In numbers alone, the Placer LGBTQ+ Center is much smaller, with no staff and only five board members, compared to the Sacramento LGBT Center’s two locations, staff of 32 and 10 board members.

Placer’s history with LGBTQ support

In recent years, Placer LGBTQ advocates have faced an increase in opposing forces.

In 2023, the Landing Spot, a student support group run by Pastor Casey Tinnin from Basin Congregational United Church of Christ in Loomis, faced backlash surrounding a drag show fundraiser they planned to host at Roseville High School.

After Roseville Joint Union High School District officials reported receiving over 2,000 emails of expressed concerns, they canceled the drag show.

Roseville Joint Union cut ties with Tinnin after a video went viral showing him speaking about LGBTQ support groups. The video was recorded secretly by conservative group Project Veritas; Tinnin says his words were taken out of context, and that the video led to him receiving death threats.

The Landing Spot has been a support group for LGBTQ youth since 2016, when Tinnin said he recognized a lack of resources and knowledge within Placer County’s Christian community. Their annual drag show raises money for Camp Fruit Loop, a camp for LGBTQ youth.

When Pastor Tinnin and the church received threats, Kai said many were upset and scared — to the point that they left the church or stopped sending their children to group meetings.

“They weren’t sure, if they send their kids there, if their kid is going to come back unharmed,” Kai said. “Not because of the people who run the Landing Spot but because of the threats that we were getting.”

Zimmerman said since then, she has noticed it is more difficult to get resources to students and cultivate safe spaces on campuses.

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