Charity begins at home is a proverb suggesting that one should prioritize the needs of family, friends, and the local community before assisting those further away.
Attributed to Sir Thomas Browne in 1642, it emphasizes that personal responsibility, love, and care should be established within one’s immediate circle first.
It’s been used to suggest that the United States should focus on the needs of its own people before those in other countries. US AID was destroyed by the Trump administration under this ruse. The sentiment is a cornerstone of his “America First” foreign policy.
Yet in most policy and actions in this first year, the cruelty of this administration has been on almost daily display. Funding for so many domestic programs that help feed, house and care for Americans have been gutted. It’s especially apparent in the LGBTQ+ communities with funding cut or reduced for HIV/AIDS/Trans care, food banks and especially research. Most illegal cuts get turned around by the courts. However, many organizations and institutions acquiesced without so much as a whimper. (Think Harvard).
But there are ways for you to help those in need locally. It involves your pursestrings and not you protest signs.
Tuesday, March 3rd is Coachella Valley Giving Day, a time to give back to the many non-profits that dot the landscape of the Coachella Valley. This day was modeled after a successful program in Colorado and is spearheaded by the Coachella Valley Foundation.
The website gives you a menu of non-profits to support, and early giving is open now. Some, like the Cathedral City Senior Center, even have matching programs. Whether you give $10 or $10k, make a contribution now. Our local charities — and their beneficiaries — will be grateful. And you will have helped make a difference here at home.
P.S. 11 years ago, the first LGBT Days were held in Cathedral City. We took a year to plan the first event and took a year off for COVID. So this weekend will mark 10 years for the event. Before Sunday’s Bed Race, organizers will pay tribute to those who helped start it. While that was before KGAY, Gay Desert Guide was a founding sponsor as was CCBC. And this year, we’ll be competing in the Bed Race looking to best our 2nd place finish from last year. Let’s keep our fingers crossed we will “Be Best”…
Brad Fuhr, your K-Gay Desert Guide
For the latest, follow our socials @GayDesertGuide and @KGAYPalmSprings and listen to KGAY Palm Springs wherever you reside!
#ILoveGayPalmSprings #ILoveGayCatCity #ILoveGayTravel #ILoveGay #SayKGAY #FindYourOasis #SupportYourStation #VisitGPS #LGBTQTravel
MON: A Studio 54 Celebration
A Studio 54 Celebration Benefiting McCallum’s Education Programs brings disco glamour to the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort on Monday, March 2 at 4:30 pm, inviting guests to step into an evening of sparkle, high-energy music, and themed cocktails inspired by the iconic era. The event features a festive cocktail hour, a seated dinner, and both silent and live auctions offering unique items and experiences. Your Gay Desert Guide Brad Fuhr will be serving as host for the evening. All proceeds support McCallum Theatre Education, which provides transformative arts programming to 40,000 students and educators each year at no cost to participants. More info
ENDS MONDAY: Pippin
Pippin takes the stage at Revolution Stage Company, extended through Monday March 2, inviting audiences into Stephen Schwartz and Roger O. Hirson’s dazzling, meta‑theatrical journey of spectacle, seduction, and self‑discovery. Our theatre reviewer, Stephen Radosh, says “…this production captures the show’s central message with sincerity: sometimes the extraordinary is found in the beautifully ordinary.” Read his full review and Get tickets
MON: South Palm Canyon Drive Traffic Flip
Traffic on S. Palm Canyon Drive will shift to the newly rebuilt western bridge span on Monday, March 2, with one lane open in each direction as crews begin reconstruction on the eastern span. Drivers and pedestrians will use the new western side, all business access remains open, and full turning movements continue at S. Palm Canyon Drive and E. Sunny Dunes Road. Belardo Road is the recommended alternate route. More info
ALL WEEK: BNP Paribas Open
