“I Have A Dream”. Words that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King gave us for history nearly 60 years ago. But the man behind the March on Washington — as we rediscovered this year — was Bayard Rustin, a gay black man who sat at the right hand of King.
If you haven’t seen Rustin yet, today’s MLK holiday is a good opportunity for a great history lesson, courtesy of Netflix. For a brief synopsis, former president Barack Obama posted this video on Threads today.
King’s legacy will be honored in a variety of ways today around the Coachella Valley. Over the weekend, Rustin’s legacy was commemorated in a “10 Minute Play Fest” piece titled The Rustin Arrest by Lorenz Qatava.
The old adage used to be “Behind every great man, there is a great woman”. As our LGBTQ history continues to reveal itself, the adage may well be “Behind every great movement, there’s a fabulous LGBTQ person”.
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide on KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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Monday is MLK Day
On Monday, January 15, the life, work, and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will be honored, starting with a Unity Rally at Frances Stevens Park at 11 am, followed by a Symbolic March to United Methodist Church of Palm Springs at 11:30 am, with an Interfaith Service to begin there at 12:30 pm [More info]. Prior to these events, The Black Chamber of Commerce presents the Annual Reverend Dr. Marin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast, from 9–10:30 am at Indian Canyons Golf Resort [More info].
CV Firebirds Pride Night with KGAY
KGAY 106.5 invites you to join the festivities on the Coachella Valley Firebirds Pride Night, on Friday January 19 from 5–9 pm at Acrisure Arena. Join us for Pride Night in a space that welcomes everyone. Come for a cocktail social hour and see your favorite local drag queens take the stage ahead of the Coachella Valley Firebirds vs. Calgary Wranglers game, and enjoy pre-game plaza events, special in-game giveaways and more! Special $99 package gets you: Signature Pride Night cocktail, ticket to the pre-game drag show, center ice seats at the game, and private VIP ticket throughout the game. Get tickets
Palm Springs International Film Festival 2024
The 35th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival will wrap up with the last of the Best of the Fest screenings taking place Monday, January 15. Best of the Fest features films top rated by the audience and Jury award winners, including these and many more screening on Monday: Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive at 10:45 am at Mary Pickford is D’Place, Green Border 12 pm at Regal Cinemas Palm Springs. The Promised Land 1:30 pm at Camelot Theatres, The Animal Kingdom 5:30 pm at Mary Pickford is D’Place, The Teacher’s Lounge, 7 pm at Mary Pickford is D’Place, Studio One Forever 7:45 pm at Mary Pickford is D’Place, and The Zone of Interest 8 pm at Camelot Theatres. See the full schedule here
Trivia Night at Play Lounge & Cafe
Play Lounge & Cafe invites you to come and play along at their Trivia Night on Tuesday evenings from 6–7:30 pm. This popular event is hosted by Play Lounge owner Matt and is highly interactive. Come as a group or join a group when you come in. Categories are all over the board and there’s a fun game at the end to score additional points. Rewards include cash and gift certificates. More info
The Center Women’s Social
The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert presents their January Women’s Social on Wednesday, January 17 from 5:30–7 pm at the new Drift Hotel. This is a great time to network with women, make new friends, catch up with old friends and to see the beautiful new Drift Hotel. More info
Eagles with Steely Dan
The Eagles with special guest Steely Dan will perform at Acrisure Arena on Tuesday, January 16 at 7:30 pm. The Eagles have had a miraculous 52-year odyssey, performing for people all over the globe; keeping the music alive in the face of tragic losses, upheavals and setbacks of many kinds. As the band says, “This is our swan song, but the music goes on and on.” Get tickets
The American Express Golf Tournament
The American Express™, held annually at PGA WEST and La Quinta Country Club, returns to the Desert for its 65th playing this week, from January 15–21. The American Express™ is a 72-hole PGA TOUR event that features 156 of the world’s best golfers playing for a $7.6 million purse. It is part of the FedExCup and often provides the winners of the event a precursor to a successful season. Keith Urban takes the stage following the completion of play on Friday, January 19 at 5 pm, and Train performs on Saturday, January 20 at 5 pm. Get tickets
