As a board member of the LGBTQ+ History & Archives of the Desert, we’ve been gathering remembrances and remnants of our past – from matchbooks to magazines – that relate to the rich history of Greater Palm Springs.
Other than the individual LGBTQ Walk of Stars that we’ve identified and placed in the app, there are no memorials or monuments to our people that come to mind. That’s about to change.
You’ve likely heard about the AIDS Memorial that is planned for our Downtown Park. That project is back on track after listening sessions with the artist and a “back to the drawing board” for a new design.
But do you know about the Arenas flag pole (similar to that of San Diego’s Hillcrest District) that’s being planned? And the Pride Monument in Frances Stevens Park? Both are making progress for funding and community support. The latter is open for discussion at a community meeting and conceptual introduction next week at Hunters.
When it’s all said and done, we’ll have many places where visitors can celebrate and remember the rich LGBTQ+ history of #ILoveGayPalmSprings. Happy Pride Month!
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide on KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
For the latest, follow our socials @GayDesertGuide and @KGAY1065 and listen to KGAY Palm Springs wherever you may be!
#ILoveGayPalmSprings #ILoveGayCatCity #ILoveGayTravel #ILoveGay #SayKGAY #FindYourOasis
Palm Springs International ShortFest
The Palm Springs International Film Society presents the return of Palm Springs International ShortFest, celebrating its 30th year, all weekend, plus the Best of Fest on Monday, June 24 at the Regal Palm Springs. This is one of the largest showcases of short-form cinema in North America; Academy Award, BAFTA and Goya-qualifying, screening hundreds of shorts from 60+ countries. The line-up is curated thematically into programs of approximately 90 minutes in duration which aim to bring together a diverse cross-section of contemporary cinema to you. Q&A sessions follow many of the programs. Passes as well as General Admission tickets are available, and a special “Comfort Pass” allows you to stream a selection of the top films from the comfort of home. Get tickets
George Zander Awards Lunch Honoring Sen. Barbara Boxer
The Desert Stonewall Democrats present the George Zander Awards Luncheon on Saturday, June 22, with a VIP Reception from 11:15 am–Noon, followed by the Luncheon from 12—1:30 pm, in Palm Springs (Address upon RSVP). The event will support Congressman Raul Ruiz and Will Rollins in their congressional races and honor Senator Barbara Boxer with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Get tickets
Tidal Wave: Weekend in Bearadise
Tidal Wave presents a Weekend in Bearadise from Thursday, June 20–Sunday, June 23 at Margaritaville Resort. The weekend will be relaxed, body-positive and fun-filled, including: a singles mixer, couples mixer, game room, drag queen bingo, two pools, a full spa, bear yoga, and the tried and true events including daily pool parties, x-rated bingo, trivia, bearaoke, FETISH (gear dance), Tidal Wave Marketplace, excursions to Heatwave at CCBC (see below) & more. See our event listing for a daily rundown: Get tickets
Western Xposure: Heatwave
Western Xposure presents Heatwave from Thursday, June 20–Sunday, June 23 at CCBC Resort. This 24-hour clothing optional event features Bear Naked pool parties and after-dark fun in a body- and sex-positive space. Come and go whenever you want and enjoy the pool, hot tubs, trails, play spaces, and more. BEARUNION party is on Saturday night and Tidal Wave DJs will be spinning daily. Get tickets
Firebirds in Calder Cup Finals
For the second year in a row, the Coachella Valley Firebirds are Western Conference Champions and playing in the Calder Cup Finals, which is also a rematch with the Hershey Bears, last year’s Calder Cup winners. The series is tied at 2 games each as of Thursday night’s Game 4, when the Bears edged out the Firebirds at Acrisure Arena. The teams face off again for Game 5 on Saturday, June 22 at 6 pm at Acrisure Arena. Game 6 will be played in Hershey, PA on Monday, June 24 (and Game 7 on Wednesday, June 26 if necessary).
- 🎟️ You can buy tickets for Game 5 here, on Saturday, June 22
- 📺 Games will be carried live by local TV networks [More info].
- Acrisure Arena honored LGBTQ+ Pride month with a “Pathway to Pride” 🏳️🌈 rainbow crosswalk. Go Firebirds!
