Category Archives: Community
LGBTQ Palm Springs City Council
I first came to Palm Springs in the late 90’s…it was already a gay getaway in the desert with lots of LGBT businesses.
Over the years it has GROWN! I have had so many friends move here! And now the entire city council is LGBTQ!~
Local Government Elects All-LGBTQ City Council
A California city council made history Tuesday night, when voters added two more LGBTQ politicians—making the entire five-person body comprised of LGBTQ membes for the first time. Lisa Middleton, a transgender woman, and Christy Holstege, who identifies as bisexual, won seats on the Palm Springs City Council, joining three current councilmembers, Geoff Kors, J.R. Roberts and…
Seniors Give Gay Advice
You Tube sensation Davey Wavey chatted with Seniors recently and the gay history and advice to young people.
LGBT Community Center of the Desert.
611 South Palm Canyon Dr, Ste 201 Palm Springs, CA 92264
760.416.7790
Palm Springs Gay Pride
.Palm Springs Pride 2014, Nov. 7-9, is offering free festival admission as it moves to a new location in downtown Palm Springs.
PS Pride will also introduce a new parade route and is offering an unprecedented number of performers and attractions with a diverse lineup of performers gathered to celebrate equality, freedom and diversity in the desert’s LGBT community.
Parties Parties Parties! Beach Party, 5k Walk, Pool Parties, ladies parties – it’s all here this year!
Music, celebrities and more!
GET THE WHOLE SCHEDULE HERE
Palm Springs Gay Pride
Provincetown sensation Miss Richfield 1981 headlines Pride Weekend at Purple Room Restaurant and Stage in Palm Springs with her new show Play With My Poodle for two performances only, Friday, November 7 and Saturday, November 8. Also performing Pride Weekend will be award-winning singer-songwriter Bobby Jo Valentine on Thursday, November 6 and Michael Holmes in his hysterical parody The Judy Show on Sunday, Nov 9.
Miss Richfield 1981’s live performances have received critical acclaim, with The New York Post declaring the show “the must-see act in Provincetown.” A P-town icon, Miss Richfield 1981 has been performing there for the past 12 summers and fills the Paramount Theater at the Crown & Anchor nightly.
Many have seen Miss Richfield 1981 in the TV ads for Orbitz online travel and on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Miss Richfield has also appeared on Today on NBC, Cake Boss on TLC, and Weekends With Samantha Brown on Travel Channel. She tours nationally and sells out shows in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Atlanta, South Florida and Minneapolis. She is also television spokesperson for the City of Philadelphia.
Her new show, Play With My Poodle, is a truly original performance and leaves audiences in hysterics with its off-the-page humor, twisted sing-alongs and audience interaction.
The Miss Richfield 1981 show starts at 7:00pm. Tickets for the show are $25 and are available at www.purpleroompalmsprings.com or by calling 760.322.4422.
Kicking off Pride Weekend at Purple Room on Thursday, November 6, will be singer and recently named “Songwriter of the Year” by the West Coast Songwriter’s Association Bobby Jo Valentine with his brand of hopeful folk/pop and infectious vocal melodies. San Francisco area-based Valentine’s music was featured in the television commercial for the 2013 Ford Fusion.
A master lyricist, Valentine also received two West Coast Songwriters Association “Best Song” awards for his songs Somedays and Fly, both on his new album, A Place to Belong. Valentine’s other two albums are Home and By My Side.
Alexa Spieler of A-List Music gives Valentine 5 out of 5 stars and writes, “If Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz and Regina Spektor combined forces, you would have Bobby Jo Valentine. Soulful and uplifting, soothing and calming, Valentine’s music is the perfect blend of indie and modern pop/rock.
“Witty wordplay, clever melodies…the nicest guy to ever pick up an acoustic guitar,” saysLA WEEKLY
The Bobby Jo Valentine show starts at 7:30pm, Tickets for the show are $15 and are available at www.purpleroompalmsprings.com or by calling 760.322.4422.
