As I was thinking about what Harvey Milk meant to our world, I started researching his quotes. We face so many of the same challenges that Harvey helped to overcome. I was struck by this one as our Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast is on this week’s ”gay agenda”. Here Milk talks as if he were commenting on the Florida ”don’t say gay” bill.
Milk said, ”I was born of heterosexual parents. I was taught by heterosexual teachers in a fiercely heterosexual society. Television ads and newspaper ads — fiercely heterosexual. A society that puts down homosexuality. And why am I a homosexual if I’m affected by role models? I should have been a heterosexual. And no offense meant, but if teachers are going to affect you as role models, there’d be a lot of nuns running around the streets today.”
As we know, the fight for LGBTQ+ rights is being renewed. We stand beside women who will see Roe v. Wade overturned, and we know that sights are set on our rights, too. This week’s breakfast will raise money for the Safe Schools project and show hundreds of students what activism is all about. We look forward to a day when we can put this fight to rest.
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide & KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast
The Harvey Milk Coachella Valley Diversity Breakfast takes place on Wednesday, March 11 from 8:30–11 am at the Palm Springs Convention Center. This inspiring event brings together all who support equality and justice in celebration of the influential civil rights activist. Mayor Annise Parker will be this year’s recipient of the Harvey B. Milk Legacy Award. Parker currently serves as the President & CEO of Victory Fund. She served six years as a Houston City Council member, six years as City Controller, and six years as Mayor of the city. Andy Linsky will be recognized for his activism and deeply-rooted commitment to philanthropy, as he receives the Harvey B. Milk. Leadership Award. More info
Oasis Music Festival
The Oasis Music Festival is an all-genre music festival presenting its inaugural run from Wednesday, May 11 through Sunday, May 15 at over 30 venues throughout the Coachella Valley. The festival aims to revive the storied past of the musical playground that made Palm Springs famous. From the 1950s performances of the Rat Pack to today’s indie rockers, musicians of all genres, from all over the world, have found inspiration here in the desert. A portion of the proceeds from this festival will help in the efforts to restore the historic 800-seat Plaza Theatre in downtown Palm Springs. Check our event listing for links to artists performing, daily schedule, venues, and tickets: More info
Modernism Week in May
Modernism Week is launching Modernism Week — May, a special four-day event featuring a limited edition of exclusive tours, evening programming, and more, running Thursday, May 12–Sunday, May 15. There will be exclusive tours of Modernism Week Showcase Home, Casa Tierra, a newly remodeled hillside estate in Palm Desert by Bobby Berk, design expert and Emmy-nominated host of Netflix’s Queer Eye. In addition to tours of Casa Tierra, participants may also purchase tickets to various historical walking tours in Palm Springs, craft cocktail mixology classes, exciting dinner and live music experiences, and special “Top Ten” tour excursions highlighting Desert Modernist architecture in Palm Springs. Get tickets
4 Saints Winemaker Dinner
On Friday, May 13 from 6:30–9:30 pm, join 4 Saints Executive Chef Ysaac Ramirez and Berkeley-based winemaker Tracey Rogers Brandt for a special five-course dinner paired with Donkey & Goat’s natural wines. A pioneer in the natural wine community, Tracey founded Donkey & Goat in 2004 on ecological principles. Its wines are handcrafted from organic, biodynamically farmed vineyards in the Sierra Nevada, Mendocino County and Napa Valley. Get tickets
Annual Joint Chamber Mixer
The Annual All-Valley Multi-Chamber Networking Mixer returns to the Palm Springs Air Museum on Wednesday, May 11 from 5:30–7:30 pm. A large crowd of business people and individuals from across the Coachella Valley is anticipated, with over 650 people to mix-and-mingle over the two-hour event. There is plenty of room in the hanger to accommodate the larger crowd, as well as lots of planes and history to view. More info
Shortfest at Gré
The Palm Springs International Film Society presents Shortfest @ Gré on Wednesday, May 11 at 8 pm. From a pandemic-set musical to siblings finding out what really happens on the way to stardom, this music-themed lineup will make you laugh, cry, scream and everything in between. This FREE community event is a night of music themed short films and lots and lots of delicious coffee. More info
Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival
The 2022 edition of the Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival takes place May 11–15 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. 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 fatalistic classic They Live By Night opens the festival and will be introduced by acclaimed critic and film historian Leonard Maltin. 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
On Wednesday, May 11 at 7 pm, the Palm Springs Cultural Center presents a fundraiser for the Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival, called Victoria/Victor: A Cabaret for Mature Audiences. In this 85 minute, multi-media cabaret, Victoria Mature sings music inspired by her father’s career in motion pictures…everything from Opera to Broadway to Folk to Weill to Jazz, and more…in between, she tells stories about Mature’s movie career and about what it was like having Victor as her dad. Get tickets
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 12: Flashback Heart Attack, 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
ShortFest Passes on Sale Now
