Pride-themed banners will hang above the streets of Solvang thanks to The Rainbow House Inc., ending a months-long push against community backlash.
Since the City Council approved the banners, people from all over California have poured out their support for Solvang’s queer community through financial donations and letters to the nonprofit and the City Council, said Matt Cavalli, co-founder of The Rainbow House.
“We feel absolutely wonderful; [the banners] are beautiful. I think it will be cool to see them around town to see a splash of love,” Matt said. “It speaks to what Solvang is and when everybody sees them, they will understand what they say. We are excited to get them up and see them out.”
In its first year as an official nonprofit, The Rainbow House. has hosted a variety of Pride events during June, including a bike ride through Solvang, a community “werkshop” to learn about Pride’s history and importance; and a paint and sip event. To close out the month, the nonprofit is hosting a Drag Brunch on June 24 at the Craft House at Corque, said Kiel Cavalli, The Rainbow House co-founder.
The 21-and-older event will feature Morgan McMichaels and Mayhem Miller from RuPaul’s Drag Race, Lady Gaga impersonator Judas Joe Manson, and LA-based queen Moni Stat will be the brunch’s emcee.
“We are using this as our big fundraiser for the year, and it really is just a time to celebrate what Pride means to us—which is just an opportunity to showcase the artistry of what being queer can be, and we really want to drive home that drag is not a crime,” Kiel said. “It’s art in itself and a beautiful expression.”
The Rainbow House wants to sell about 300 tickets and was about halfway there as of June 8. People can purchase either general admission or VIP tickets, Kiel added. VIPs will get a signature cocktail upon entry, premium seating for the drag show, and a meet-and-greet with select queens, he said. The Rainbow House hopes to raise $50,000 and had already received $15,000 from a private donor.
For more family-friendly opportunities to support The Rainbow House, the nonprofit is closing out the SYV Pride Parade on June 24 with a 12-by-15-foot flag that will end at the festival in Hans Christian Andersen Park.
Following Pride Month, The Rainbow House plans to hold free “werkshops” to educate residents about the LGBTQ-plus community, and is planning future queer social events at Rock 12 Distillery.
“We will tailor the workshops to what is happening within our community, the trans community, the drag community, the deaf community—there’s a lot to cover, but we want to do one a month,” Kiel said.
For those who can’t attend the brunch but want to contribute financially, The Rainbow House launched a line of merchandise with each item specifically benefitting one aspect of the nonprofit’s mission, he said.
“We really want to showcase where individuals’ finances are going and be very transparent,” Kiel said. “We want people to know without a doubt where it’s going, and they’re really fun, unique opportunities.”
Buying a hat will help fund sexual health kits, which include masks, Narcan nasal spray, thermometers, tampons, latex gloves, condoms, lubricant, pregnancy tests, and an informational pamphlet on additional resources, he said. People can pick up the kits with no questions asked.
T-shirt purchases will go toward workshops and general funds, and kids T-shirts will specifically benefit The Rainbow House’s initiative to get LGBTQ-plus books in local schools, Kiel said. Drag Brunch funds will also go toward the workshops and sexual health kits.
“I want us moving forward to really—and this was more self-reflective—to self-check what initiatives we are putting forward and that we stick to what we are asking for,” Kiel added. “It’s tough to say, but I think for a long time we’ve been asked to compromise in what we do and other people are not, and now it’s that equity piece that comes into play.”
As of June 8, The Rainbow House was looking for an American Sign Language interpreter to work the Drag Brunch. Email allwelcome@therainbowhouseinc.com or call (805) 697-6350 if interested.
Highlight
• The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department is inviting local artists to participate in an opportunity to enhance up to 15 traffic signal control boxes by creating captivating and inspiring imagery. Artwork that reflects the social, cultural, and historical identity of the area will be particularly valued. To be eligible, artists must be 18 or older and from Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo counties. Artists will earn a stipend of $1,000 and receive up to $250 in reimbursements for material costs. Artists must submit their application packet by 5 p.m. on Friday, July 7. Download the application and “Box Art” design template at cityofsantamaria.org/recreation.
Reach Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor at toconnor@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jun 15-25, 2023.