Avenue Q
Revolution Stage Company (RSC) presents Avenue Q, running now through January 25. A smash hit on Broadway, Off-Broadway and in the West End, this Tony Award-winning adult musical comedy features the cheekiest puppets in town, skillfully brought to life by the Coachella Valley’s top musical theater performers. Take a delightful journey through the challenges of growing up, the pursuit of grand dreams, and the quest to discover life’s true purpose. Our theatre reviewer Stephen Radosh loved it and says “…if the idea of watching puppets have sex makes you giggle instead of making you gag or scream out TMI, then do yourself a favor and grab a ticket for a fun, belly-laugh filled evening in the theatre.” Read his full review and Get tickets
Gilligan’s Island – The Musical
Desert Theatreworks presents Gilligan’s Island – The Musical, playing through January 28. America’s most iconic sitcom from the 1960s comes to the stage reincarnated as a fun family musical. Written by the original TV show’s creator, Sherwood Schwartz, all the show’s beloved characters seem to have leaped straight from the TV screen to the big stage, bringing their hilarious adventures along with them. The skipper and his hapless first mate, Gillian; millionaire Thurston Howell and his wife, Lovey; film starlet Ginger Grant; farm girl Mary Ann Summers; and the professor battle hurricanes, quicksand and even an alien with their usual fierce determination. Will they finally make it off the island? Get tickets
Get Your Kitsch On
Animal Samaritans invites you to Get Your Kitsch On with Kitsch Bingo on Wednesday, January 17 from 11 am–2 pm at Toscana Country Club in Indian Wells. Come for a chance to win over $13,000 in prizes, with Bingo, live drag performances, numerous marvelous prizes, a delicious lunch, and more. All proceeds benefit Animal Samaritans’ new Pet Adoption and Humane Education Center. Hosted by Bella da Ball with music provided by DJ Modgirl. Get tickets
The Dirty Show 2.0 with Skyler Gentry
Ben Zook from the hit gay web series, “Where the Bears Are,” presents The Dirty Show 2.0 with Skyler Gentry on Wednesday, January 17 at 7 pm at Dietlart Gallery. This all-new show features Zook as Skyler Gentry, America’s favorite actor-singer-dancer-psychic, with raunchy songs, comedy bits and “psychic readings” with the audience. His original show was a smash hit in Palm Springs and he performed it all over the world. He’s thrilled to be back in Palm Springs with this brand new “Dirty Show 2.0!” Beware – the show is very gay, very dirty and loads of fun! Intended for mature audiences. Get tickets
Live, Laugh, Love – A Sondheim Celebration
Musical Theatre Guild and Musical Theatre University present Live, Laugh, Love – A Sondheim Celebration (back by popular demand) at the Helene Galen Performing Arts Center on Thursday, January 18, at 7 pm. Playwright and screenwriter Duane Poole has crafted a very special original revue that will feature material from virtually every produced Sondheim project from Broadway shows, to television, and films. The chosen songs will find a perfect balance between the familiar classics and the forgotten gems. And, if a favorite number is missing from the show, your ticket will also offer entry to a post-show party where the cast will take requests. Get tickets
Bad Bunny & Light and Space Movement
The Palm Springs Art Museum presents Mixed Feelings: Bad Bunny & Light and Space Movement on Thursday, January 18 from 6–8 pm in the main museum with speakers Vanessa Díaz & Sharrissa Iqbal. “Mixed Feelings” is a back-to-back lecture experience on unrelated topics (that are somehow connected). Two speakers talk about their respective areas of expertise and you get to make the connections during the Q&A. Get tickets
Water Sustainability – How You Can Do Your Part
The Oswit Land Trust presents an education event – Water Sustainability – How You Can Do Your Part on Thursday, January 18 from 3–4 pm, hosted by the Palm Springs Animal Shelter. Palm Springs exists today because water was available to support early growth – and because early water managers were sustainability visionaries. This talk will focus on the water conservation actions in the Palm Springs area, and what residents and HOAs can do to protect water at home. Desert Water Agency Board President Paul Ortega will share best practices and savvy tips to become a sustainability star. More info.