The BNP Paribas Open is now underway, running through Sunday, March 15 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, and Tennis Paradise is set for another heavy-hitting edition. The 2026 field features nearly all of the top 100 ATP and WTA players, including Carlos Alcaraz, arriving fresh off a historic Australian Open win that completed his career Grand Slam. World No.1 Elena Rybakina, four‑time major champions Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner, and Grand Slam legend Novak Djokovic all make their bids for the title, while Coco Gauff and former champion Taylor Fritz lead a strong American contingent, with Venus Williams on a wild card invitation. Get tickets
TUE: Coachella Valley Giving Day
Coachella Valley Giving Day returns on Tuesday, March 3 for a full day of regional generosity, uniting residents, donors, and organizations in a 24‑hour online effort to strengthen local nonprofits. Designed to amplify impact through collective giving, cash‑prize opportunities, and community visibility, the event has already raised more than $2 million since its launch, including over $800,000 last year. More info
TUE: Cat City Drag Race LGBT+ Days Kick-Off
Cathedral City Drag Race kicks off LGBT+ Days on Tuesday, March 3 from 5:30–7:30 pm at the Cathedral City Amphitheatre as part of the Tastes & Sounds of Cathedral City series, bringing high-energy performances, community pride, and plenty of flair to the weekly series. Guests can enjoy food from Uncle D’s, Nice Haas, Tacon’ Todo, and Crush Crush Cookies while taking in one of the season’s most spirited evenings. More info
TUE: Music of the Knights
The Plaza Theatre turns Tuesday, March 3 into a symphonic celebration with Pops at The Plaza – Music of The Knights, an evening honoring the iconic songbooks of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sir Elton John, and Sir Paul McCartney. With the Palm Springs Pops and a trio of Broadway vocalists, including Blaine Krauss of Hamilton, the night brings beloved hits like “Circle of Life,” “Crocodile Rock,” “Your Song,” and “Yesterday” to life in a richly orchestrated tribute to three of Britain’s most influential musical legends. Get tickets
WED: Rock the Park – Always, Adele
Rock the Park returns on Wednesday, March 4 at 7 pm with Always, Adele, bringing the powerful vocals and emotional sweep of Adele’s greatest hits to Downtown Park in Palm Springs. This free outdoor concert invites audiences to settle in under the evening sky for a night of soaring ballads in this dynamic tribute performance. More info
WED: Catherine O’Hara – Best in Show
Catherine O’Hara: Simply the Best starts on Wednesday, March 4 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center/Camelot Theatre with a big‑screen presentation of Best in Show, beginning with a 6:30 pm introduction and the film at 7 pm. This tribute series honors O’Hara’s brilliant comedic legacy, and Best in Show remains one of her most beloved performances—a sharp, laugh‑out‑loud mockumentary that dives into the eccentric world of competitive dog shows. Get tickets
THU: Yappy Hour
Yappy Hour returns to the Riviera Resort’s Desert Rose Garden on Thursday, March 5 from 4–6 pm, offering an afternoon of wine, hors d’oeuvres, and tail-wagging fun. Hosted by KiKi Tormo, this pet-friendly gathering invites guests and their leashed pups to mingle in a lush garden setting while supporting Animal Samaritans’ life-saving programs for local homeless animals. More info
FRI–SUN: Cathedral City LGBT Days
We at KGAY Desert Guide are tuning up our entry for the infamous Bed Race — with DJ Eric Ornelas proudly in the driver’s seat — as Cathedral City LGBT+ Days returns Friday–Sunday, March 6–8 at the Cathedral City Civic Center Plaza. This milestone 10th‑anniversary celebration brings a full weekend of live entertainment, community gatherings, drag performances, artisan vendors, the CommUNITY Strong Walk, and headliner David Archuleta. From Friday’s rally and Pride flag‑raising to Saturday’s all‑day festival and Sunday’s parade and bed race, the weekend showcases Cathedral City’s spirit and inclusivity. See our event listing for a detailed schedule: More info
Cathedral City will be honored for its steadfast commitment to LGBTQ+ equity during a special presentation on Saturday, March 7 from 7–7:30 pm at the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater, when the Human Rights Campaign presents the city with the Community Leadership Award on the Stonewall Main Stage. This prestigious recognition celebrates the city’s consistent perfect score on the Municipal Equality Index and its leadership in inclusive governance and nondiscrimination protections. More info
OPENS FRI: Meteor Shower
