnic on Mare Island, and our celebration at the Solano County Fair, we warmly invite everyone to join us and partake in these vibrant moments.
These events are spaces for our community to come together and celebrate, and we treasure the support and presence of allies who stand with us in these spaces we call our own at this time of year. Finally, I am honored to present this new flag, which symbolizes our City’s unwavering commitment to diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Again, thank you.
Lorenzo provided the live piano music at host Barbara Gaea’s house. I had been to her house several years ago for the Vallejo Garden Tour. Where she had a big field of ivy is now a gorgeous ADU. The way the light hits the ADU is really lovely. Our VGN leader, Tom Bilbo, wasn’t able to make it, so I was deputized with not only taking pictures, but also making the usual announcements. Fortunately, there was a bullhorn we could use. I wore the appropriate shirt for the occasion. In case it’s hard to read below, it says:
Posts from others:
