Pride month is in full spendor as LA Pride just wrapped up over the weekend, and a new week awaits us to help celebrate this month of rainbows, unicorns and Target shopping.
I went to the Palm Desert Target store just to support the brand. Low and behold, the Pride display was still in the FRONT of the store. My purchase: Underwear benefitting The Trevor Project.
Acrisure’s Berger Foundation Iceplex gets in on the Pride action with a “frozen pool party” that we’ll be co-sponsoring this week. And “the show must go on” – Pride night at Dodger Stadium comes to fruition Friday after their missteps earlier.
Our local Pride celebration waits till November, but you can do your part to keep Palm Springs Pride “free” by coming to the Big Gay BBQ next weekend. Finger lickin’ fun awaits!
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide on KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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Coachella Announces 2024 Dates
The Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival (also known as simply “Coachella”) has announced the dates for next year’s two-weekend event: April 12–14, and April 19–21, at the Empire Polo Club in Indio. While we won’t likely know who is playing until that is announced much later, Advance sale for Coachella 2024 passes starts Friday, June 16 at 11am PT. More info
Pride Night at Power Stadium
The Palm Springs Gay Softball League is hosting the annual Pride Night at Power Stadium on Tuesday, June 13 at 7 pm. Celebrate Pride Night during National Pride Month at Power Stadium with your local softball league and KGAY! Celebrate being loud, proud, and loved while watching our local Palm Springs Power baseball team. More info
Pride Frozen Pool Party
The Berger Foundation Iceplex at Acrisure Arena presents its first-ever Pride Frozen Pool Party on the ice on Wednesday, June 14 from 6:30–8:30 pm. Consider it opposite day at the Iceplex, turning the ice into a summer paradise! Skate to the grooves of DJ Modgirl and wear your favorite poolside attire (layer up, though, because of course it’s an ice rink). Enjoy games, giveaways, and giant floaties and beach balls, and share your pride by writing colorful messages on the ice. Get a free t-shirt with admission while supplies last. Get tickets
Coachella Valley Firebirds: Calder Cup Final
The Coachella Valley Firebirds have made it to the Calder Cup Final in their inaugural 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. They’ve emerged victorious from the Western Conference Finals, and are now in the the Calder Cup Finals (best of 7 games) against the Hershey Bears, and they’ve started by winning two home games and will be playing away at Hershey on Tuesday, June 13 and Thursday, June 15, plus Saturday, June 17 if necessary and then the series will return to the Coachella Valley for Games 6 & 7 on Monday, June 19 and Wednesday, June 21…if necessary. Get tickets
Can’t Cancel Pride 2023
Can’t Cancel Pride 2023 – The Future Starts Now takes place as a livestream on Thursday, June 15 at 5 pm PT, for an evening recognizing the LGBTQ+ community and celebrating organizations creating a more inclusive and equal world. Hosted by JoJo Siwa, this year’s fourth annual Can’t Cancel Pride will focus on the LGBTQ+ community’s past achievements, the urgency of the present moment and the hope for our future. This year, the 2023 Elton John Impact Award will be presented to Brandi Carlile for her humanitarian work with the Looking Out Foundation, which amplifies the impact of music by funding and empowering causes and organizations that often go unnoticed. Watch live or on demand through June 30 on iHeartRadio’s Facebook and YouTube pages, Revry, The Roku Channel, and The Advocate Channel. More info
LGBTQ Night at Dodger Stadium
The Dodgers have again teamed up with their long-time community nonprofit partner LA Pride to host their annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night at Dodger Stadium, presented by Blue Shield of California, on Friday, June 16. LA Pride fans will enjoy a host of extras, before & after the 7:10 pm matchup against the SF Giants including: LA Pride Party in the Centerfield Plaza at 5:30 pm with DJ Bowie Jane, specialty drinks with commemorative Pride Night cups, the all new LA Pride Dodgers jersey for 2023, on-field honors to community notables, and a post-game drone light show. Get tickets
Recap: Season 8 RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, Episode 6
Gay Desert Guide Drag Correspondent Dante Noto has your latest recap for RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 8, Episode 6: JOAN! The Unauthorized Rusical, and Dante says, “It’s a new day and the werkroom is decorated with portraits of two great Hollywood stars: Joan Crawford and Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford. (Really, who can tell them apart anymore?). This week’s maxi challenge will be to perform in JOAN! The Unauthorized Rusical. Each queen will play Joan at a different stage in her career.” Find out how it all went down, how they worked the runway, and who was sent home when you read his full recap of Episode 6 [here].