Desert Ensemble Theatre brings Steve Martin’s sharp, surreal humor to the stage with Meteor Shower, running March 6–15 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center/Camelot Theatre. This cosmic comedy follows a seemingly simple evening of dinner and stargazing that unravels into a whirlwind of absurdity, unexpected twists, and Martin’s signature off‑beat brilliance. Audiences can expect a fast-paced, imaginative ride that turns the ordinary into the hilariously extraordinary. Get tickets
FRI: Paula Poundstone
Enjoy an evening of legendary wit as iconic comedian Paula Poundstone takes the stage on Friday, March 6 at 8 pm at The Plaza Theatre. Known for her smart, observational humor and a spontaneous style that makes every performance unique, Poundstone has established herself as a titan of comedy through her work as a regular panelist on NPR’s Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me and her role as Forgetter Paula in the Inside Out films. This performance offers a chance to see the first woman to ever host the White House Correspondents Dinner! Get tickets
FRI & SAT: Brenna Whitaker
Brenna Whitaker returns to The Purple Room for two intimate nights on Friday and Saturday, March 5 and 6. Joined by Grammy Award–winning pianist Sam Barsh, she’ll weave songs from her new album Enraptured into the timeless, soul‑rich performances that have made her a favorite of legends like Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, and David Foster. With a voice built for drama and a stage presence that fills the room, Whitaker delivers an evening of jazz, swing, and emotional fire that feels both classic and boldly new. Get tickets
Guys and Dolls
CVRep delivers a bold new take on Damon Runyon’s New York with Guys and Dolls, running through March 22. This dynamic production drops audiences into the grit and glamour of Prohibition, where gamblers, nightclub performers, and missionaries collide in a fast‑moving mix of charm, scheming, and romance. Follow Nathan Detroit’s scramble to launch the city’s biggest craps game, Adelaide’s long wait for a wedding, and Sky Masterson’s unexpected pursuit of Sarah Brown in a sharply reimagined version of the award‑winning musical comedy. Our theatre reviewer Stephen Radosh called the production “Pure theatrical delight!…every element locks together with precision.” Read his full review and Get tickets
Destroying David
Dezart Performs presents the West Coast premiere of Jason Odell Williams’ Destroying David, an intimate and emotionally charged solo work that blends art history, personal grief, and the fragile beauty of what we choose to preserve. Running through March 8, the production invites audiences into a private after‑hours “tour” of Michelangelo’s David, where an art restorer (Aleisha Force) slowly reveals a deeply personal loss and a startling question at the heart of their journey. Our theatre reviewer, Stephen Radosh, says “Ms. Force delivers a remarkable performance… she succeeds in strengthening the bond between herself and the audience.” Read his full review and Get tickets
The Graduate
Desert TheatreWorks stages the iconic coming‑of‑age story The Graduate now through March 8. Scripted by Terry Johnson, the production follows recent college graduate Benjamin Braddock as he’s pulled into a charged and complicated triangle with Mrs. Robinson and her daughter Elaine. Presented in the round in DTW’s intimate Blackbox Theater, the show places audiences close to the tension as this classic tale unfolds. Get tickets
Camp Morning Wood
Camp Morning Wood contineus its west coast premiere run, presented by the new PRISM Theater at The 4707 through Sunday, March 22. Fresh from its Off‑Broadway success, this bold and irreverent musical follows a newly engaged couple who unexpectedly land at a gay nudist camp, setting the stage for cheeky comedy, lively songs and outrageous choreography. Get tickets
This Week at the Plaza Theatre
The Plaza Theatre’s week starts Monday with the Sound & Vision Awards, where Adopt the Arts honors rock icons Paul Rodgers and Geezer Butler in an evening led by Matt Sorum and hosted by Jane Lynch. The momentum continues Thursday with the acclaimed New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players’ reimagined production of The Mikado, followed on Friday by the sharp, quick-witted comedy of Paula Poundstone. Saturday brings an adventure-filled screening and conversation with Cary Elwes in The Princess Bride: An Inconceivable Evening, and Sunday rounds out the week with Vicki Lawrence & Mama: A Two-Woman Show, blending storytelling, music, and classic comedy. Get tickets