The 28th Palm Springs International ShortFest will be back with in-person screenings at the Palm Springs Cultural Center from June 21–27, and passes are on sale now. Passholders who have reserved in advance will continue to have priority access to seating at the venue for each show. Tickets go on sale to the public on Wednesday, June 8. Designated by AMPAS, BAFTA, BIFA and Goya Awards as an award-qualifying festival, and accredited by the International Short Film Conference, the Palm Springs International ShortFest & Short Film Market is one of the most acclaimed short film showcases in the world! More info
CVRep Online Silent Auction
CVRep presents the “Tropical Celebration Honoring Ron Celona” – Online Silent Auction with bidding open until 10 pm on Monday, May 9. You can choose to bid on golf packages at exclusive clubs, entertainment, tours, and a resort stay in Mexico! Proceeds support CVRep’s ongoing operations, and to continue to provide a range of community-oriented performances and events. More info
Intent to Convert Tommy Jacobs Bel Air Greens Golf Course
A meeting for community input on the intent for conversion of the Tommy Jacobs Bel Air Greens golf course to single family residential use is scheduled for Tuesday, May 10 at 5:30 pm on Zoom. The meeting will be recorded with audio available for later download. More details on our event page: More info
Films in the Gardens at Sunnylands
Tales of child and adolescent adventure will rule the night when Sunnylands Center & Gardens revives its Films in the Gardens movie series for the next two Fridays. The public is encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chairs for the free, outdoor screenings of the following film classics: May 13: Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989), and May 20: Jumanji (1995). All films begin 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 Into the Woods, running May 13–22. 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:
Hadestown and Tootsie Reviewed
Our Gay Desert Guide theatre reviewer Stephen Radosh recently took in a double-feature of national touring musicals in Los Angeles. First up was a matinee performance of Hadestown, followed by Tootsie that evening. One of them was a “great theatrical experience,” and the other one was…”nice.” Read the reviews to get the whole story!
[HADESTOWN] – [TOOTSIE]
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
Safe Schools Desert Cities’ Pride Prom
Safe Schools Desert Cities presents their 11th Annual Pride Prom on Friday, May 13, at 8 pm at the Palm Springs Air Museum. This is for high school and college-aged youth to the age of 22, and won’t be your average prom. Since many LGBTQ+ individuals likely didn’t have the opportunity to celebrate themselves fully at their prom, Pride Prom provides an environment to fully express who you are and who you love without repercussions. It’ll be a night of dancing, food, drag performance, and fun. More info
Brothers of the Desert Book Club
The Brothers of the Desert Book Club (BODBC) is offering members and allies an opportunity to meet bi-monthly to discuss their community’s literary history, meeting on Zoom twice a month: the second and fourth Saturday afternoons, this weekend on Saturday, May 14 at 3:00 pm. The selection for May and June is The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr. This National Book Award finalist is about “the forbidden union between two enslaved young men on a Deep South plantation, the refuge they find in each other, and a betrayal that threatens their existence.” The BODBC is more than a book club, it’s a social and networking event as well an opportunity to become better individuals and be the change you want to see in the world. More info
Karaoke, Andy & Nathan at Streetbar Saturday
Streetbar presents Day Drankin’ Karaoke on Saturday, May 14 from 2–5 pm with your hostess Aunt Lyla, followed at 6 pm by a performance from Andy & Nathan! Check out our full listing of Streetbar Happy Hour and other Bar Events: More info
Bear Naked Weekend: Tag Team
Bear Naked presents a Tag Team Weekend from May 13–15 at CCBC Resort. This is meant to be a weekend to strip down and explore your exhibitionist side with other like men. Filming opportunities (for “social media”) will be available in a few outside areas around the resort including the barracks, the waterfall, and the back trails. There will also be oil wrestling pools set up for your enjoyment, a foam party, and more XXX fun. Get tickets
Plunge Pool Party
The Palm Springs Leather Order Of The Desert presents Plunge 2: A Different Kind of Pool Party on Sunday, May 15 from 12–4 pm at The Canyon Club Hotel. If you attended last year, you know this is NOT a party to miss, featuring music from DJ Peter Barona, and a completely refurbished play space delivering all the fun and frolic you have come to expect. Start your summer off with a bang! Get tickets
On the Air at KGAY 106.5
YOU CAN WIN 2 nights in Prague and then 7 nights on board the Amadeus III cruising the Danube River brought to you by Brand g Vacations, plus $2,500 airfare credit provided to fly from Palm Springs International Airport. Listen to KGAY 106.5 EVERY WEEKDAY at 8:20 am and 4:20 pm for the KGAY Danube River Cruise Keyword of the Day, enter that word on the KGAY Contest Page and you’ve got an entry! The more days you listen, the more chances to win! BONUS: You can get an extra Keyword every Friday in our Gay Desert Guide Oasis Insiders e-newsletter, so subscribe today!
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
- Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast
Wed. May 11 from 8:30–11 am at Palm Springs Convention Center - Annual All-Valley Multi-Chamber Networking Mixer
Wed. May 11 from 5:30–7:30 pm at the Palm Springs Air Museum - Modernism Week – May
May 12–15 - Jane Monheit at The Purple Room Supper Club
Fri. & Sat., May 13 & 14, dinner at 6 pm, show at 8 pm - Oasis Music Festival
May 11–15 at various locations throughout the Coachella Valley - 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 - 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.