Straight to the Heart: A Tribute to the Legacy of Rodgers & Hart
Dezart Performs presents Straight to the Heart: A Tribute to the Legacy of Rodgers & Hart on Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, June 21–23 at 7 pm. More than just a performance of Rodgers & Hart songs, it’s a unique blend of traditional cabaret and musical theatre. The show offers fascinating insights into the songs’ origins, the groundbreaking shows they were featured in, and the memorable characters who sang them. Audiences will also learn about the two dynamic creators whose conflicting approaches to life and work came together to create unforgettable songs filled with wit, melody, and deep human emotion. Get tickets
Daryl Hall + Elvis Costello & The Imposters w/Charlie Sexton
The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa Rancho Mirage presents Daryl Hall + Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton on Friday, June 21 at 7 pm. Daryl Hall is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and continues to achieve career milestones more than four decades into his career. Elvis Costello has written over six hundred published titles, including collaborations with Paul McCartney, Allen Toussaint, the Brodsky Quartet, and T Bone Burnett. Costello currently performs with The Imposters: Pete Thomas, Steve Nieve, Davey Faragher and their special guest guitarist Charlie Sexton. Get tickets
Hi-Desert Pride
The Hi-Desert Pride Celebration takes place this Sunday, June 23 from 12–5 pm at the Beatnik Lounge in Joshua Tree. Desert Split Open will host special guests and featured readers plus an open mic where everyone is welcome and invited to read LGBTQ+ poetry or prose, your own or someone else’s, with featured readers Barb Morrison, Ruth Nolan, and Susan Rukeyser, and special guests Flint and Lady Chilane. More info
GameAcon West
GameACon West is coming to the Palm Springs Convention Center this Friday–Sunday, June 21–23. This self-proclaimed “3 days of gaming badassery” includes anime, art, comics, cosplay, and esports for fans from all over the world, plus meet-and-greets, panels, and a spotlight on games and indie titles. GameACon is also the birthplace of the Crystal Awards, honoring indie game creators and influencers in the same way the Sundance festival does for indie films. Get tickets
Engagement Rules
Script2Stage2Screen presents their final production of the season, Engagement Rules, on Friday & Saturday, June 21 & 22 at 7:30 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Desert. A four-character comedy with bite, the story follows the intertwined lives of two couples who have become good friends despite (or because of) their multi-decade age gap. Both couples face problems at the intersection of sexuality and spirituality—an unwanted pregnancy for the younger couple and fear of sexual inadequacy for the older couple—forcing everyone to face questions that none of them can answer easily, about morality, mortality, and the beginnings of life. Get tickets
Displacement: Stories from Section 14
The Green Room Theatre Company presents an innovative theatre reading, Displacement: Stories from Section 14 on Saturday, June 22 at 2 pm & 6:30 pm and Sunday, June 23 at 2 pm at the United Methodist Church of Palm Springs. The show will address the many complex layers in the history of Section 14, a one-square-mile tract in downtown Palm Springs. In the mid-60’s the homes of Latino, Black, and other family homes were bulldozed and burned to make way for development, without compensation or housing options for displaced residents. Get tickets
LGBTQ+ Archives Pride Month Display
The LGBTQ+ History & Archives of the Desert is showcasing some of its collection at the Welwood Murray Memorial Library in June in honor of National Pride Month. The Pride Month Display highlights the breadth and depth of the donations and acquisitions received during the last five years. The display includes publications, travel guides, commemorative pins, posters, and other memorabilia, viewable during the month of June during regular library hours: Monday–Sunday 10 am–6 pm, with extended hours on Thursday until 8 pm. More info
ALSO THIS WEEKEND
Friday, June 21
Speaker Series: Economic Drivers in the Coachella Valley | 11:30 am at Mission Hills Country Club
Senior Scam Awareness Seminar | 12:30–2:30 pm at Mizell Center
Saturday, June 22
Out At The Fair: San Diego County Fair | 11 am–5 pm at Paddock Stage, Del Mar Fairgrounds
Santa Ynez Valley Pride | 11 am–5 pm at at Solvang Park
LGBTQ+ Humanists: Open Topic Discussion | 3–4:30 pm on Zoom
Laura Coyle w/Sugar High | 5:30–7:30 pm at Palm Springs Cultural Center
Summer Cocktails and Culinary Series: Cake Decorating & Bubbles | 5 pm at JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort
Ask a Gay Doc: Mental Health in the LGBTQ+ Community
Dr. Renzo Corzano and KGAY’s John Taylor are answering your health-related questions in the Ask A Gay Doc series, sponsored by Desert Oasis Healthcare. In Episode 7, John and Dr. Corzano are joined by Dr. Jill Hingston, Director of Behavioral Health Services at thecentercv.org. The subject? Mental health in the LGBTQ+ community. Watch the Ask a Gay Doc series, and find out how you can submit your own questions, on the Ask a Gay Doc page at kgaypalmsprings.com.
