I received my ballot in the mail for the June primary election in California. It couldn’t come at a more apropos time as it feels like our rights are being eroded by homophobic politicians and conservative judges.
Two events to highlight this week: Desert Stonewall Democrats May Membership Meeting and Preserving Everyone’s Right to Vote are worth attending – even if virtually.
A shoutout to our KGAY weekend host Ross Mathews and hubby Wellington Garcia on their recent nuptials in Mexico. People Magazine had the exclusive photos and we look forward to having him back on the air with us soon! Congratulations to an amazing couple that consider Palm Springs their second home (not LA as indicated in the story!)
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide & KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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Recap: RuPaul’s DragCon
Our Gay Desert Guide Drag Correspondent, Dante Noto, recently attended RuPaul’s DragCon in downtown L.A., and now he’s back with a recap of his fun-filled weekend with a close-up view of 150 drag queens from around the world, and 50,000 fellow attendees. Check out Dante’s full package of pics and favorite moments [here]. And stay tuned because Dante will also be back soon with a full season of recaps, as Drag Race All Stars All Winners season 7 starts this Friday, May 20! See all Dante’s recaps
Mobile Covid Vaccine & Booster Clinic
Desert Oasis Health Care and The Center will have a COVID Vaccine & Booster Clinic on Tuesday, May 17 from 9 am–1 pm at The Center. If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, or if you want to get a booster shot, now is your opportunity. Afterward you can try your luck and enter to win one of two $50 gift cards. Second boosters are available to those age 50+ and immunocompromised individuals who have received their first booster at least four months prior to May 17. Both Pfizer and Moderna boosters will be available. More info
Kimpton Rowan Hotel Comedy & Wine Lounge – Win Tickets!
The Kimpton Rowan Hotel presents: The Comedy & Wine Lounge on Tuesday, May 17 from 6–9 pm at 4 Saints. Enjoy an exclusive wine tasting (6–8 pm) with Idle Cellars (Sonoma County) with culinary creations by Executive Chef Ysaac Ramirez available to order. Then the Laugh Cellar returns to Palm Springs with a live, stand-up comedy show from 8–9 pm with headliner Alec Mapa, featured talent Krista Fatka and opening talent David Roth. Get tickets
KGAY 106.5 and Gay Desert Guide have your chance to WIN a pair of tickets to the Kimpton Rowan Hotel’s evening of Comedy & Wine. Enter online at the KGAY 106.5 Contest Page!
Desert Stonewall Democrats May Membership Meeting
Desert Stonewall Democrats May Membership Meeting will be in person at The Mizell Center on Tuesday, May 17 from 6–7 pm. They will have a Zoom component also for those who aren’t yet comfortable with an indoor setting. Speakers will address the potential decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, immediate implications for women, and the implications for other rights established by the Supreme Court based on the 14th amendment right to privacy. May marks Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which celebrates the histories of Americans hailing from across the Asian continent and from the Pacific islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. DSD honors people of this community as does this Presidential Proclamation. Come at 5:30 pm for some social time with a glass of wine and snacks (Ruth’s famous brownies) before the meeting. More info
Speaker Series: Preserving Everyone’s Right to Vote
UPDATE: This event has been canceled as of Tuesday, May 17 due to low reservation numbers. KGAY and Gay Desert Guide are proud community partner of The Mizell Center’s 3rd Wednesday Speaker Series: Preserving Everyone’s Right to Vote on Wednesday, May 18 from 6–7:30 pm. The right to vote may be the most enshrined right in the Constitution and yet some Americans are challenged to exercise this fundamental right. This community based conversation will examine why Preserving Everyone’s Right to Vote is essential to maintaining a functional democracy. Joining the conversation will be Lex Ortega – LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert, John Farran – ONE-PS, Lorenzo Taylor – Brothers of the Desert, and Tom Coulter – Politics Reporter, Desert Sun. The program is co-sponsored by the LGBTQ Center of the Desert. More info
Martinis & Moxie: Dino and Dinah
Celebrate the music, comedy and the all-around high jinx of two iconic mid-century stars with direct links to Palm Springs, Dean Martin and Dinah Shore, on Wednesday, May 18 from 5–7:30 pm at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. This show will feature a cocktail hour with the music of Palm Springs Piano Bar (Alan Kraemer and Claudia Ried), followed by a variety hour in the style of “The Dinah Shore Chevy Show” in the Historic Camelot Theater. Featuring a lineup of special guests who will have a lot to say …and sing… about these two celebrated stars and more. Hosted by Claudia Ried and Conrad Angel Corral of Palm Springs Point of View Get tickets
Business Resiliency for Unplanned Events
The Desert Business Association, our “gay chamber of commerce,” invites you to attend a FREE Business Education Workshop through SCE’s S.T.A.R Program: Business Resiliency for Unplanned Events on Wednesday, May 18 from 8:45–11:30 am on Zoom. This workshop will provide the tools to deal with unplanned events affecting your business profitability. Be able to put in place short-, mid-, and long-term strategies to manage through risk, and take advantage of unexpected opportunities. More info
Palm Desert Concerts in the Park
The City of Palm Desert is hosting a series of free, weekly concerts at the Palm Desert Civic Center Park amphitheater, Thursdays in May from 6:30–8 pm. Scheduled to perform: May 19: Kelly Rae Band, and May 26: Legends of Classic Rock. There will be plenty of free parking, food trucks, and games for kids. More info