Trans and Nonbinary Tuesday
The Transgender Health and Wellness Center hosts their monthly social event, Trans and Nonbinary Tuesday on Tuesday, June 13 at 6 pm at the Trixie Motel. Attendees have the opportunity to mingle with the gender diverse community and get connected to vital resources. Community partnerships are created with local businesses so community members are safe to gather and enjoy. More info
Gender Euphoria Workshop
Join The Center Coachella on Wednesday, June 14 from 1–2:30 pm for a Gender Euphoria Workshop to explore a variety of non-medical options (binders, gaffs, chest forms, makeup, etc) to increase gender euphoria. Youth ages 13+ welcome. More info
S.T.A.R. Workshop – Working with Prime Contractors
Southern California Edison & the Desert Business Association present a virtual SCE Business STAR Workshop, Hidden Rules to Working with Prime Contractors, on Tuesday, June 13 from 9 am–11:30 am. In this course, participants will learn common expectations among prime contractors and large businesses. Participants will explore varying distinctions that allow companies to thrive and succeed in the larger marketplace. Participants will determine the steps necessary to prepare and engage with Primes. Finally, they will learn how to evaluate strategies to obtain experience in subcontracting, teaming, and mentor/protégé structures. More info
A Woman’s Guide to Healthy Aging
Eisenhower Health & The Center present A Women’s Guide to Healthy Aging on Wednesday, June 14 from 4–5 pm via Zoom. As many women over 50 know, some things just get better with age. However, aging also increases the risk for developing health conditions that can impact your quality of life. To take care of yourself at any age, it pays to be well informed. Join Cari Sudmeier, NP, to learn about a few conditions that are common among women as they age – and what you can do to prevent or treat them. More info
The ABCDEs of Melanoma
Eisenhower Health and the Mizell Center present The ABCDEs of Melanoma on Thursday, June 15, from 12–1 pm at the Mizell Center. One easy way to remember common characteristics of melanoma is to think alphabetically using the ABCDEs of melanoma – Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter and Evolving. These are the characteristics of skin damage that doctors look for when diagnosing and classifying melanomas. Join Jaime DeVito, MD, Board Certified in Dermatology, to get answers to the common questions concerning melanoma. More info
CVRep Summer Cabaret Series: Pride with Glenn Rosenblum
CVRep presents their Summer Cabaret Series on Thursdays at 7 pm. This week, it’s on Thursday, June 15, and Glenn Rosenblum is back to explore the Broadway and Off Broadway Musicals that celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride. With video clips, backstage gossip and songs at the piano with special guests David Engel and Leslie Stevens of the Original 1983 Broadway Production of La Cage Aux Folles and Alix Korey of the 2000 Off-Broadway hit musical The Wild Party. See our event listing to see the variety of talent lined up in this series: Get tickets
Cocktail Cinema Summer Film Series: Queen & Slim
The Palm Springs Art Museum presents the “Cocktail Cinema” Summer Film Series during the museum’s Thursday Night Sessions with free admission from 5–9 pm. The series features four films with iconic soundtracks that reflect their time and place, and each film will be paired with a specially crafted cocktail prepared by That’s The Spirit Mobile Bar. On Thursday, June 15 at 6 pm, the film will be Queen & Slim (2019). After a first date, a young black man and woman (Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith) are pulled over for a minor traffic violation. When the situation escalates, a white policeman is killed and the couple is forced to go on the run. The soundtrack features various artists that honor the history and diversity of black music and aims to continue the legacy of artists who used their music as activism. Although the film begins at 6 pm, attendees are encouraged to get to the museum at 5 pm to purchase and enjoy one of the specialty drinks. Free event, registration required. More info
Palm Springs Single Guys Mixer
Palm Springs Single Guys present their monthly social mixer on Thursday, June 15 from 5:30–7:30 pm in the VIP Lounge at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. This free event is, according to organizers, “nothing too complicated, just a great group of single guys who are looking for connection.” Take a chance, step out of your comfort zone, and chat with some wonderful guys. The next mixer will take place July 13. More info
Boyz Night Out
On Friday, June 16—and every Friday night!— Zoso Fun presents Boyz Night Out at Hotel Zoso from 4 pm–8 pm. This legendary pool party and happy hour is hosted by Snatch and features music from K-Gay’s own multi award-winning deejay Vincente Corrales as DJ Galaxy! Come and enjoy go-go boys, awesome drink specials, pop up drag events, PS Flaggers and more, and kick off the weekend! More info
Dive-In Movie: Puss in Boots – The Last Wish
Palm Desert Aquatic Center presents their Dive-In Movie Series, sponsored by Family YMCA of the Desert, this Friday, June 16 at 7:30 pm at the Palm Desert Aquatic Center. The film will be Disney’s charming and popular Puss in Boots – The Last Wish. Sing along with Puss and all your favorite characters in this tale of redemption and happy adventures under the stars and in the pool. The many amenities will be open including the slides, rock climbing wall, rope swing and more. Bring the kids, towels, a blanket and your swimsuits! More info
Visitor Map & Guide Summer Edition
The Summer 2023 edition of our Gay Desert Guide Visitor Map & Guide (great for locals too!) is available now around town and online! We help you find everything you need to know while visiting or living in the Coachella Valley, featuring the top places for Food & Drink, Nightlife, Shopping, Attractions, Gay Resorts with passes, Dispensaries and other services. You can also view it online, and download the PDF [here].
