We’ve had a week of great loss to our local LGBTQ+ community with the passing of two legends whose Venn diagram would show great overlap in fundraising, while going about it in very different ways.
First, we learned of the passing of John McDonald, whose name I first came to know when I lived in Hollywood some 20 years ago. He and his husband, Rob Wright, had already made an impact at the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Their names appeared on a building there, and John was well known for his work in sexual-orientation law at the Williams Institute for Sexual Orientation Law & Public Policy.
Their mark made in Palm Springs was just as impressive: gifting The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert its current home. The McDonald/Wright Building, as it is now known, is headquarters to The Center’s administrative offices, six community rooms, the David Bohnett CyberCenter, and the Scott Hines Behavioral Health Clinic.
Then we received the news that Palm Springs drag icon Douglas Woodmansee had died. He and his husband, Marshall Pearcy, of Les Dames du Soleil. Theirs was philanthropy born of struggle, with a deep love for our community.
Woodmansee, alongside Pearcy, performed as Maude Chapeau and Dottie Du Boise, respectively. Since 1994, Les Dames du Soleil has raised over $2 million for DAP Health through their performances at various venues, including bars, parties, and LGBTQ events. In recognition of their contributions, a lobby area in DAP Health’s Barbara Keller Love Building is dedicated to the troupe.
The money they raised came very differently from that of John and Rob. Yet both couples made tremendous impact that will live on for generations. But that brings up the question:
What does that next generation look like?
I haven’t quite processed the death of these two men I respected deeply and had come to know over my tenure here in the desert. I will treasure my conversations and interactions with them forever. Their names will endure on the walls of buildings that stand as a memorial for those of us who have been marginalized and stigmatized.
These men and their partners found ways to make the world a better place for our community in very different ways. But who will follow and will they have the same dedication that these gentIemen had?
Brad Fuhr, your K-Gay Desert Guide
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La Quinta Art Celebration
The La Quinta Art Celebration returns Thursday–Sunday, February 26–March 1 at the La Quinta Civic Center, transforming the park into a four‑day showcase of world‑class creativity. Jury‑selected artists from across the nation and around the globe present original works in a stunning outdoor setting known for its enthusiastic patrons, exceptional hospitality, and polished, VIP‑level experience. With top‑tier art, strong community support, and a beautifully curated environment, it remains one of the desert’s most anticipated fine‑arts events. More info
Black History Parade & Town Fair
The Palm Springs Black History Committee presents the Annual Black History Parade and Town Fair on Saturday, February 28 at 11 am in downtown Palm Springs, bringing the community together for a celebration of culture, heritage, and unity. The parade steps off along Palm Canyon Drive, followed by the Town Fair at Downtown Park, where visitors can enjoy live entertainment, local vendors, food, music, and activities for all ages. It’s a lively, welcoming day that honors the rich legacy of Black history in Palm Springs and invites everyone to take part in the celebration. More info
Marilyn, Mom & Me
Marilyn, Mom & Me comes to the Annenberg Theater on Saturday, February 28 at 7 pm, with a second performance on Sunday, March 1 at 2 pm, featuring Morgan Fairchild as Eileen Heckart and playwright Luke Yankee appearing as himself. This intimate staged reading traces the unlikely and deeply personal friendship between Marilyn Monroe and Broadway character actress Eileen Heckart during the filming of Bus Stop, and how that bond shaped Heckart’s life and her relationship with her son. Dive into our candid interview with Morgan Fairchild and Luke Yankee talking to John Taylor on the KGAY Morning Show! Get tickets
Legends of Pop Festival: Madonna, Michael Jackson, Prince
The Legends of Pop Festival brings a high‑energy celebration of three music icons to The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa on Saturday, February 28 at 6 pm. This tribute to Madonna, Prince, and Michael Jackson fills the evening with live performances, trivia, costume contests, and themed food and drinks, all leading up to a dazzling concert honoring the artists who shaped generations of pop music. Expect a dynamic, nostalgia‑packed experience that captures the spirit, style, and sound of these legendary performers. Get tickets
Monét X Change
Monét X Change brings her “High Heels, Bad Knees” tour to The Plaza Theatre on Saturday, February 28 at 7:30 pm, serving up a fast, fearless, and delightfully unhinged hour of stand‑up that dives into the chaos of adulting, questionable life choices, and joints that are…doing their best. From package pirates to the perils of middle seats, she tackles it all with razor‑sharp wit and full‑tilt comedic power. Get tickets
Judy Collins
