Gay by Nature - Sonoma County Pride 2012

“GAY BY NATURE” the Sonoma County Pride Parade and Celebration will take place on the lush, grassy riverfront meadows of Guerneville Lodge on Sunday June 3, 2012. This year’s entertainment line-up features a mix of entertainment styles such as Safety Orange, a high energy surf music band comfortable with many different musical styles; the sexy sultry experimental sound of Audrey Howard & the Misters; surfer band, The Del Mars; Finding Stella, a popular band playing and touring for over ten years; electronic primitivism by Adonisaurus; Sonoma County favorite, Society’s Child captures the Bay Area sound; Tehya a band with diverse influences spanning the 50s through today; and Bobby Jo Valentine, a gorgeously talented local singer/songwriter.

The Pride Planning Committee is also pleased to announce this year’s Mistress of Ceremonies… Sister Sara Femme Fatale!!  Sister Sara is a charismatic veteran MC of events such as Russian River Sisters’ bingo, Russian River Women’s Weekend and the Benefit for the Boob series of breast cancer fundraisers now entering its sixth year in San Francisco, and she is excitedly looking forward serving as MC at this family-friendly event. 

The Pride parade will begin at 11am and run west to east down Main Street in Guerneville. Festivities will transfer down the street to the celebration site, Guerneville Lodge located at 15905 River Rod in Guerneville. The Sonoma County Pride Planning Committee has been hard at work searching for entertainment and has a wonderful lineup of entertainment for this year’s festival. Eight vibrant and high-energy entertainers have been selected this year, they are:

Adonisaurus: Adonisaurus twiddles knobs and makes beats in the name of sexy, electronic primitivism. With each song, they build infectious drum beats, dressed with the stark energy of their lyrics. The duo’s style is substantial and through their process and performance, Adonisaurus will fossilize all preconceived notions of electronica. http://www.adonisaurus.com

Audrey Howard and the Misters: Audrey Howard & The Misters, is a four-piece band based in San Francisco, California. Citing influences such as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Pretenders, and PJ Harvey, Audrey Howard & The Misters have created a sexy, sultry, experimental sound the likes of which most listeners have never heard. http://www.audreyhoward.net/

Bobby Jo Valentine: Bobby Jo Valentine is an award-winning singer/songwriter currently residing and touring around the coast of CA. His warm, accessible melodies and often-profound lyrics have developed a following around the nation. In August of 2011, a song from the album, “Fly” won Song of the Year at West Coast Songwriter’s Association. http://www.bobbyjovalentine.com/

The Del Mars:  The Del Mars have been bringing the Beach to the Bay Area for the past ten years. They are a high-energy, dance-oriented surf band with world music influences. http://www.myspace.com/thedelmarssurfband

Finding Stella: Finding Stella (think about the spirit of Janis Joplin), is a 5-piece pop/rock band, fronted by 2 lesbians, that has been playing & touring for over 10 years. Finding Stella delivers the classic rock and pop spirit of the 70’s and 80’s and throws in a newer, warmer rock quality that draws huge crowds. http://www.findingstella.com/

Tehya: Tehya has been performing in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2003. Over the years they have been called a great fun band that keeps everybody on their feet & moving. Their music is diverse and covers Classic rock, R&B, Blues from the 1950’s through today. http://www.tehyaband.com

Safety Orange. The Band was started as a fun after-surf activity by surfing buddies, named after a surfboard, and still keeps that surf vibe alive to this day. Through the years the band has changed lineups, but the music has always stayed true to the original fun beach vibe. Beach Rock Reggae! Safety Orange’s music is a blend of rock, reggae, rap, punk, ska and anything else that you love to rock out to. http://www.reverbnation.com/safetyorange#

Society’s Child.  Society’s Child has been performing for over 15 years. With Mike Whitley on bass, this original rock trio captures the Bay Area sound with their mix of hard rock & blues and is reminiscent of Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Heart & Fleetwood Mac. Http://www.childrock.com

As in previous years, there will be a full line-up of family-oriented games and activities with a dunk-tank and a jumpy house, and Pride 2012 will see the return of Lilith’s Lounge, the Radical Faerie Freedom Village, and the Pride in Wine Country Terrace will feature six outstanding Sonoma County wineries. Pouring at Pride are: Paul Mathew Vineyards; Hart’s Desire; Moshin Vineyards; Raymond Burr; Bjornstad Cellars; de la Montanya. 

A Commitment & Re-commitment Ceremony will be held at the Sonoma County Pride Celebration. Couples will gather at the Ceremony Sign located at the patio of Guerneville Lodge at 3pm. The ceremony gives couples the opportunity to pledge their commitment to each other publicly before friends and family. The ceremony will be conducted en masse, but you will have a moment to exchange vows or a token of your love privately together. Friends and family are welcome to attend, and commemorative certificates will be available for each couple. There is no cost or pre-registration for this event. Just show up! See website for more details: http://www.sonomacountypride.org/commitmentceremony.html

The Sisters’ Sonoma County Pride Planning Committee is actively seeking parade entries and vendors for the arts & crafts area. Non-profits and businesses wishing to participate in Sonoma County Pride 2012 should go to the Pride website http://www.sonomacountypride.org/ for the vendors/exhibitors application form.

The Pride committee has planned a series of fundraisers to cover the expenses associated with mounting the day-long event. Upcoming events include “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”,  a baseball-themed themed Give-Back Tuesday at the Rainbow Cattle Company on May 22^nd and what should prove to be a riotously amusing variety show, SoCo Talent Idol on June 2^nd at the R3Hotel (formerly the Russian River Resort). SoCo Talent Idol is the novice project of Novice Sister Yoda Layheeehooo of the Russian River Sisters. A successful novice project is a requirement for advancement to fully professed status. Auditions are planned for Tuesday May 15^th and 16^th. Visit the Sisters site for more information about the show: http://www.rrsisters.org

The 6^th Annual Pride Interfaith Service - Gay By Nature will conclude the 2012 Sonoma County Pride Parade & Celebration week. The service will be held on: June 10, 2012, 7pm-8:15pm at Christ Church United Methodist, 1717 Yulupa Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95405. The service will bring together religious leaders and musicians from diverse religious traditions within Sonoma county who will join in unity to acknowledge and celebrate the spiritual presence found in every Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Intersex, Questioning and Straight person.

Organized by the Russian River Sisters’ Sonoma County Pride Planning Committee, the 2012 events will feature more GLITTER, more GLAM and more INDULGENCE!  Pride Chair, Sister Scarlet Billows said, “we really need the community to get involved if we are to craft an event that captures the essence of LGBTQI life in Sonoma County. We hope to see many more community members at the next planning meetings on the 21^st and the 28^th”. For more information or to volunteer your services, visit the Sonoma County Pride website: http://www.sonomacountypride.org or email info@sonomacountypride.org.

Submitted by Mary Agneberg