Celebrate Pride with the Library!
It's June, and that means it's time to celebrate Pride Month! We are excited to commemorate the diversity and resilience of our LGBTQIA+ community. At the Sonoma County Library, we believe in the power of stories - stories that represent us, inspire us, and unite us. As part of our Pride Month celebration, we're showcasing a collection of works that amplify LGBTQIA+ voices and experiences.
At the Sonoma County Library, we recognize the challenges that the LGBTQIA+ community across the country continues to face, from discrimination and inequality to the struggle for recognition and acceptance. We understand that these struggles are real, and they matter. That's why we're committed to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, not just during Pride Month, but every day of the year.
This year, we hosted a queer history program called 'Rainbows by the River' at the Guerneville Regional Library. We also participated in local events celebrating Trans Day of Visibility and supported Translife with their annual conference. We proudly participate in LGBTQIA+ events throughout the year, providing a safe and inclusive space for everyone.
We invite you to join us in this celebration and beyond. Whether you identify as LGBTQIA+ or as an ally, there’s a story here for you. Let’s stand together, learn from each other, and take pride in the beautiful tapestry of our community.
Happy Pride Month!
Books and More
Check out these recommended books our librarians have created for you:
Book Lists for Adults
Book Lists for Teens
- Queer Books for Teens
- Celebrate Trans and Gender Expansive Stories
- LGBTQIA+ Graphic Novels for Teens
Children’s Book Lists
Here + Queer, Sonoma County
Share your pride. Reclaim your history. Connect with your community.
Here + Queer, Sonoma County collects, archives, and amplifies the histories of Sonoma County’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) communities. Throughout history, LGBTQIA+ people have fought for equality, representation, and dignity in society.
Here + Queer strives to uncover the rich and dynamic stories of queer culture and activism, documenting the struggles and joys of queer life.
This project accepts digital content in the form of personal narratives, essays, anecdotes, photographs, creative works, audiovisual material, and more. The project actively seeks submissions from all ages and backgrounds, from all time periods in Sonoma County history. Anonymous submissions are supported, as well as submissions in English and Spanish.
Your stories will empower, enrich, and deepen our understanding of queer communities.
Upload & Share Your Experiences
Check out this recording of the Rainbows by the River event that took place earlier this year. The queer community shared its memories of West County, and we heard beautiful stories that will now be immortalized in the library’s digital archives!
Sonoma County Library Events
Everyone is invited to attend free library events and workshops.
* Registration required for select events.
Crafting with CreativeBug: Rainbow Painting*
Central Santa Rosa - (6/21)
Northwest Santa Rosa - (6/22)
Cloverdale - (6/25)
Using CreativeBug, we will collaborate on artwork to celebrate Pride and learn about the history of Pride month. Advanced registration is encouraged. (for Teens & Adults)
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir*
Virtual
"Gideon the Ninth" is a captivating fusion of necromancy and swordplay, following the adventurous Gideon Nav as she serves her necromancer mistress, Harrowhark Nonagesimus, through a labyrinthine gothic palace fraught with secrets and perilous powers.
Pride Book Club for Teens (Grades 9-12)
Sebastopol Regional Library
Sebastopol (6/28)
Meet with other teens to discuss books centering LGBTQIA+ voices! Free copies of the books will be available at the reference desk. Registration is encouraged but not required. Drop-ins are welcome. If you didn’t have time to read or finish the month’s book, you are still welcome to attend. Snacks will be provided. This is a safe and inclusive space, and all teens 9th-12th grade are welcome (including allies).
Sebastopol (6/18)
Join us for a community discussion on gender identity and understanding the transgender experience.
Visit your library in June to pick up a free Pronoun Keychain Kit. Each kit includes letter beads, a charm and a key ring (grades 7-12).
Family is a Rainbow
with author Maya Gonzalez
Rohnert Park Cotati (6/15)
Join us for a delightful celebration of inclusion and creativity at our family-friendly author event featuring Maya Gonzalez's empowering book, "The Gender and Infinity Book for Kids."
Call (707) 755-2050 to listen to a recording of your children’s librarians reading storybooks in both English and Spanish. This month’s titles will include books about LGBTQIA+ themes of inclusion and family and more.
Community Events and Partners
Sonoma County Pride
Saturday, June 1
Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa
Parade: 11:00am-12:00pm
Festival: 12:00pm-5:00pm
Watch us march in the parade and then visit our booth at the festival. We will have fun giveaways and the Library’s Library’s BiblioBus will be stocked full of LGBTQIA+ library materials for you to check out!
Visit the websites of our fantastic community partners for more events and resources for June and beyond!
