Rainbow Alphabet Soup. That’s my new phrase for the many colors and letters that are used by our community. If you took the recent CMI Community Survey, we asked how you feel about terms from “Gay” to LGBTQIA+ being used by corporations, non-profits or in the media.
There’s a big shift happening between two competing words that have had negative connotations over the years.
Just using the term “gay” is only favorable to a third of us. “Queer” is now favorable to just over half of respondents. LGBTQ and LGBTQ+ seem to be where most of us land for terminology at 70%.
Will I need to become “QueerDesertGuide” in the future? And how many colors will the rainbow have to display? The times they are a changin’!!
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide & KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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Monday: LGBTQ Business Succession Planning Workshop & Mixer
The Desert Business Association presents an LGBTQ Business Succession Planning Workshop on Monday, July 11 from 3:30–5 pm at the Renaissance Hotel. The workshop encourages LGBTQ business owners to develop (or enhance) a business succession plan…something that many do not have in-place or think much about. This is the first of five workshops being held across the country, sponsored by Absolut and the National LGBT Chamber (NGLCC), and locally in partnership with the Desert Business Association (DBA), the LGBTQ Chamber of the Desert. In addition, all participants are invited to join the DBA Networking Mixer immediately after, also at the Renaissance Hotel, where Justin Nelson, President and Co-Founder of the National LGBT Chamber (NGLCC), along with Sabrina Kent, NGLCC Executive Vice President, will be joining the workshop and the mixer to share what is happening at NGLCC, and the benefits of LGBT Business Certification, offered through the NGLCC. More info
RuPaul Recap: All Stars Season 7, Episode 9
Our Gay Desert Guide Drag Correspondent, Dante Noto, has published his latest upbeat recap of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 7 (See all of his RuPaul Recaps here). This week the queens are tasked with leveraging their brands into a signature social media dance challenge. Read on to find out whose dance involves the “Rip it and Grip It,” and whose dance the judges loved most! Read the full recap of Episode 9: Dance Like Drag Queen [here].
Monday Night Bingo with Bella da Ball
King’s Highway at The Ace Hotel is bringing back their Monday Night Bingo after a two year hiatus, Mondays from 7–9 pm. The beautiful and lovely Palm Springs treasure Bella da Ball is back too! She will be hosting, calling numbers and giving away prizes. Reservations are strongly recommended as space is limited. More info
Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage
Grab your friends and your passport to new adventures with Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage, running from Monday, July 11 through Friday August 12. Come hungry! Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage is an annual tradition of sizzling specials and tantalizing treats for the community to enjoy. Participating restaurants run the gamut from State Fare at the Ritz-Carlton, Willie’s Modern Fare, Las Casuelas Nuevas, and Haus of Poke, to Krispy Kreme and many more. It not only helps local restaurants during slower months, your $10 wristband is also a fundraiser for local nonprofits. More info
Mon Petit Salon
Mon Petit Salon is an eclectic mix of improvised world music, Monday evenings from 5–7:30 pm in the VIP Lounge at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. Each week features different artists and genres, from blues, jazz, electro, classical, and more, you’ll experience musical genius and improvisation along with variations on songs you know and love. The shows are hosted by Jeremie Levi Samson, a violin virtuoso from Paris, France, and produced by Mon Petit Mojave, an award-winning musical experience from the hi-desert. Reservations recommended. More info
Jazz on the 2nd Floor
Leanna and the Jazz Collective invites you back to the golden days of the “Great American Songbook” performing jazz standards at Jazz on the 2nd Floor, Tuesday evenings from 5–7:30 pm in the VIP Lounge at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. Fall in love to the seductive beats of the congas–played by Leanna’s tantalizingly rhythmic husband Miguel–or flirt along the riffs of her entourage’s capricious fantasies. Reservations recommended. More info
Women Like Us – Support Group
The Center presents Women Like Us, a therapeutic support group facilitated by Dr. Ann Engel, ASW on Tuesday, July 12 from 4–5:30 pm. This is a therapeutic support group for self-identified women who love women. It is an ongoing group and you can join it at any time. It will meet at the Center on the 2nd Floor. More info
The Center’s Inaugural Women’s Social
Come meet other incredible women at the first edition of The Center Women’s Social on Wednesday, July 13 from 5:30–7 pm in the Tropics Lounge at Margaritaville Palm Springs (next to the ‘Come Monday Cafe’). This event is open to all LGBTQ+ women. More info