THIS WEEKEND
Heklina’s Birthday Memorial & Roast Screening
Celebrate the life of Heklina with love, laughs and filthy jokes on Saturday, June 17 (her birthday) from 7–9 pm at her artistic home in the desert, The Palm Springs Cultural Center. Presenters include Mario Diaz, Vanity Halston and Anita Treadmill, with performances by Heklina’s friends Deven Green & Handsome Ned, Mutha Chucka, Monistat and Matthew Martin & Andy Clements. Followed by very special screenings of: Heklina, a documentary short (2013) by Brian Favorite and The Drag Roast of Heklina (2019) courtesy of Revry. Proceeds benefit Animal Samaritans and the ACLU Drag Defense Fund. Get tickets
Low Dez Fest Summer Preview
Palm Springs Bottle Shop presents a Low Dez Fest Summer Preview, an LGBTQ+ wine tasting and mini-festival on Saturday, June 17 from 3–7 pm at Market Market. This event is a preview for the planned Low Dez Fest in the fall of 2023 (dates TBD), to bring together makers to build community, showcase their products, learn from one another, and revitalize spirits in the desert magic of Palm Springs. Come enjoy wine, beer, sake, and non-alcoholic beverage tasting with pop up food, music and dancing! Get tickets
No Time to Spare – HRC Palm Springs Bowling for Equality
The HRC Palm Springs Bowling for Equality event is back this Sunday, June 18 from 2:30–4:30 pm at Palm Springs Lanes. This fundraiser couldn’t take place at a more urgent time. With relentless attacks in state legislatures across the country on LGBTQ+ youth and their families, we have No Time to Spare in the fight for equality. Join your fellow HRC members and supporters at the Palm Springs Lanes this June for a great afternoon of bowling, fun, and friends – all while supporting HRC’s work to advance equality for all LGBTQ+ people. More info
Sunday Supper: A Juneteenth “Family” Reunion
Join Brothers of the Desert and members of the larger Black LBGTQ+ community to celebrate Juneteenth and consider its traditions and meaning on Sunday, June 18 from 4–8 pm at Mizell Center. Dinner will be prepared and provided by some our best chefs in the community. There will be a short program of music and spoken word offerings by Sweet Baby J’ai, Keisha D, Richard Riley, Anye Elite, Perry Lang and others, plus a tribute to leader and trailblazer, Gail Christian. After dinner, the celebration continues with music and dancing, plus a contest for the best Juneteenth cake with a prize of a gourmet gift basket. Get tickets
Laguna Beach Pride Fundraiser
Laguna Beach Pride 365 presents a premiere event “I am what I am…”, an evening-long Drag Cabaret and Fundraising Event on Saturday, June 17 from 6–10 pm at the Bridge Hall & Garden Courtyard. The cabaret entertainment will feature on stage a bevy of the best comedic Drag personalities that Orange County has to offer, featuring Miss Take, Koutur, Electra, and Cucu Chanel, with their local DJ in the mix all night long, with a silent auction to benefit the new community Rainbow Lifeguard Tower of Diversity at West Street Beach and Laguna Beach annual Pride Festival activities. More info
Screwball Sundays: Ball of Fire
The Palm Springs Cultural Center presents a series of the greatest screwball comedies of Hollywood’s golden age, showing Ball of Fire (1941) on Sunday, June 18 at 3 pm. Hoping to update his chapter on modern slang, encyclopedia writer Professor Bertram Potts (Gary Cooper) ventures into a chic nightclub. Inside, he meets the snarky burlesque performer “Sugarpuss” O’Shea (Barbara Stanwyck). Fascinated by her command of popular jargon, Potts invites her to stay with him. But, unknown to Potts, she is the fiancée of a mobster (Dana Andrews) and wanted by the police. In the ensuing mayhem, Potts must stay on his toes or be swallowed up by bigger fish. Get tickets
Aces!
