Sonoma LGBT seniors host tea dance and mixer

Sonoma Valley’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual senior group gathers monthly for discussion groups and walking groups. Local advocate Gary Shepard launched a tradition of regular tea dances for the group in 2009, thanks to a grant from Spectrum, the North Bay Center for LGBT Concerns..

“When Gary died in 2012, several of us volunteered to keep the group going,” said Gary “Buz” Hermes. “We continue to meet once a month on the third Friday from 10 a.m. to noon at Vintage House for a discussion group. In addition, we have walks, lunches, holiday parties, theater trips and other events. We have about 100 on our mailing list and get 20 to 30 at our monthly discussion groups.” Hermes says that each month there is a new topic, but “mostly we share our unique histories and our aging challenges as LGBT elders.” There are no age requirements but most people in the group are in their 60s, 70s and 80s.

The group has been very active in recently months, and even partnered with the Sonoma Valley High Gay Straight Alliance to march in the 4th of July parade. On Thursday, Sept. 29, the group invites all older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual adults to a mixer on from 4 to 6 p.m. at Rossi’s 1906 Smokehouse and Dancehall on Riverside Drive at Grove Street.

Dance music will be provided by DJ Maxx of Maxmuzik Productions, and there will be a no-host bar and no cover charge.

For more information, call Hermes at 227-6935.