White Party grew out of an idea by the late Jeffrey Sanker to have a carefree 1989 Easter weekend here with his friends after a devastating decade of the AIDS epidemic. This weekend, we celebrate with a cloud over our heads again.
This time the threat if from the radical right. At this week’s Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast, that fight was summed up eloquently by our honoree Nicole Murray Ramirez. She succinctly capsulized our LBGTQ struggles over time, but ended with a message of hope:
“We must stand united and send a message to everyone but when you attack the ‘T’ in LGBTQ — and our youth — you attacked all of us. (In) this war against us, we will prevail!
I say to you and to America: Read this queen’s siliconed, Botoxed lips, we are never going back into those closets.”
So I ask: What will today’s generation create out of this darkness to celebrate our eventual victories as Jeffrey Sanker did?
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide on KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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White Party Palm Springs
White Party Palm Springs splashes down from Friday through Sunday, May 12–14 at both the Palm Springs Hilton & the Convention Center. The ultimate LGBTQ+ Music Festival is entering its unprecedented 33rd year with 3 days and nights and a total of 7 amazing parties with global DJ’s, world class recording artists, and amazing specialty acts to keep you entertained non-stop all weekend long! Weekend Passes as well as individual event tickets are available. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday all feature “Soaked!” pool parties at the Hilton Palm Springs Pool, and Friday is the Fluidity party where VINCINT will headline the performers with special guest the legendary Kevin Aviance. On Saturday, the White Out party is for traditional white or your favorite snow and ice costume fantasy, and Sunday features the Orbit T-Dance, outdoors across the street from the Convention Center with dance divas Cece Peniston, Robin S, Inaya Day, Crystal Waters, & Ultra Naté performing.
Before you head into the T-Dance, be sure to stop by the KGAY booth at the entrance to warm up for the party and get a selfie with our go-go dancer! If you can’t make it in person, join us on the air: KGAY’s John Taylor will be LIVE at the Orbit T-Dance, broadcasting updates on all the goings-on from 4–6 pm during the KGAY Sunday T-Dance show. White Party Weekend wraps up Sunday night with the Escape closing party, back inside the Convention Center. Get tickets
Mom’s Dead – An Evening of Comedy with Shann Carr
Shann Carr presents Mom’s Dead – An Evening of Comedy on Saturday, May 13 at Weifel’s Mortuary Chapel at 7 pm, and Saturday happens to be Shann’s birthday! Shann is workshopping her first scripted comedy concert, and this will be a fun, 3rd workshop-night of the raw and raucous stories she’s waited a lifetime to tell about her brilliant, dynamic and evil-genius mother. Shann says “Come forget about your family drama and laugh at mine. A really funny and sorta awkward evening of love, loss and laughter.” And we say, Happy Birthday, Shann! Get tickets
Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival
The Palm Springs Cultural Center presents the 2023 Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival from Thursday–Sunday, May 11–14. Founded in 2000 by the late mystery author and Palm Springs community leader, Arthur Lyons, the popular Film Noir festival includes an eclectic mixture of prestigious and obscure black and white “B” movies from the classic film noir period. The Festival is known for unearthing and screening rare films, restored classics, and for the special appearances of the stars who were in them. Get tickets
John Lloyd Young
The Purple Room Supper Club presents John Lloyd Young on Friday and Saturday, May 12 & 13. Broadway’s Jersey Boy is the Tony and Grammy award-winning Frankie Valli from Broadway’s Jersey Boys as well as the star of the Clint Eastwood directed Warner Bros film. The show is a celebration of classic hits from the ‘50s and ‘60s presented in the authentic acoustic style of original rock ‘n’ roll, Doo-Wop, and R&B standards. Dinner at 6 pm, show at 8 pm. Get tickets
A Cabbello: A Little Bach/A Lotta Bacharach
A Cabbello presents A Little Bach/A Lotta Bacharach at 3 pm on Saturday, May 13 at PS UNDERGROUND, a unique, cabaret-style Palm Springs venue. Get ready to experience the creative geniuses of these two amazing composers, working centuries apart, who broke ground and smashed conventional ideas of form, harmonies, and in the case of Bacharach–songwriting. For many of us, this music was the soundtrack of our younger days. Come revel in his groundbreaking, sophisticated style which he perfected along with his lyricist Hal David, and their muse Dionne Warwick. You’ll hear some of Johann Sebastian Bach’s genius in re-imagined ways, too! Get tickets
The Last Five Years – A Modern Musical
Desert Theatreworks presents The Last Five Years, A Modern Musical, from May 12–21. Told through inventive, funny and powerful songs, The Last Five Years is a two-character musical that navigates the ins and outs – and ups and downs – of a marriage. Written by Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown (Parade), this Drama Desk Award winner is the beautiful story of a couple’s five year relationship. Get tickets
RuPaul’s DragCon LA 2023
RuPaul’s DragCon LA 2023 takes place Friday and Saturday, May 12 & 13, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Meet your icons, shop incredible industry vendors, and see show-stopping performances and surprises alongside thousands of like minded drag enthusiasts just like you. See the queens walk in real life in the infamous Walk of All Walks on Friday, with nonstop main stage performances all weekend and after hours parties too. KGAY Morning Show host John Taylor and Afternoon Personality Chris Shebel are heading to DragCon, so look for their posts on our KGAY Facebook & Insta! Get tickets
Dante’s Drag Race Recaps Return Friday
Gay Desert Guide Drag Correspondent Dante Noto is back on the beat and gearing up to offer weekly recaps of the upcoming Season 8 of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, which premieres this Friday, May 12 on Paramount+ with a double episode! Check out Dante’s preview of the thirteen queens returning from earlier seasons to compete for a spot in the Drag Race Hall of Fame, as well as some thoughts on why this is a time when, as Dante writes, “Now more than ever, it’s vital to stand up for and celebrate the drag and trans communities.” Read the full preview [here].
Coachella Valley Firebirds Advance to Round 3 in the Playoffs
Success continues in the inaugural season for our local ice hockey expansion team, the Coachella Valley Firebirds! This season, they began play in the 2022-23 American Hockey League with the brand-new Acrisure Arena as their home ice, as an owned-and-operated affiliate of the Seattle Kraken. Impressively, they made it to the playoffs and have advanced to Round 3 against the Calgary Wranglers! Game 2 of the round will be played on Friday, May 12 in Calgary, and Games 3–5 (if needed) will be played back on home ice at Acrisure Arena, starting Monday, May 15. Get tickets
Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man
Bus Stop Productions presents Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man in the Tropics Lounge at the Margaritaville Resort on Fridays and Saturdays through May 27, with two shows per night at 7 pm & 9:30 pmThis popular play is set at a local university auditorium where the English department holds its monthly meet the authors event. Robyn is the shy and studious moderator of the event and this month’s featured author is Dan Anderson of Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man. With the help of a hunky stage assistant named Stefan, Dan aims to turn this meet the authors event upside down with a highly theatrical, audience interactive sex tip seminar. Get tickets
Check out all weekend events at the GayDesertGuide.com
