An overview of Central Coast Pride’s 27th annual Pride Month celebrations
“That makes me think of my first pride,” JBird said, situated comfortably on the couch inside the Gala Pride and Diversity Center located at 1060 Palm St. where she currently works as the director of operations,
It was sometime in her early ‘20s, coming out with her girlfriend for the first time, as she described. “Thank God she was ready for it because I was not,” JBird said.
But piercing through the shame and fear accumulated from growing up in North San Luis Obispo County as a young queer person who felt uncomfortable being herself was the simple exchange she had with the people working the Pride booth for Lumina Alliance, the local sexual and domestic violence non-profit organization formerly known as RISE & Stand Strong.
“They gave me a rainbow chain necklace and a magnet for my car that says ‘Stand against domestic violence’ and I still have both of those items,” she said. “I just remember that moment specifically being so impactful and feeling so seen.”
JBird, now 39, with an extensive background working in live entertainment and as a stage manager for events, alongside her work as co-director for SLO County’s Central Coast Pride — one of Gala’s programs, looks to the near future with San Luis Obispo’s fast-approaching Pride Month just on the horizon.
The Central Coast Pride and Gala Pride events, geared towards every age and ranging from drag and burlesque shows to brunches to high school dances, are created and backed by countless committees and volunteers to simply be a safe place for people to feel seen, supported and loved.
“It’s really just a giant group hug, a deep breath and a space to be all-inclusive and welcoming and accepting,” JBird said.
Central Coast Pride events
Rise Up! Drag and Burlesque
To kickstart Central Coast Pride, the inaugural Rise Up! Drag and Burlesque 18+ shows debuted on May 31 and June 1 at the Fremont Theater. The events were a collaboration between the United Queendom, a Santa Barbara-based drag troupe, and SLO Tease, a local burlesque troupe formed in 2012.
Pride in the Plaza
To ring in the month’s celebrations, Pride in the Plaza brought community members to downtown San Luis Obispo’s Mission Plaza for performances, vendors and food on June 1.
“My first ever Pride event that I performed in was Pride in the Plaza last year, and that marked the one-year mark since I started drag,” local drag king and co-founder of The House of Mello-Havoc Jackson Havoc said.
Having grown connections and excitement towards the world of drag, Havoc and their partner and fellow drag performer, Mello Drama, recruited local talent to put on an original drag musical through their partnership with Art & Soul. Havoc hosted a sold-out show at Bang the Drum Brewery that, as they put it, was the launch point for The House of Mello-Havoc.
Now, The House of Mello-Havoc — a “chosen family that regularly makes amazing, fun queer art and productions together,” Havoc said — hosts monthly drag events at venues like Bang the Drum and Linnaea’s Cafe. With these commitments to uplifting the LGBTQ+ community of San Luis Obispo, Havoc also serves on Gala’s event committee to plan more celebratory, safe spaces.
Pride Drag Brunch
Libertine Brewing will host a Pride Drag Brunch on June 2 at 11 a.m., with live drag performers, stand-up comedians and music, along with food and drinks. Tickets can be purchased in person at the door for $25; online pre-sale tickets are sold out. More information on the event can be found here.
Pride in the Park
Gala’s family-focused Pride in the Park will be at Meadow Park on June 2 from 1-6 p.m. Vendors, food and drink, a children’s game area and resource booths will line the park’s walkways, all while local drag artists and musicians perform, according to the organization’s website.
Who Am I? Art Gallery Debut
The first day of June also entailed the opening of the “Who Am I?” art gallery at The Bunker SLO. The exhibit highlights local LGBTQ+ artwork centered around self-expression and representation and will officially debut on June 7. The gallery will be on display until June 31, Gala’s website says.
Pride Prom at Laguna Middle School
The second annual Pride Prom at Laguna Middle School will feature live DJs, crafts, games, a photo booth and free snacks and drinks for high schoolers grades 9-12. The event, on June 8 from 7-10 p.m., is themed “Undersea Eleganza Extravaganza.”
Tickets are $12, and rides to the event will be provided by CAPSLO from the Santa Maria Library, Nipomo High School and the Arroyo Grande Marshall’s parking lot. Tickets and ride sign-ups can be found here.
Growing Together Fund Brunch at Bang the Drum
The Growing Together Fund Brunch, an annual fundraiser by the Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County, is happening June 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bang the Drum Brewery.
The event will include brunch, as well as a panel of trans youth sharing their personal experiences at school and in their community moderated by Cal Poly associate professor in Psychology and Child Development Dr. Jay Bettergarcia. Tickets are $50 and include the cost of brunch, a complimentary mimosa and the educational program, according to the Community Foundation’s website.
“We’ll have a chance to talk about some of their positive and negative experiences, what they wish others knew about trans youth and what brings them joy,” Bettergarcia said.
Bettergarcia is a licensed psychologist, professor, mentor and researcher with a private practice in the community.
They run the Queer Community Action, Research, Education and Support team (QCARES) on Cal Poly’s campus, as well. There, they conduct research on queer and transgender experiences with students, changemakers and members of the community.
Through QCARES, Bettergarcia conducted a 2019 local LGBTQ+ mental health needs assessment with support from the Growing Together initiative and the SLO County Behavioral Health Department. They also worked on The SLO ACCEPTance project, which used funds from the Mental Health Services Act to train more than 60 therapists in the county to adequately provide queer- and trans-affirming care.
“The goal,” as Bettergarcia said, “is for QCARES to continue creating opportunities for students, community members, and local leaders to engage in community healing and collective action through research, education and advocacy.”
Through events like the Growing Together Fund Brunch, Gala and Central Coast Pride work to foster spaces of celebration by bringing in diverse ranges of people, ensuring a wide variety of speakers and committed allies lead these important conversations, as JBird said.
“[Dr. Bettergarcia is] a beacon of light and hope in our community as far as I’m concerned,” Gala’s director of programming Serrin Ruggles said.
Also important to Gala and the Central Coast Pride Standing Committee, now led by Daniel Gomez, is the expansion of Pride to the areas surrounding San Luis Obispo County. Gala has expanded its reach with events like Atascadero Pride and Pride by the Sea Cambria, led by around 50 volunteers.
Tickets and more information can be found here.
Atascadero Pride at the Zoo Garden Event Center
Atascadero will celebrate Pride Month on June 16 at the Zoo Garden Event Center. “Family Day” will happen from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the “Grownup Evening” will be from 5-10 p.m., according to Gala’s website.
Queerwood at Beerwood & The Merrimaker in Los Osos
Celebrating Pride for the third year, the Los Osos restaurant Beerwood is gearing up to celebrate “Queerwood” on June 22. With vendors, games and performances, the event will welcome families from 12-7 p.m. and those 21+ at The Merrimaker at 7:30 p.m.
Swim with Pride at Sinsheimer Pool
Swim with Pride will be an “inclusive pool party” for the LGBTQIA+ and ally community at Sinsheimer Pool on June 29, according to the Central Coast Pride website.
“Do some laps, enjoy the fun obstacle course, jump off diving boards, experience the warm water pool or relax at the facility in a safe and friendly environment,” the website says.
An all-ages Family Swim will be held from 2-5 p.m. and an Adult Swim for those 18+ from 6-8 p.m.
Pride by the Sea at the Cambria Farmers Market
On June 30, Cambria will host its annual Pride by the Sea event featuring a drag brunch from 9-11 a.m. and an outdoor Farmers’ Market from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
