Five monthly meetups!
2025 was a great second year for LGBTQ Merced! While trans and queer rights are attack across the country daily, we take refuge in creating spaces of pure, queer joy. We had 5 monthly events happening in 2025! We provided over 150 free pizza lunches to our queer community, and held monthly board game and arts and crafts meetups.
Currently, our board game meetup and trans meetups are on hold, as we search for alternate spaces and a few more facilitators. Please connect with us at our monthly Community Organizing Meetings if you would like to help host events! We also in great need of people to join our Leadership Team. Please join us if you have some skills you would like to share in promoting queer joy and resilience in your local community. An join us for our newest meetup, our Silent Book Club, open to all, including allies.
Central Valley ‘Zine Fest
In 2025, we co-created and organized the first Central Valley ‘Zine Fest with Red Sky Comics! The event brought together local and worldwide talent showcasing independent publishers and artists.
What are ‘zines? “‘Zine” is short for magazine, and means any small book or pamphlet, usually photocopied, that a writer or artist creates. They can feature poetry, recipes, drawings, dreams, or revolutionary thought. ‘Zines are as old as the printing press, and drove both the American and French Revolutions. They foster community, literacy, creativity, and more, for all ages.
LGBTQ Merced members also are available to host ‘zine making events. In 2025, we presented a ‘zine making class at UC Merced’s Solidarity Con.
LGBTQ+ education
LGBTQ Merced also provided LGBTQ+ focused cultural competency and primary care basics education to medical students through UC Merced’s SJV Prime program. Part of our presentation gathered panel discussions featuring local community members who have experienced stigma and difficulty accessing medical care. The positive response from students and staff was overwhelming. We look forward to continuing to provide innovative educational opportunities like this in 2026.
We also hosted a ‘zine making event at Solidarity Con at UC Merced. We look forward to bring more ‘zine making events in partnership with local schools, libraries and more.
Radical Resource Library
This year, we have also partnered with Coffee Bandits and other local organizations to create a free Radical Resource Library. ‘Zines and books can be shared by any community member. Visit Coffee Bandits, and check out our shelf immediately to your left. Please read while enjoying your beverage in Coffee Bandits, don’t take!
Tabling at events
LGBTQ Merced also tabled at events with community partners, such as for UC Merced’s Pride Week, Solidarity Con, and The Central California Alliance for Health’ Community Health Fair. We share community resources and provide personalized health and mental health referrals to Merced locals.
Looking forward to exciting things that are buildling for 2026. Stay tuned to our socials, and join us on Discord to stay updated. Our Discord community also schedules meetups and get-togethers. Come build community with us.
Please reach out to us via our contact form for any questions.
