Kathryn Sears
Wearing rainbow-colored shirts, socks, pants and even hair, people of all ages moved easily on a breezy Saturday afternoon through Martinez’s Waterfront Park, which was decorated for the Fourth annual Pride in Martinez.
More than 50 organizations set up tables in the park on the banks of the Carquinez Strait. Artists and artisans sold handmade art and jewelry. Food trucks dished up pizza and quesabirria tacos, the seasoned aroma filling the air. And ice cream vendors walked the perimeter, ringing bells to draw the attention of children, as well as adults with a sweet tooth.
Organizers say about 800 people gathered under a warm sun, spilling in from all sides of the park.
“Martinez definitely has a small town feel,” said Pride in Martinez lead coordinator Sarah Tucker. “There’s an older side of Martinez that is considerably more conservative, and a lot of young families have moved here in the past 10 to 15 years.”
Sacramento-based Trans poet Merciless Rei Tanq performed several original poems on the main stage to kick off the event, including “We Come from Rebel Blood,” a piece she said has largely been banned on major platforms. Several dozen people listened intently, many recording the reading for posterity on their phones.
“I love attending smaller town pride events,” said Tanq, who came out as a trans woman roughly 10 years ago while living in Ohio. “I almost feel like they’re a little more important than bigger events, because here, my bright hair and clothes still kind of stand out. So these small conservative-ish towns hosting pride, that’s exactly where I belong.”
Author Wayne Goodman, a member of the Bay Area Queer Writers Association, has attended Pride in Martinez for the past two years. The association allows authors to sell books at its table. It also puts together a yearly anthology with members’ submissions, donating sales proceeds to charity. This year, the charity is Open House SF, which assists LGBTQ seniors in San Francisco.
“Pride is great because we get to go out and meet other queer writers and recruit,” Goodman said. “We’re trying to grow an online queer reading and writing experience and share feedback.”
Pride in Martinez is designed as a safe and welcoming space for all. It is sponsored and supported by the city, through a cultural grant.
“We’re always happy to come out and support the community,” Pride in Martinez volunteer Chappie Davyikin said. “We do this for the children and for the adults who never had a chance to fully enjoy their childhood due to stigmatization and criminalization.”
With gloved hands, litter-pickers and trash bags, Pinole volunteers clean up the coastline
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