Judy Collins takes the stage at The Plaza Theatre on Sunday, March 1 at 7 pm, bringing her luminous voice and decades of artistry to an intimate evening of music and storytelling. With classics like “Both Sides Now” and “Send in the Clowns” woven alongside newer work, she offers a performance that reflects a lifetime of creativity, activism, and emotional depth. Get tickets
PSPD Open House “Behind the Badge”
Step inside the world of local public safety at the PSPD Open House “Behind the Badge,” happening Saturday, February 28 from 3–6 pm at the Palm Springs Police Department. This interactive afternoon invites the community to meet the officers who serve Palm Springs every day, explore department tours, and experience live demonstrations from the Drone, SWAT, and K9 units. It’s a rare, up‑close look at how “Exemplary Service” comes to life — perfect for families, neighbors, and anyone curious about the work that keeps our city safe. More info
Flagging in the Desert
Flagging in the Desert brings its colorful, spinning community gathering to Wellness Park on Saturday, February 28 from 10:30 am–3:30 pm. Guests can enjoy a free introductory flagging class at 10:30 am, followed by an afternoon of music from DJ Jamie J. Sanchez as colorful flags fill the park’s open spaces. Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch, relax in the shade and take in the movement and music. Donations support Well in the Desert and its food‑assistance programs. More info
BNP Paribas Open Begins
The BNP Paribas Open begins Sunday, March 1, 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
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. Opening Thursday, February 26 at 7 pm and running through March 8, the production invites audiences into a private after‑hours “tour” of Michelangelo’s David, where an art restorer slowly reveals a deeply personal loss and a startling question at the heart of their journey. Get tickets
Clue – Live on Stage!
Clue – Live on Stage! brings its fast‑paced, laugh‑filled mystery to the stage with five performances this Friday–Sunday, February 27–March 1, inviting audiences into the delightfully chaotic world of Boddy Manor. Inspired by the classic film and the beloved Hasbro board game, the production follows six suspicious guests, a mansion full of secrets, and a string of twists that keep everyone guessing until the final reveal. 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
In the Wake
The BENT’s production of Lisa Kron’s In the Wake runs through February 28, bringing audiences into the turbulence of the 2000 presidential election—yes, that one, with parallels that still resonate. Ellen, a political junkie, finds her convictions colliding with those of her partner and friends, exposing personal blind spots and challenging assumptions about the country. Funny, passionate, and sharp, this searing work from Palm Springs’ LGBTQ+ theater company delivers a gripping look at belief, identity, and the cost of certainty. Get tickets
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. Guided by the enigmatic Leading Player, this vibrant production follows young Prince Pippin through war, pleasure, politics, and illusion, all set to an iconic score and the show’s signature theatrical magic. 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
Hair
Hair is on a spirited run through March 1 at Palm Canyon Theatre, channeling the raw energy and cultural revolution of the 1960s. Audiences are invited into a world of peace, love, and youthful rebellion as a tribe of free‑spirited hippies navigates identity, protest, and the power of community. With its electrifying rock score and timeless call for change, this landmark musical continues to resonate with its bold, joyful, and unapologetically revolutionary spirit. Get tickets
Camp Morning Wood
Camp Morning Wood is making its west coast premiere, presented by the new PRISM Theater at The 4707 for a run that continues 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
The Art of Science
The Art of Science offers an intimate one‑man performance that blends live music, immersive visuals, and thought‑provoking scientific storytelling. Created by local artist Patrick Olson and refined after a successful Off‑Broadway chapter, the show invites audiences to explore connection, consciousness, and the universe in a uniquely moving way. Complimentary 45‑minute preview performances take place Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, with Saturday 2 pm matinees newly added due to popular demand! More info
Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival
The Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival runs Thursdays–Sundays in Indio through March 1 with food, entertainment, and classic fair fun, celebrating our region’s rich date‑growing heritage. Visitors can explore agricultural exhibits, live music, carnival rides, cooking demonstrations, and cultural performances, all set within one of the desert’s most beloved annual traditions. More info
CINEMA FRANÇAIS 2026
CINEMA FRANÇAIS 2026 brings four days of exceptional French filmmaking to the historic Camelot Theatre from Thursday–Sunday, February 26–March 1. Presented by the Palm Springs Cultural Center, the festival showcases ten films ranging from intimate character studies to award‑winning literary adaptations, all screened with English subtitles. The event opens with Valensole 1965 and a post‑film conversation with director Dominique Filhol and investigative journalist Paola Harris, then continues with a rich lineup exploring love, memory, ethics, identity, and the unexpected corners of human experience. Get tickets.