The Palm Springs Cultural Center presents Aces! on Sunday, June 18 at 2 pm, featuring an afternoon of laughter, tears, truth, Texas, and a whole lot of champagne. Join five Miss Texas USAs as they come together for a hilarious reunion in this side-splitting comedy directed by Judith Chapman and written by Davis Gordon Gilbert. After 35 years, the queens of beauty and grace reunite for a no-holds-barred reunion, starring Denise Strand, Dana Adkins, Kitty Murray, Yo Younger, Denise Carey, and Christine Tringali-Nunez, lighting up the stage with their laughter and charm! Get tickets
Native American Arts Festival
Idyllwild Arts Foundation presents its annual Native American Arts Festival Week from Sunday, June 18 to Friday, June 23 at the Idyllwild Arts campus. The week-long event, which has run each summer for over two decades, is designed to enhance and enrich the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program with Native American arts-based programming including an invitational exhibition, demonstrations, Native food tastings and the Michael Kabotie Lecture Series. All festival week events are free and open to the public. More info
LOOKING AHEAD
ShortFest Tickets & Passes on Sale Now
The Palm Springs International ShortFest is almost here, running June 20–26, and they have released the line-up of screenings [Read more] as well as forum programs and participants [Read more]. This year’s festival will showcase an impressive selection of 299 films from 65 countries, including 53 World Premieres, 10 International Premieres, 33 North American Premieres, and 18 U.S. Premieres. The films were curated from over 6,000 film submissions. Passes and individual tickets are on sale now: Get tickets
🙌 You can also enter to win tickets to ShortFest 2023 on our KGAY Contest Page 🙌
OutFest Tickets & Passes on Sale Tuesday, June 20
OutFest Los Angeles is the largest LGBTQ+ film festival in the world and the 41st Annual Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival is set to take place July 13–23 at various locations around Los Angeles. Tickets and Passes for OutFest 2023 go on sale Tuesday, June 20 The festival will open with Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, directed by Aitch Alberto, and the 11-day event will close with Chasing Chasing Amy, directed by Sav Rodgers. The Opening Night Gala will screen at the Orpheum Theatre, with the Closing Night Gala screening at The Montalbán Theatre. More info
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On the Air: KGAY 106.5
Win VIP Tickets to Pride Under the Pines
Pride Under The Pines returns to Idyllwild on Saturday October 7 and KGAY has your top tier VIP tickets to join John Taylor on the KGAY Party Bus! You get free drinks and incredible entertainment by fabulous and hilarious drag queens on the ride to the top of the mountain in style. Plus, you’ll have access to an open bar, an interactive movie and a special meet-and-greet with this year’s headliner. Pride Under the pines features fabulous entertainers for a fun day of music, drag shows, dancing, entertainment, food, drinks, vendors, and more, plus music by the amazing @djgalaxyps and vibe curator @djalexd_ Enter to Win on the KGAY Contest Page
Win VIP Passes to Gay Wine Weekend!
Out in the Vineyard’s Gay Wine Weekend 2023 is July 14–16, a perfect time to get out of the desert to visit Northern California for 3 full nights of LGBT events in the magnificent Sonoma Valley, home to some of the world’s most prestigious wines and wineries, and KGAY and Gay Desert Guide have your chance to WIN a VIP Party Pass Package for 2! To enter, all you have to do is scan the QR code at our participating sponsors: V Wine Lounge, Gay Mart USA, Frank Clothiers, PS Bottle Shop, and Q Trading Company!
Win ShortFest Tickets!
