Say Gay! – our rallying cry and theme for Palm Springs Pride 2022 has had a busy first year of existence. From Florida students shouting out the phrase to Wanda Sykes at the Academy Awards, these two words will live on in LGBTQ+ history.
What will that history look like to the next generation? We have an election next week that may tip the balance of power, and could spell more draconian laws for our communities. The scales of justice have already been tipped away from our favor, so we have much to be concerned about.
And we have much to celebrate this Palm Springs Pride weekend. Each of us will have a different experience as we take in the music, view the parade, interact with sponsors and community groups at their booths and partake in the world class hospitality that Greater Palm Springs is known for.
Revel we shall! But we should also use this weekend to make our voices heard even more strongly in the future. It should inspire us to continue to get involved, donate to LGBTQ+ causes and show the world that we’re all human beings that deserve our rights, freedoms and protections.
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide & KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
For the latest, follow our socials @GayDesertGuide and @KGAY1065 and listen to KGAY Palm Springs wherever you may be!
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PALM SPRINGS PRIDE WEEKEND: FRIDAY
KGAY 106.5 Arenas District Pride Kick Off
The Arenas District Pride Weekend Kickoff presented by KGAY 106.5 and Gay Desert Guide gets the weekend officially underway on Friday, November 4, from 5–11:30 pm. The party starts with high energy DJ’s spinning and dancing in the streets and the Arenas District is your spot for House and Dance music all weekend at the Gay Desert Guide and KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs Stage. Friday Kickoff DJs include DJ Mr D (Joe De Hoyos), DJ Aaron C (Aaron Cortes), DJ Millennium, and a Best of KGAY Retro Lunch with DJ Galaxy. Check out our event listing for set times: More info
We created a special commemorative SAY KGAY 106.5 T-shirt and will be giving them away on Friday from 4-6 pm (or until we run out). Bring your gently used shirt to donate to Well in the Desert in exchange. You can show your Pride by proudly wearing our vibrant rainbow logo!
The KGAY 106.5 Arenas District Block Party continues through the weekend, with a roster of DJs spinning for the heart of the Palm Springs gayborhood. LGBTQ+ bars and local businesses pack to the rafters and spill onto the streets for the biggest free LGBTQ+ street party in Palm Springs. Join Pride revelers and dancers at the open-air beverage lounge with DJ Sugarfree, DJ Femme A (Annie Flores), DJ Ray Rhodes, DJ Modgirl (Kellie McQuinn) and DJ Madevza on Saturday, with KGAY Retro brunch’s DJ Galaxy and Eric Ornelas on Sunday. The Robyn Party takes the stage at 4 pm on Sunday to close out the weekend! Get the latest schedule on our event listing: More info
At the intersection of Arenas Road and Indian Canyon, that’s where you can find our booth for Gay Desert Guide and KGAY 106.5, right near the Gay Desert Guide and KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs Stage! We will be giving out festive fans and “SAY KGAY 106.5” stickers. Post and tag a photo with our sticker @KGAY1065 on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and we’ll choose winners to receive FREE restaurant and shopping gift cards!
Palm Springs Art Museum T-Party and T-Dance
The Palm Springs Art Museum presents the Say Gay! T-Party & T-Dance Pride Celebration on Friday, November 4. Picking up on the city of Palm Springs’ Pride theme of Say Gay! in response to the ongoing attacks on the LGBTQIA+ community across the United States, the museum event will begin at 2 pm, featuring a reception and roundtable of local notables including Mayor Lisa Middleton, Dr. Jonathan Paul Higgins and Monique “Fauxnique” Jenkinson. The panel, moderated by former mayor Ron Oden, will spill the tea on current LGBTQIA+ issues and will adamantly Say Gay! The T-Party will be followed at 4 pm by a T-Dance in one of the museum’s main galleries, where multiple DJs will spin—including the duo DJ Gracy D & TKeys. Get tickets
Pride Main Stage Entertainment
The Palm Springs Pride Truly Vodka Main Stage is located at Palm Canyon and Amado, with live performers on Friday from 6–10 pm, Saturday from 3–11 pm, and Sunday from 11 am–6 pm. Headliners include Todrick Hall, Pussy Riot, Tanzer and Jake Zyrus, and you can find the full lineup of Main Stage entertainment on our event listing: More info
Interfaith Pride Shabbat Service
People of all faith communities and beliefs are invited to the 2022 Pride Welcoming of the Sabbath Service on Friday, November 4 at 6:30 pm. This pluralistic service, with a core of Jewish liturgy, includes song, ancient poetry, contemporary readings, and meditation led by members of our diverse community of faith groups: Or Hamidbar PS, United Methodist Church of Palm Springs, Bloom in the Desert Ministries UCC, Hope Palm Springs, and Saint Gilles Catholic Community. More info
Country Pride Dance
Palm Springs Rodeo presents Country Pride Dance 2022, a dance & social taking place Friday, November 4 from 7–11 pm at Oscar’s. This dance will be remarkably similar to Dancing Under the Stars (a highlight of Hot Rodeo every year). Top features include a live DJ spinning your Country-Western favorites for dancing and listening pleasure. Enjoy a wide variety of popular dance steps including two-step, waltz, shadow, swing, lots of line dances and more all night long. Yee-hah! More info
LGBTQ+ History & Archives of the Desert Exhibition
The LGBTQ+ History & Archives of the Desert presents Telling their Stories, Celebrating their Legacy from Thursday, November 3–Sunday, November 6 at the Welwood Murray Library as an official event of Palm Springs Pride. This second major exhibition of the LGBTQ+ History & Archives of the Desert tells the stories of local LGBT organizations, businesses and events celebrating milestone anniversaries this year. More info
