Danville To Host Third Annual Valley Pride Celebration Saturday

DANVILLE, CA — The town of Danville is partnering with the Danville Congregational church and a number of local advocacy groups to present the third annual Valley Pride celebration, which will take place Saturday at the Danville Town Green.

The event will begin at 10 a.m. with a Community Resource Fair, which will feature booths from local organizations, nonprofits, and service providers offering resources, information, and opportunities supporting families, students, and the wider community.

From 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., guests can enjoy a picnic lunch, live music, and family-friendly activities such as much, children's art, and visiting animals. At noon, local leaders will convene for a flag-raising ceremony and speeches. Speakers include:

• Danville Mayor Newell Arnerich
• SRVUSD Board of Education Member Laura Bratt
• PFLAG Danville-San Ramon Valley President Anu Gupta
• Danville Congregational Church Pastor Todd Atkins-Whitley
• Hong Nguyen of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District
• Danville Poet Laureate Elaine Betts
• San Ramon Poet Laureate Jaz Sufi

Following the ceremony, Kenan Arun, the executive director of the LGBT Asylum Project and the 2025 Grand Marshall of San Francisco Pride, will deliver a keynote address entitled "Defending Hope in an Era of Closing Doors."

This will be followed by a flashmob dance from T&D Dance Academy, another keynote address from Sofia S. Rios Dorantes, deputy director of El/La Para TransLatinas in San Francisco, a book reading from author M.D. Neo, a talk from psychologist Layla Farsi entitled "Mental Health in LGBTQ+ Lives", an LGBTQIA+ trivia contest, and a speech from e keufner of the Discovery Counseling Center entitled "Intersectionality and Identity."

See here for more information about the many activities.

Valley Pride is organized by volunteers at the Danville Congregational Church, PFLAG Danville-San Ramon Valley, the San Ramon Valley Diversity Coalition, and the Discovery Counseling Center.

All five Tri-Valley cities have raised the Progress Pride flag during Pride Month this year.