Michael Holmes’ Hilarious The Judy Show, Sunday, November 9
The fun Pride Weekend entertainment continues on Sunday, November 9 with Michael Holmes’ The Judy Show. The spirit of Judy Garland is alive and well in this blend of hysterical comedy and outstanding music that explodes into an evening of nonstop belly laughs, glamour and high camp. With a killer wardrobe and razor-sharp wit, Holmes plays and nails them all, singing your favorite songs and thrilling the audience with charm, zingers and stories. The Judy Show’s guests are always changing, so audiences never know who will surprise and delight them on stage on any given evening. Be on the lookout for Carol Channing, Mae West, Bette Davis, Katherine Hepburn, Pearl Bailey, Peggy Lee and Tallulah Bankhead.
The Judy Show starts at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for the show are $20 and are available at www.purpleroompalmsprings.com or by calling 760.322.4422.
Palm Springs Gay Pride and Parade to be moved this Fall
Pride in Palm Springs will never be the same. We’ve worked several years to get to this point and on Wednesday night the Palm Springs City Council unanimously approved moving the Pride Festival to Palm Canyon Dr. in Downtown.
This year’s event logo featuring the palm tree lined Palm Canyon Drive leading directly to Palm Springs Pride couldn’t be more fitting. We are beyond thrilled with the news.
The road would close at 11 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, and reopen at 3 a.m. Monday, Nov. 10.
Additional road closures would be held for the Pride Parade, which will be held on Nov. 9.
Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet said the event has a “fabulous, wonderful energy” and that it would inevitably provide a boost to the city’s shops and restaurants.
“The move downtown will have a bigger impact than we realize,” Pougnet said.
Jeffery Sanker Announces ICON Awards
In celebration of his 25th Anniversary, White Party Founder and Producer Jeffrey Sanker has created the WHITE PARTY PALM SPRINGS ICON AWARDS. These awards recognize a select group whose unique and varied achievements have stood out and best embody the spirit of White Party.
“We are thrilled to present our special Icon Awards to individuals who have exemplified White Party’s defining principles of unity & celebration, commitment to excellence and leading edge creativity,” said Sanker. “I look forward to presenting those attending recipients their awards on the White Carpet at this year’s Saturday main event.”
WHITE PARTY PALM SPRINGS ICON AWARD RECIPIENTS INCLUDE:
ARTIST:
Carmen Electra- Artist, Activist
Cher- Pioneer for LGBT Community; Activist
Jai Rodriguez- Actor, Activist
Kathy Griffin- Comedienne, Philanthropist, Activist
Lady Gaga- Pioneer for LGBT Community, Philanthropist, Activist
Lance Bass- Actor, Activist
PHILANTHROPIST:
Aaron Walton- Philanthropist, Activist
Bryan Singer- Director, Activist
David Cooley- Founder of Abbey, Philanthropist
Fred Arens & Jason Duguay- Philanthropist, Activist
Roland Emmerich- Director, Philanthropist
Sir Elton John & David Furnish- Philanthropist, Activist
ACTIVIST:
Adam Bouska & Jeff Parshley- NoH8 Campaign, Activist
Bruce Vilanch- Actor, Writer, Activist
Lisa Vanderpump- Reality Star, Activist
Paul Katami & Jeff Zarrillo- Prop 8 Activists
Ron Oden- Former Mayor of PS, Activist
Ronnie Kroell- Activist
Todd Saporito- Philanthropist, Activist
PIONEER:
Andy Cohen- BRAVO TV personality, Activist
Candis Cayne- Pioneer of LGBT Community, Activist
David Stern- Former Publisher of Frontiers, Activist
DJ Abel Aguilera- Deejay, Activist
Reza Farahan – BRAVO TV personality, Pioneer of LGBT Community
Congratulations to all WHITE PARTY PALM SPRINGS ICON AWARDS recipients!