KGAY 106.5 and Gay Desert Guide have your chance to WIN 2 Tickets to the 29th Annual Palm Springs International ShortFest, the largest showcase of short form cinema in North America. The exciting 7 day festival will be screening 300 shorts from 65 countries. There’s something for everyone…horror, drama, comedy, documentary and LGBT + films. Tickets are good for a ShortFest screening consisting of 4–9 short films programmed together for a cohesive experience. Enter to Win on the KGAY Contest Page
The KGAY 106.5 Retro Lunch airs Monday through Friday at noon, with DJ Galaxy (Vincent Corrales) and DJ Eric Ornelas playing an hour of their high-energy throwback mixes. On Sundays, we put all five hours together for the Retro Sunday Brunch from 11 am–4 pm. Perfect party music! Listen Online
The KGAY Sunday Tea Dance with DJ Modgirl airs every Sunday from 4–6 pm (right after the Retro Brunch). DJ Modgirl (AKA Kellee McQuinn) is not only the life of the party, she’s now hanging out at The Rowan Window Bar each Thursday from 7–10 pm and Friday from 4–7 pm. She is also spinning your faves by the pool at The Paloma Resort on Saturday, June 10 from 12–4 pm! Join her for a cocktail and listen to some great beats! Her moniker is “Music! Dancing! Fashion! Fun!” and she throws down the most irresistible, uplifting beats each week on the KGAY Sunday Tea Dance from 4–6 pm. Listen online
On the Air: 103.1 MeTV fm
This weekend on 103.1 MeTV fm, tune in to A Monterey Pop Weekend, marking the 56th Anniversary of the Monterey International Pop Festival” 103.1 MeTV fm is KGAY’s sister station, featuring a unique mix of timeless and memorable music incorporating a wide variety of classic hits, deep tracks and softer sounds spanning several decades of popular music, including the ‘60s and ‘70s with a touch of the ‘50s and ‘80s. Listen online
- Zoso Fun Presents Boyz Night Out
Fri. Jun 16 from 4–8 pm (and every Friday ongoing) at Hotel Zoso - Palm Springs International ShortFest
Jun 20–26 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center - Arenas District Big Gay BBQ
Sat. Jun 24 at 5 pm in the Arenas District - Gay Wine Weekend
Jul 14–16 in Sonoma Wine Country - Out on the Mountain 2023
Fri. Aug 18 from 6 pm–12 am at Six Flags Magic Mountain - Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend
Sep 20–24 at Margaritaville Resort
- Town Hall Offers Chance for Police Chief, LGBTQ Community to Continue Vital Dialogue
- Gay Solo Travel: A Guide to Safety and Empowerment
- Palm Springs-Set ‘Coming Out for Love’ First U.S. Dating Competition Show For Queer Women
- WeHo Presents Key to the City to LA Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
- History, Fashionably: The Palm Springs Cultural Center Hosts Designer Aneka Brown’s Third Annual Juneteenth Event
Coachella Valley Coffee Company is family-owned and operated, and a quality coffee experience is their mission, their craft, and their passion. Every morning at our roastery, they brew a few selections of our latest roasts. Even after 26 years in the coffee business, we still marvel at the wonderful sensations a great cup of coffee provides. Check out their new cold brew coffee package, it’s top-notch. As the official coffee of the Coachella Valley Firebirds, you can warm up with a cup at their playoffs game at Acrisure this Saturday! With our HOT DEAL, you can get a three-month supply of Coachella Valley Coffee Company‘s Sunrise Blend and a Roastmaster-selected new/seasonal offering for half off! That’s a $140 value for just $70. Get Your Deal
We also have Hot Deals at Palm Springs Fine Men’s Salon, Papa Dan’s Pizza and Pasta, Il Giardino, Zin American Bistro, Destination PSP, V Wine Lounge & Martini Bar, Desert Mischief, Jolene’s Bar & Lounge, Rick’s Restaurant, Willie’s Modern Fare, AMP Sports Lounge, Kitchen 86, Lulu California Bistro and more! See All Deals
Find out what’s happening on any given day by browsing our Gay Desert Guide Online Event Listing Calendar, and for the big picture, take a look at major upcoming events in our 2023 Coachella Valley Calendar of Events.
Listen to KGAY 106.5 over the air, stream it [here], or listen on TuneIn Radio with Alexa or Siri by saying “Play K-GAY 1065 from Tune In Radio.” John Taylor is on mornings 6–10 am and program director Chris Shebel is on afternoons. Our Retro Lunch with DJ Galaxy and DJ Eric Ornelas is now heard on Sundays as the Retro Lunch & Sunday Brunch from 11 am–4 pm, followed by DJ Modgirl spinning the KGAY Sunday Tea Dance from 4–6 pm.
Don’t miss “This Way Out,” Sundays at 6:30 a.m. on KGAY 106.5. “This Way Out” is the only internationally distributed weekly LGBTQ radio program, currently airing on some 200 local community radio stations around the world. Listen to the latest episode as a podcast on our streaming page (click “Podcasts” in the upper right hand corner)