We’re not part of the official Facebook group called Fairies on the (Vallejo) Ferry, but here is a gaggle of six of us riding together this morning on the way to SF Pride!
Starting at the lower left is Patrick, William W. and Carlos. On the lower right is me, Shando and William S.
These first two photos are of Shando and me in front of City Hall where we got married in December 2018. Patrick and William W. got married there too!
I filmed Patrick, William, and Shando going through this feature at the Faerie Village during San Francisco Pride below. I wish I would have captured the moment right after the video ended when William said, “I felt like the Little Mermaid.” Awww, how gay is THAT? Perfectly gay.
My friend Tom Bilbo gave me a chance to talk about the activism I’m doing with LGBTQ Minus Tobacco and a coalition of other organizations at today’s picnic. The microphone was faulty, but it was a great opportunity to also talk about the Tobacco Retail License we’re working on with the City Council in Vallejo and our accomplishment last year with the Smokefree Multi-Unit Housing ordinance that passed unanimously with City Council.
UPDATE: There was an article that mentioned us in the Vallejo Times Herald on Monday, June 13. Check it out here.
This was my first time at the Solano County Fairgrounds and I was impressed with the site. LGBTQMinusTobacco had a booth there that day. We saw lots of incredible art and enjoyed the part of the fairgrounds that we got to see.
Our friends Greg and Steve joined us for a trip to the art lofts in Benicia. I had never really wandered around there, nor did I know how cavernous the studios were. I also was very impressed the the gardens on the ground and some of the military (?) architecture even as it begins to look neglected.
Every Vallejo Art Walk (which is monthly and year-round), we make a point to stop in Anchor Pantry for specialty food items. it’s very vegetarian-friendly and has novelty items, which always keep our visits interesting. I love supporting local businesses and I really appreciate that they stay open late on Art Walk nights so we can explore their wares.
This pasta product doesn’t have an Italian name at all, but my daughter showed me this brand when she was at an Italian supermarket in the East Village of Manhattan years ago. I can’t believe it’s a thing, but yes, it is our last name! It’s very cool that they have it here in Vallejo too!
The Steampunk Santa crew with grand marshall Drew Lago and his companion.
While we lived here last year, I regret I was too exhausted from the Photos with Santa in 2021 to participate. This year both Shando and I participated. We were highly impressed with the whole shebang. We intend to be even better prepared next year when there will hopefully not be as much rain. I’m glad we all muddled through though!
In a very poignant gesture, Santa Tom Bilbo put a big pink “Q” at the back of the float, which represented our solidarity with our brothers and sisters who were targeted for being LGBTQ (as all of this float’s participants were in that category or an ally). It is also a symbol against gun violence and assault weapons being available for civilians, to paraphrase Tom when being interviewed for Vallejo Times Herald.
As part of our year-end efforts with fundraising for Humane Society of the North Bay, we were featured in the Vallejo Times-Herald on the cover again (see below). Yesterday was the first of two times we are doing this fundraiser in 2022.
The things we do for charity!
Photo credits for some of these are Andrea Rodoni and Manny Furtado.
Halloween was in the air at the Farmers Market on this day when we tabled for Humane Society of the North Bay, as volunteers and I do about once a month year-round. In hindsight, we REALLY should have had some candy to hand out. Oops.
