April 9 and 10. Two adjoining days on the calendar. One memorialized for shouting from the rooftops; the other for silence.
You may not have heard or seen much about either day’s observances, but both are important to our LGBTQ+ communities for different reasons. Neither are high profile.
Thursday was Local News Day and Friday, April 10 is Glisten’s Day of Silence. For news day, our strong local journalism cadre celebrated at Chef Tanya’s Kitchen in Palm Desert with a coffee klatch and commiseration of sorts. We’re fortunate to have great local news sources like The Coachella Valley Independent, Palm Springs Post (and new hyper-local brands), The Desert Sun and two television stations (not taken over by right-wing owners) in KESQ and NBC Palm Springs.
Say what you will about the smallness of a daily edition of The Desert Sun. At least it’s still publishing and providing robust local news coverage online. Its music and entertainment reporting from Brian Blueskye and his predecessor Bruce Fessier are world class. (Watch for Coachella coverage to see!)
If you’re paying attention to Hungary’s election, you know that one of the first targets by Viktor Orbán was the free press. Trump looks up to him and what he’s done to disassemble the media as highighted in The Guardian. LGBTQ+ dissent has been especially targeted.
Today, April 10, students around the country will observe silence for the day in a protest to bring attention to “protest the harmful effects of harassment and discrimination of LGBTQ+ people in schools,” according to Glisten’s website.
2026 marks the 30th year of the first Day of Silence. It was originally held by students at the University of Virginia, in response to the bullying and harassment of LGBTQ+ students. It has grown to a national day of action pushing back against the silencing of LGBTQ+ youth.
According to Glisten, “In our deepening cultural and political divide, LGBTQ+ students are more directly targeted than ever before. From harmful legislation to erasing LGBTQ+ history from school curriculum, it is now more important than ever to take a step back and let our communities know what it feels like when we are stripped of our voices.”
So there you have it. Two different approaches to free speech — one using the power of the press to get its point across, the other using silence as protest. In today’s world, it’s important to pay respect to both. Two days on the calendar that may have passed without much fanfare except that this free press could report on it.
Brad Fuhr, your K-Gay Desert Guide
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Coachella Weekend 1
Weekend One of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival (aka “Coachella”) is Friday–Sunday, April 10–12, and even with passes sold out, the energy across the valley is unmistakable. The Empire Polo Club is gearing up for a massive kickoff featuring headliners like Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Karol G, along with standout sets from Disclosure, The Strokes, David Byrne, Devo, Kaskade, Major Lazer, Iggy Pop, Foster the People, Moby, and over 100 more. It’s the moment the desert transforms into the center of the music world once again—so even if you’re not heading through the gates, it’s impossible not to feel the buzz as the biggest festival of the year takes over Indio (and hotel rooms throughout the valley, making it a great time to dine out if you’re not going to the festival!). Road closure and traffic info can be found here. You can also enjoy the festival anywhere with the Official Coachella Livestream on YouTube! More info
World Art Day
World Art Day brings a lively four‑hour celebration to Palm Springs Downtown Park on Saturday, April 11 from 10 am–2 pm, inviting the community to explore hands‑on art activities, meet local vendors, and enjoy DJ sets and live performances on the stage near Museum Way. KGAY’s Volvo will be there! Guests are encouraged to dress creatively, bring blankets or lawn chairs, and settle in for a family‑friendly afternoon surrounded by color and imagination. With food trucks on site and plenty of open space, it offers an easygoing way to tap into the artistic spirit of spring! More info
A Queer Arcana
Add a little extra magic to your World Art Day plans with A Queer Arcana: Art, Magic, and Spirit, an exploration of queer creativity and mystical expression at the Palm Springs Art Musuem. It’s a perfect companion event for anyone looking to deepen their artistic weekend in Palm Springs. More info
Pop-Up Drag Brunch at Saffron Restaurant
