Novato Holds Inaugural Pride Celebration

NOVATO, CA — Novato will hold its inaugural pride celebration, city officials said Tuesday.

Novato’s recognition of June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month will feature virtual festivities and social media campaigns in acknowledgement of the month-long celebration.

The city launched its Pride celebration by flying rainbow Pride flags on the flagpoles at City Hall and the Novato Police Department.

The celebration will include a special Virtual Storytime series held on the first three Saturdays in June, in collaboration with Copperfield’s Books, featuring children’s stories themed around celebrating Pride, inclusion and our LGBTQ+ community.

Novato will also host a virtual Pride Speaker Event on June 16, in partnership with the Spahr Center as well as Novato High School’s Sexuality and Gender Acceptance Club and San Marin High School’s Gay-Straight Alliance, which will feature a panel of local LGBTQ+ advocates discussing topics around community allyship and inclusivity.

Additional event details are available on Novato’s online calendar.

“We’re excited and proud to officially recognize and celebrate Pride Month with our community for the first time ever,” Assistant City Manager Jessica Deakyne said in a statement.

“Although we had hoped to be able to celebrate in person, we are thrilled to be able to provide virtual opportunities for all ages to celebrate safely. Novato is a community that welcomes people from all walks of life and supports cultural acceptance. We hope to keep the celebration going and come back next year with out first ever Pride event in person!”

Novato will feature new Pride versions of the City and Novato Proud logos on its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and will be promoting content designed to educate, as well as celebrate its LGBTQ+ community, while also encouraging engagement throughout the month, city officials said.

“Novato’s Inaugural Pride Celebration would not be possible without the support of our community, the Novato City Council, Multicultural Advisory Commission, student representatives from both Novato and San Marin High School, and City staff,” city officials said in a statement.