Theatre Thursdays Live on Stage at CVRep
CVRep’s Theatre Thursdays are back, and they are no longer Zoom events, back to being “Live on Stage.” Come see a different cabaret, concert or entertaining event each Thursday at 7 pm, May 19 through September 1. This week (Thursday, May 19), it’s Broadway Showstoppers with Glenn Rosenblum, doing the musicals of Stephen Sondheim with guest star Teri Ralston, and next week (Thursday, May 26) Eileen Barnett performs “You Must Believe in Spring.” See our event listing for the full lineup of performers! Get tickets
Among Friends Interactive Movie & Cocktail Party: Serial Mom
Among Friends presents Serial Mom, an interactive movie and cocktail party, on Thursday, May 19 starting at 6 pm with cocktails and a pie contest. Enjoy the community, music and cocktails Among Friends style. Plus more mom jokes and puns than should be allowed. At 8 pm, it’s the screening of John Waters’ Serial Mom, a 1994 American black comedy crime film starring Kathleen Turner as the title character, Sam Waterston as her husband, along with Ricki Lake and Matthew Lillard as her children. Patty Hearst, Suzanne Somers, Joan Rivers, Traci Lords, and Brigid Berlin make cameo appearances in the film. Get tickets
Films in the Gardens at Sunnylands
Tales of child and adolescent adventure rule the night as Sunnylands Center & Gardens revived its Films in the Gardens movie series this month, wrapping up with a screening this Friday, May 20. The public is encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chairs for the free, outdoor screening of Jumanji (1995). Film begins at 8 pm with the Sunnylands gates open at 7 pm. Admission is free. Films in the Gardens are presented in partnership with the Palm Springs International Film Festival. More info
LOCAL THEATRE
Into the Woods
Palm Canyon Theatre presents the closing weekend of Into the Woods, running through Sunday, May 22. James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take everyone’s favorite storybook characters and bring them together for a timeless, yet relevant, piece… and a rare modern classic. The Tony Award-winning book and score are both enchanting and touching. Get tickets
Coming Soon in Local Theatre:
Join the ECV Pride Planning Committee
All East Coachella Valley (ECV) queer and trans folks are encourage to participate in the planning of ECV Pride, with the first meeting to be hosted in June. You can be a part of the planning committee and help shape ECV Pride! [Contact Roman for more info]
2022 LGBTQ Community Survey Now Open
Please take part in the Community Marketing & Insights (CMI) 16th Annual LGBTQ Community Survey! Participation in this survey gives important feedback to our LGBTQ community media and organizations, and provides data to companies interested in serving our community, sponsoring our charities, and supporting their LGBTQ employees. The survey should take about 12 to 15 minutes to complete. Make your voice heard!
[Click here to take the survey]
THIS WEEKEND
REAF-PS/House Party – Red Hot Broadway
The Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation and Chuck Leachman & Mickey Feigelson present House Party PS: Puttin’ on the Glitz-Red Hot Broadway on Saturday, May 21 from 5–8 pm. This upscale cocktail party benefits REAF-Palm Springs and the Cathedral City Senior Center. Special entertainment will be provided by Broadway stars Lisa Vroman (Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables), David Burnham (Light in the Piazza, Wicked), and Steve Knill (“The Voice”) The event will also feature a silent auction including beautiful art, merchandise, experiences, and Broadway show posters signed by the cast. Get tickets
CalComMen Monthly Eros Circle Massage Exchange Day
Join the heart-centered CalComMen at the monthly Eros Circle Massage Exchange, every 3rd Sunday from 10 am–4 pm in Palm Springs, this month on Sunday, May 22. The Eros Circle is a small group of heart-centered men, who meet as often as possible, to brush up on and practice new sensual bodywork & invigorating breathwork skills. Open to all men-who-love men of all ages, sizes, shapes & colors – gay, bi, trans, gender queer, fluid and straight — especially first-timers. No massage experience needed. More info
Also: Every Monday at 6 pm, CalComMen meet at the Gré Coffeehouse to enjoy coffee, drop in and see old friends…and make some new ones! No RSVPs are necessary. The California Community of Men is a unique community of heart-centered, passionate and caring men, 18-90+ of all colors of the rainbow, faith traditions, sizes, shapes & abilities, who create spiritual & social events, personal growth workshops, and unique, joy-filled weekends. More info
Guys2 SOAK
With Summer just around the corner, soak in the sun at CCBC with Guys2 Soak from Friday, May 20–Sunday, May 22. This is a men’s bonding pop-up event open to all ages, races, status, sex life or body type. Hosted by Scott Spears. More info
On the Air at KGAY 106.5
Gay Wine Weekend
KGAY 106.5 and Gay Desert Guide have your chance to win 2 VIP Passes to Out in the Vineyard’s “Gay Wine Weekend,” July 15–17 in beautiful, pastoral Sonoma County. This is a full weekend of wine & celebration with winemaker dinners, winery tours and events benefiting Face To Face, Sonoma County HIV/AIDS Network. Enter to win on the KGAY 106.5 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 pool party music! Listen Online
- 3rd Wednesday Speaker Series: Preserving Everyone’s Right to Vote
Wed. May 18 from 6–7:30 pm at Mizell Center - REAF-PS House Party PS – Red Hot Broadway
Sat. May 21 from 5–8 pm - Mae West Double Feature: Sex and The Drag
May 25–June 5 at Desert Rose Playhouse - Ceremony Pool Party and Unity Closing Party
May 29 at AsiaSF and The Sonoran
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.