The Saguaro Drag Brunch Experience is turning up the heat for both Coachella weekends as it moves to Saffron Restaurant and Lounge, the chic Persian hotspot at Palm Canyon and Tachevah. Guests can enjoy a special brunch menu crafted just for the shows while the queens serve high‑energy performances at 10 am on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets for April 11–12 are already filling fast, and April 18–19 won’t be far behind. More info
Cocktails on the Page with Rufi Thorpe
Cocktails on the Page brings an elegant literary evening to Piazza de Liberace on Saturday, April 11 from 5–7 pm, where guests can enjoy cocktails, light appetizers, and a rare chance to explore the historic Liberace Estate. Hosted by the Palm Springs Public Library Foundation, the event features author Rufi Thorpe, who will share insights into her latest novel Margo’s Got Money Troubles, a bold and funny story of navigating adulthood and new motherhood. Attendees can stroll the grounds, soak in the estate’s storied atmosphere, and take home a copy of Thorpe’s book to have signed during the event. Get tickets
Alyssa Edwards – Thanks for Everything Tour
Alyssa Edwards brings her signature sparkle, sass, and storytelling magic to the Plaza Theatre on Sunday, April 12 at 7:30 pm with the Thanks for Everything Tour, a heartfelt and hilariously unfiltered journey through the life of one of drag’s most beloved icons. With a pre‑show party featuring DJ Cazwell and Brad Loekle, the night promises big laughs, big personality, and the full force of Alyssa’s charm as she reflects on her rise, her roots, and her unforgettable message to RuPaul: “Thanks for everything.” Get tickets
Love! Valour! Compassion!
Love! Valour! Compassion! takes the stage at the Dezart Playhouse from April 9–19, inviting audiences into Terrence McNally’s moving and sharply funny story of eight friends who gather over three summer weekends to confront love, fear, loyalty, and loss. Set in the 1990s against the backdrop of the AIDS crisis and directed by Phil McKinley, the production blends humor with emotional depth as it explores the bonds that sustain a community. Get tickets
Knife to the Heart
Knife to the Heart arrives at the Palm Springs Cultural Center for a sharp run from April 10–19 presented by Desert Ensemble Theatre, offering a witty and incisive look at family tension from writers Stan Zimmerman and Christian McLaughlin. Directed by Zimmerman, the production blends humor and emotional bite in a story that examines the bruises we carry and the bonds that hold us together. Audiences can expect a smart, character‑driven piece with the same clever edge found in the creators’ television work. Get tickets
FRI & SAT: Amanda McBroom – My Personal Best
Amanda McBroom brings her extraordinary storytelling and luminous songcraft back to The Purple Room for two nights on Friday and Saturday, April 10 and 11. My Personal Best showcases the very heart of her artistry, weaving together songs of love, loss, lust, and laughter from across her celebrated career. Known as “the greatest cabaret performer of her generation,” McBroom revisits gems from her own songbook — including the iconic “The Rose” — while also honoring master songwriters like Joni Mitchell, Stephen Sondheim, Jerry Herman, and Jacques Brel. Get tickets
FRI: Disco Drag Bingo
Friday night becomes much more fabulous when Disco Drag Bingo takes over the V Wine Lounge & Martini Bar. This interactive night happens on Friday, April 10 from 6–8 pm. The evening is led by the glamorous drag hostess Ember Vain, with five games of bingo and energetic disco sing-alongs. There are also sparkling performance numbers and fun disco props to light up the room. Guests are invited to sip on martinis or cocktails while they prepare to shout “BINGO!” More info.
FRI: A Little L’Amour – An Evening Of Song Dance & Gl’amour
The fabulous Billy L’Amour returns to the stage with her dazzling solo show A Little L’Amour – An Evening Of Song Dance & Gl’amour on Friday at 7 pm at the Revolution Stage Company. This spectacular production features a glamorous evening of live singing and dance and comedy and heartfelt storytelling with a mix of Broadway classics and jazz standards and hilarious musical parodies. More info
This Weekend at the McCallum Theatre
On Friday, April 10 at 8 pm, GRAMMY‑winning trumpeter Chris Botti brings his signature blend of cinematic jazz and virtuosic showmanship to the McCallum, joined by world‑class musicians who have helped make him one of the most celebrated instrumentalists of our time. Then on Saturday, April 11 at 8 pm, legends Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. take the stage with the timeless hits that shaped pop and soul, from “Up, Up and Away” to “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” in an evening filled with history, harmony, and heart. Get tickets