Sanker announced this year’s 25th Anniversary plans include a completely redesigned White Party, boasting the most innovative and elaborate video displays ever experienced. Chart-topping remix production team BENT COLLECTIVE (Danny Verde & Steven Redant) will also make their live DJ performance debut. And media sponsor SiriusXM is on board to broadcast on-site from the Convention Center White Carpet for this historic event.
White Party will also offer lots of new photo opportunities, such as Instagram “selfie moments” and a special photo set up where groups can get instant pics emailed for free.
Additionally, to benefit DESERT AIDS PROJECT and fund raising auction efforts, Sanker has enlisted the talents of internationally recognized conceptual photographer Duke Shoman to create beautiful, striking photographic tableaus. In keeping with the WPPS 25th “Silver Anniversary” theme, a sleek, sexy and modern chamber of shining, brilliant silver will be the setting that stars and VIP guest will step into – following their arrival on the White Carpet – to commemorate this twenty-five year milestone.
The following afternoon, at the Sunday T-Dance, you can double your pleasure with two giant 100 foot high Ferris wheels, and the day will culminate with the biggest fireworks display in White Party history, choreographed to the music of DJ/Producer Wayne G.
Sanker also revealed the exciting new addition of Uber as the official transportation provider for White Party. Why drive when you can Uber? Services will be available all weekend long for White Party attendees. Uber lounge stations will be set up at White Party locations manned by special Uber concierges. Uber will also have stretch limos for White Party guests to get around in style. New users can download the app and enter the code WP25 for a free first ride! Sign up at: www.uber.com/GO/WP25. Both new and existing users can also enter the code whiteparty to unlock a flat rate from LA to Palm Springs and back!
White Party Palm Springs is the largest gay dance music festival in the world, celebrating its 25th Anniversary April 25-28, 2014. For more information, hotel reservations and tickets, visit: www.jeffreysanker.com.
FALL in Beautiful Palm Springs
Gay Palm Springs is getting ready for fall fun!
celebrates Pride the following Saturday and Sunday, November 3-4.
Desert Pride follows the next weekend, November 8-11.
For Halloween, a street party and costume contest takes place on Arenas
Road, the Castro Street of Palm Springs. Entertainment begins at 6:30 p.m.
hosted by Palm Springs drag celebrity Bella Da Ball. Drag performer “Nicky,”
as Carol Channing, hosts the 8-10 p.m. costume contest.
Palm Springs Pride starts on Pride eve with the Broadway in
Drag pageant on Friday, November 2, at 8 p.m. at the Palm Canyon Theatre. The
Pride festival is on Saturday and Sunday. Arenas Road will host a block party
on Saturday night, November 5, from 6 to 11:30 p.m. Coinciding with Pride, the
2012 AIDS Walk will celebrate its 25th year on Sunday, November 4, at 8:30 a.m.
and will join with the Pride Parade, which heads down Palm Canyon Drive
starting at 10 a.m.
Desert Leather Pride begins on Thursday, November 8, with a
meet and greet event at Hunter’s Nightclub. The event will be packed with
activities all weekend. The Palm Springs Convention Hall will host the Mr. Palm
Springs Leather contest from 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, November 10.
Marilyn Monroe Statue Comes to Palm Springs
26-FOOT-TALL
“FOREVER MARILYN”
SCULPTURE COMING
TO PALM SPRINGS!
Last week, the statue was removed from its current location in Chicago. The 34,000-pound sculpture, which costs about $40,000 to
transport, will be trucked across the country and arrive in Palm Springs
on May 14. It will take a few days — and a few cranes — to reassemble
it at the corner of Palm Canyon and Tahquitz Canyon Way, where it will
reside until June 2013.
The sculpture by Seward Johnson, the 80-year-old artist and Johnson
& Johnson heir who’s known for casting famous images into giant
sculptures, re-creates the scene from the 1955 film “The Seven Year
Itch” in which a drafty New York subway grate blows the sex symbol’s
skirt well above her knees.
