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:
We attended the Vallejo City Unified School District (VCUSD) 2025 Pride Resolution and Flag Raising this evening. We joined the LGBTQ Community as the Vallejo City Unified School District made a resolution to recognize June as Pride Month, and raise the LGBTQ Pride Flag ceremonially. The flag will fly at the school district office for the month of June. We brought our dogs Bonnie and Snoopy together with the two fosters, Penny and Jonah. Great minds think alike because Peter brought his sweet dog (also a rescue), named Harlem.
The Vallejo Gay Network event was held yesterday at Maus Haus!
Vallejo Gay Network had a game night, which was a lot of fun. Thanks for hosting Seraphim and Eric! These pictures don’t capture all the crowds in every room and outside that eventually showed up, but it was a big success.
It was a special Vallejo Gay Network potluck last night with Jimmy Genn and Steve Davis celebrating 50 years together!
Had a nice hike with the Benicia LGBTQIA Network at Glen Cove Waterfront Park and into Benicia State Park along the Carquinez Trail today. I took Bonnie and Snoopy and many folks had no idea Bonnie was blind until we finished. She kept up so well with Snoopy as her seeing-eye dog.
Here are the pictures Christina took:
