July 2025 Board Chair Letter
Wow! What an incredible month! June 2025 was a vibrant and inspiring month for Pride in Nevada County, filled with events that celebrated visibility, community, and joy across all of the region.
The month began on June 1 with the 5th Annual Pride Flag Raising in Nevada City. Community members gathered as the Pride flag was raised in a moving ceremony highlighted by songs from the cast of “Fun Home”, followed by the hanging of rainbow flags donated by Yubanet, throughout downtown. On June 8, the Pride Family Picnic brought more than 450 families, friends, and allies together at Condon Park in Grass Valley for an afternoon of barbecue, live music, face painting, and 17 community resource booths, with potluck dishes adding a delicious touch to the joyful day.
On June 10, the Grass Valley City Council formally recognized LGBTQ+ Pride Month with an official Proclamation for the second year, affirming the city’s commitment to inclusion and equity. Later that week, NC Pride had a table at the first of four weekly Grass Valley Thursday Night Market. Two weeks prior to that, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors made their first Pride Proclamation, joining Nevada City, Grass Valley and Town of Truckee.
June 21 was marked by two community events. Color Me Human’s Juneteenth Celebration brought residents together at Condon Park to honor Black liberation with music, shared meals, and cultural performances. That evening, Nevada County Pride hosted its monthly Potluck at a private residence, where more than 50 guests enjoyed a casual, welcoming space to connect over home-cooked food.
Sunday, June 22, Nevada City lit up with the Pride Block Party, featuring drag performances, DJ sets, and a dance party on Commercial Street. The evening wrapped with a 21+ after-party hosted by Curious, creating a full day of celebration and nightlife. Many thanks to Freddie and NC Queer Events for bringing this great event to the community for the second year.
Other events throughout June, hosted by community partners included: LGBTQ+ teens attending Camp Fruit Loop, the monthly Dyke Night on the patio at Gary’s on Mill Street in Grass Valley, the “Queer Reads” book club, Queer Bubble at the Caldron and a queer clothing swap. Lastly, Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital hosted EveryBody Belongs, an inclusive gathering that celebrated LGBTQ+ individuals and allies through art activities, music, and community-building experiences.
On June 26, BriarPatch Co-op hosted the 4th Annual Pride on the Patio, showcasing drag performances, LGBTQ+ community booths, food tastings, and giveaways that highlighted local talent and resources. In addition, June was the first time NC Pride was the recipient of BriarPatch’s “Round-Up at the Register” community program and we got close to $3000.00 in donations! Thanks community!
The month concluded on June 29 with Queer Movie Night at the Onyx Downtown in Nevada City, where close to 130 attendees (one of the largest Sunday night screenings!) enjoyed a screening of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, a cult-favorite queer musical that offered a powerful, emotional finale to the month’s celebrations.
Finally, we were proud to have Nevada City featured in the June National Geographic in an article: “How this Gold Rush Town Became an LGBTQ+ Haven for Travelers and Transplants”, telling the history of our LGBTQ+ community in this beautiful Gold Rush town we all call home.
Altogether, Pride Month 2025 in Nevada County was a beautiful demonstration of love, visibility, and solidarity—proof of a thriving LGBTQ+ community and our many allies.
We could not have done this without the leadership of the incredible NC Pride Board, a dedicated group of amazing volunteers, generous donors, and other community organizations who partner with us to make all this happen. We cannot THANK YOU enough!
Rick Partridge