The piece did not receive the
warmest reception from the Windy City since its debut last year, and was the
target of more than a few vandals and critics. Some called the
undergarment-baring pose sexist, while VirtualTourist.com dubbed
“Forever Marilyn” the No. 1 piece of bad public art — ahead of a
Bewitched statue in Salem, Mass.
Several cities tried to bid to host the massive Marilyn when her Chicago
residency wrapped, including China and Brazil, perhaps because August marks the 50th anniversary of
the Hollywood legend’s death.
“We received many requests as far
away as Tokyo and Madrid and cities in Brazil, and we really felt that
Palm Springs has a special connection to Marilyn because it is the
legendary play land for Hollywood,” said Paula Stoeke, the director and
curator of the Sculpture Foundation, an organization funded and run by
Johnson with offices in Santa Monica.
Palm Springs 12 Days of Christmas
12 Days of Dining for a Cause
This holiday season, leave the cooking to someone else. From chef-owned bistros to elegant eateries, the restaurants of Palm Springs invite you dine for a cause while enjoy special holiday deals and gifts. During the first twelve days of December, participating restaurants are offering diners an exclusive bottle of Gerard Bertrand Cremant Brut 2008 or Zardetto Convento Prosecco for only $5.00 a bottle, which is perfect for gift giving too! For every bottle sold, the restaurant will donate $1.00 to the Boys and Girls Club of Palm Springs.
PLUS Celebrate the “12 Days of Christmas”
in Palm Springs, December 1-12, 2011 with quintessential holiday
performances, celebrity tree lightings, holiday shopping and dining
specials. Signature events include the Festival of Lights Parade with
special guest, Carol Channing as Celebrity Grand Marshal, and the “Walk
of the Inns,” a self-guided tour of historic and boutique inns decorated
for the holidays.
Get the whole schedule online!
WHERE TO STAY??
INNdulge Palm Springs, California gay men’s clothing optional resort. We’re a Gay men’s resort hotel in the heart of gay palm springs. INNdulge corners the market on comfortable and casual. Located in the heart of the Warm Sands area of Palm Springs, really close to Palm Canyon and Indian Canyon Roads. – Everyone gives this resort top reviews!
Palm Springs police chief Dominguez RESIGNS
that Palm Springs police
Chief David Dominguez would keep his job.
That determination came after the city’s internal review of police procedure during the 2009 Warm Sands neighborhood public gay sex sting. Dominguez was among those accused of making offensive comments against the gay men arrested in the sting.
Though state law prevents city officials from releasing any details on their review, Ready said, “I don’t believe one comment in his 30-year history should result in his termination.“I’m convinced that his statement, although inappropriate … was not made in any discriminatory regard.”
TODAY HOWEVER, Dominguez resigned.
In case you don’t know the story, Dominguez came under fire after a June 2009 operation in the Warm Sands neighborhood. The sting, which netted 19 arrests, was done in response to what police said were complaints about drug use, public sex and prostitution in Warm Sands. However, it drew complaints that police were targeting gay men unfairly.
During a pretrial hearing, one defendant said a police officer could be heard using a gay slur on a video recording in an undercover vehicle. An attorney for some of those arrested said Dominguez was in that particular car.
The lawyer lodged a complaint, alleging Dominguez disparaged the arrestees to his officers.
“What a bunch of filthy mother f**ckers,” Dominguez allegedly said. “You guys should get paid extra for this.” – another officer involved in the sting was overheard using the slur ‘c**ksuckers.'”
Dominguez apologized last week, and was told he could keep his job, but issued this statement today : ““After careful consideration of the events surrounding the Warm Sands undercover operation, I believe this decision is in the best interest of my family, the city and the Police Department.”
Palm Springs Gay Pride November 6 and 7
2010 Greater
Palm Springs Pride Festival
Saturday & Sunday Nov. 6-7, 2010
10AM – 8PM Sat., 10AM – 6PM Sun.
Palm Springs Baseball Stadium
2010 Greater Palm Springs Pride Parade
Sunday Nov. 7, 2010 10AM
Known for its crystal blue skies, year-round sunshine, stunning landscape, palm tree lined streets and starry nights the City of Palm Springs comes alive during the annual pride celebration. The 24th anniversary of Pride celebrations in Palm Springs will be held over the weekend of November 6 and 7, 2010.
On Sunday, November 7 rainbow flags and glitter will fill the streets as the ever present Mount San Jacinto Mountains star in the most scenic pride parade in the world. The downtown parade steps off at 10am and travels along historic Palm Canyon Drive.
Only a rainbow mile from downtown, the unique two-day pride festival is held at the former spring training home of the California Angels and Chicago White Sox. On pride weekend, thousands take to the field with the baseball diamond serving as the gathering spot for friends and a celebration of diversity and unity. Complete with gay-owned and LGBT friendly companies, the festival includes music, dancing, food vendors, and booths staffed by local organizations.
With over 125 parade contingents, 100 exhibitors, and several entertainment venues, the Palm Springs Pride Celebration and Parade is the largest annual gathering of LGBT people and allies in the Greater Palm Springs area.
More info at PS PRIDE !
Gay Palm Springs Caballeros returns for 12th Season
Caballeros
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Palm Springs
is excited to announce the beginning of our 12th Season with a Holiday concert on December 18th and 19th at St Paul in the Desert.
Auditions are taking place during ”info night” on Thursday, September 9th from 7 to 9 PM in the parish hall at St Paul in the Desert, located at 125 W El Alameda. If you sing or know anyone who does, the chorus encourages all to attend. Light refreshments will be served.
The chorus is also looking for non-singers to help behind the scenes. If you have skills in marketing, PR, fund-raising, grant-writing or just want to help out at rehearsals or concerts, the chorus would love to meet with you.
Rehearsals begin on September 16 and continue each Thursday from 7-10pm at St. Paul’s. For more information please call 760-322-3112 or send an email to info @ caballerosps.com.
Caballeros is really looking forward to meeting you.
Caballeros The Gay Men’s Chorus of Palm Springs was founded as a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization in 1999. They were first presented to the public as guest artists in the last annual Holiday concert GMCLA presented in Palm Springs. The new chorus sang four songs and received a rousing approval from the community. Beginning with only 24 singers, the chorus had grown to over 70 members by April, 2002, when they presented Robert Seeley’s “Naked Man” under the guest baton of noted conductor, Jon Bailey. Performing in glittering events such as The Steven Chase Awards Banquet, “Evening Under the Stars”, and “One Night Only”, Caballeros has become a major participant in their desert community. Guests in the chorus’s own concerts have included opera singer, Janet Hopkins, renowned dance company, Tango Nacional Argentina, and the multi-talented Florence Henderson. Notable local performers Dana Atkins, Mona Caywood, Lori Donato, Derrick Lewis, and Tommi Rose, among others, have also graced their stage. There have also been memorable joint concerts with other GALA choruses such as the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, the Gay Men’s Chorus of San Francisco, and Vox Femina.
Caballeros is a performance group of gay men which welcomes all GLBT and GLBT-supportive people as members of their Board and Support team. The chorus is a proud member of their community and they love to perform to all regardless of any human difference.
The Land for Planned Gay Retirement Home in Palm Springs is Foreclosed On
The recession has hit the housing market hard, including planned communities for retirees.
That is no less true when it comes to housing for GLBT seniors.
Across the country, planned communities for retiring gays and lesbians have been on the drawing board, but have had a hard time getting underway.
One such project, undertaken by RainbowVision California LLC, has suffered a setback with the land intended for a planned retirement community catering to the silver GLBT set reverting to a lender for the project.
The lender, Senior Housing Partners III, retook the land in a foreclosure auction, reported the Palm Springs newspaper The Desert Sun in a Dec. 17 article.
The planned community had enjoyed promotion by tennis star Billie Jean King, the article said, but the economic realities of the situation forced the project to stall.
The article quoted RainbowVision president Joy Silver, who said, “The only thing stopping us is the economy–the fact that banks have not been in a position to make construction loans.
“We plan to move forward as soon as the economy allows.”
RainbowVision has already laid claim to the nation’s first GLBT retirement community, which is up and running in Santa Fe, NM.
Other retirement communities for older gays and lesbians have followed suit, such as The Palms of Manasota in Florida, and Birds of a Feather in Pecos, NM.
But the delay in the construction of the Palm Springs community is also not unique: the development of Boston’s LGBT retirement project Stonewall Communities was put on hold earlier this year.
The new community in Palm Springs was designed to include nearly 200 units, along with community amenities such as a nightclub, pool, spa, club house, and café, as well as athletic facilities.
The company hopes that once the economy recovers, RainbowVision will be able to buy the land back once again and proceed with construction.
Meantime, some of the seniors interested in the Palm Springs community have decided to relocate to Santa Fe instead, to the already-operating GLBT retirement community there.
“The GLBT retirement community model works; we know it,” said Silver of the Santa Fe location.
“We’re seeing a rise in occupancy there.”
The Best of Gay Palm Springs and the New Gay Travel Guide
Desert AIDS Walk Palm Springs October 25th
Saturday October 25th 7:30am registration – 9:30 am walk begins
at Frances Stevens Park.
More information – Visit Desert Aids Project
What is GAY PRIDE?
June is GAY PRIDE month around the world!
It is traditionally celebrated the last Sunday of June, in most cities. Pride celebrations stemmed from the Stonewall Riots in New York City.
The Stonewall Riots were a series of violent conflicts between LGBT people and New York City police officers that began during a 28 June 1969 police raid, and lasted several days. They were centered at the Stonewall Inn and are widely recognized as the catalyst for the modern-day movement towards LGBT rights.
Gay pride or LGBT pride refers to a world wide movement and philosophy asserting that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity.
Heterosexual people have sometimes asked me, “Why do you have to have a pride day? Why are you so proud? We don’t have straight pride day?” – It’s about not feeling ashamed of who we are. It’s about showing people our numbers, that we are in fact EVERYWHERE. We come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
Gay pride is about appreciating yourself and other members of our community for being different. GAY PRIDE means accepting yourself and celebrating who you are.
Gay pride advocates work for equal “rights and benefits” for LGBT people. The movement has three main premises:
– that people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity,
– that sexual diversity is a gift,
– and that sexual orientation and gender identity are inherent and cannot be intentionally altered.
Someone at Cedar Rapids Pride said, “Often the hardest person to come out to is yourself. GAY PRIDE doesn’t just happen. It is hard work to overcome the profound effects of abusive religion and cultural abandonment that afflict all minorities. Self-esteem is the greatest achievement that you can reach in life. Your sense of self-worth is so valuable, that you work hard all of your life to find and express it. To reach your goal of self-esteem and happiness requires knowledge and positive experience.”
Jed Ryan from Lick The Web says, “So, what is “Gay Pride?” It may not be so important that we find a universal definition. What’s more important is that all of us feel positively and lovingly about being who we are– in our case, definitely including but not limited to being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered– at least for one moment in our lives and hopefully more. And that can be in June or any other month, at the Parade or any other location, or whether you’re 17 or 70. Ultimately, the real and most important meaning of “pride” is in within each one of us.”
Marches celebrating Pride (pride parades) are celebrated worldwide, and every year, the number of gay people and their supporters grows bigger and bigger! We’re here, we’re queer, you’d better get used to it!
Michael Snell
New Gay Travel Guide
