Celebrate the holiday with your LGBTQ+ family. A joint effort by your South Bay LGBTQ+ Organizations: BAYMEC, Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Silicon Valley, Rainbow Chamber Silicon Valley, The Silicon Valley Rainbow Rotary Club, The Silicon Valley Stonewall Democrats Club and Silicon Valley PRIDE

We ask attendees to bring donated items for Stand Up for Kids Silicon Valley's wishlist:

https://www.standupforkids.org/siliconvalley/wishlist

Event Schedule:

6pm to 7pm: Networking

7pm to 8:30pm: Speeches and entertainment

8:30 to 10pm: Networking continues

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Jose can be reached by public transit via VTA Light Rail, Metro/Airport Station. Paid parking available.

All ages welcome. This is a free event but RSVP is required

HOST COMMITTEES

BAYMEC

The Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee (BAYMEC) is a four-county lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) political action committee (PAC). It has been advocating for the civil rights of LGBT people since 1984. It is the only political action committee dedicated to this purpose in the central coast counties of San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Monterey. BAYMEC is governed by a Board of Directors and is supported solely through private contributions.

The organization’s purpose is to lobby and fight for LGBT civil rights. BAYMEC has raised its concerns with countless politicians; worked to elect LGBT people and supportive allies to political offices; lobbied Sacramento and the state on AIDS and LGBT civil rights; and worked with police, fire department, governmental, organizational, and a variety of community groups to further equality for LGBTs. However, perhaps one of BAYMEC’s greatest accomplishments is ongoing: It provides an experienced, broad-based, and coherent political voice for the LGBT community.

In the conduct of its business, BAYMEC sends out questionnaires to candidates for public office, the questionnaires include a number of questions regarding issues of immediate import to the LGBT community. The returned candidate questionnaires are reviewed to establish a priorities list for candidates, their positions on LGBT and social justice issues, their immediate chances to win the race, and to develop a judgment on the resources that will be extended to the candidate by BAYMEC.

BAYMEC board members and associates meet with and educate candidates and elected officials; publish an endorsement card for BAYMEC supporters, donors and the gay press; raise funds and develop volunteers for gay-friendly candidates; and help educate the community about candidates and their commitment to those issues that affect LGBT individuals, their families, and the community at large.

BAYMEC partners with other constituencies, minority associations and labor unions to build understanding and common effort on equal justice issues. BAYMEC also maintains a practiced visibility at political functions held by other groups and organizations, and has two annual fundraisers, one in San José and one in the Monterey Bay area, in which candidates and elected officials participate as attendees and, alongside outstanding volunteers in the LGBT community, honorees.

BILLY DEFRANK LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY CENTER

The Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center opened its doors on March 1, 1981 in a two-room storefront on Keyes St. in south downtown San Jose. A year earlier, the DeFrank Center's founders had watched with concern as Santa Clara County residents voted to repeal ordinances extending housing and employment protections to lesbians and gay men.

The new DeFrank Center emerged from a desire to respond to this setback. As its first visitors entered they crossed the threshold to a new era of possibility for the gay and lesbian community of the South Bay, and they celebrated an important victory. Since then, the DeFrank Center has continued to inspire purposeful action and ensure a safe place to gather for all in our community.

More than two decades have passed since those modest beginnings on Keyes St. Today the Billy DeFrank Center serves a large and diverse community. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of all ages and backgrounds find resources at the Center that are not available elsewhere.

Each month over a thousand people visit us at our current quarters on The Alameda, and many more call our Information & Resources telephone number. From as far north as Foster City and as far south as Gilroy, people visit and call seeking information, support and services.

Our mission is to provide a broad array of opportunities and programs, a dedicated and caring staff, a corps of volunteers, and a spirit of community that celebrates the many facets of our broad-based Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender constituency.

While the DeFrank Center's history is only a little more than half the age of the Stonewall events, our movement is fueled by the events of that time. William Price (Billy DeFrank) knew it and his legacy remains a call to action for our community to continue his important work. We continue to fight for our rights, advance liberty and justice for all and provide opportunities for positive social identification. The DeFrank Center is “a place to call home.”

HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN (HRC) SILICON VALLEY

As the largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans, the Human Rights Campaign represents a force of more than 3 million members and supporters nationwide — all committed to making HRC's vision a reality.

HRC envisions a world where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

RAINBOW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SILICON VALLEY

Established in 1999 to give exposure to the LGBT business community, the Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley is the largest not-for-profit corporation in greater Silicon Valley for LGBT businesses comprised of LGBT and LGBT-supportive business owners and professionals.

With over 100 members the Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley has continued to grow and develop member benefits to serve the needs of our dynamic membership. Led by a strong visionary Board of Directors the Chamber has boldly transformed from a grass roots coalition into a polished, professional business association.

THE SILICON VALLEY RAINBOW ROTARY CLUB

The Silicon Valley Rainbow Rotary Club aims to create a diverse and inclusive organization of LGBTQ+ and ally members.

While we work towards inspiring more like minds of all pronouns, races, and talents to join our group, we endeavor to achieve goals similar to those of San Francisco Castro Rotary Club, another LGBTQ+ Rotary club.

We will inspire joy through service by being responsive community leaders. We will have fun doing service projects and will be an inviting club to join. We will utilize our time, talent and treasures to bring awareness and resolution to issues surrounding the LGBTQ+ community including, but not limited to, homelessness, aging and marginalization. We will work to help end human trafficking and LGBTQ+ discrimination within our community and abroad.

THE SILICON VALLEY STONEWALL DEMOCRATS CLUB

SVSDC STATEMENT OF PURPOSE The purpose of this club shall be to represent the LGBTQ+ community within the Santa Clara County Democratic Party. To foster democratic ideals by stimulating active interest in the Democratic Party through education and mentoring, to support the party platform, contribute to party leadership and responsibility, to provide a constructive role for the volunteer in Democratic politics, and to promote an activist base. To vet potential candidates and legislation to ensure that they are in line with the platform of the club. We welcome all to our open meetings, and to apply to join our club.