The holidays, starting with Thanksgiving this week, will be spent much differently than a year ago. Smaller gatherings, if any at all, are the rule of the day. And Zoom will be providing longer free use of their service on Thanksgiving so that we can connect with the ones we love while keeping our distance. All with our eye on the prize: getting through the next few months until the vaccine can be approved, accepted and administered.
Then our 2021 will start to take shape with more certainty.
I’m starting to think about what we’ll be able to do in one more spin around the sun. Travel will be back on the menu along with mixers, in-person events, performing arts, movies, and maybe even large events that we’re known for.
Reminds me of the Donald Fagen song from the 80s, “I.G.Y (What A Beautiful World”:
Standing tough under stars and stripes
We can tell
This dream’s in sight
You’ve got to admit it
At this point in time that it’s clear
The future looks bright
On that train all graphite and glitter
Undersea by rail
Ninety minutes from New York to Paris
Well by seventy-six we’ll be A.O.K.
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
Get your ticket to that wheel in space
While there’s time
The fix is in
You’ll be a witness to that game of chance in the sky
You know we’ve got to win
Here at home we’ll play in the city
Powered by the sun
Perfect weather for a streamlined world
There’ll be spandex jackets one for everyone
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
We can only hope. Happy Thanksgiving and…. #WearADamnMask
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide
#ILoveGayPalmSprings
#ILoveGayCatCity
Reel Women’s Film Festival
Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest presents the Reel Women’s Film Festival between Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, December 6, celebrating its 7th anniversary virtually this year by streaming online. Your attendance can help support sexual and reproductive health care services for women, ensuring that patients have access to high-quality, non-judgmental care—no matter what. Get tickets
Wildlights at The Living Desert
WildLights is celebrating 28 years dazzling guests by transforming the The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens into a sparkling winter wonderland on select nights November 25 through December 27, from 6:00–9:00 p.m. (Note: November dates are sold out). Come to this festive, annual tradition and marvel at more than a million colorful, sparkling holiday lights like a herd of life-size, luminescent animal lanterns, newly added pathways and the popular tunnel of lights flashing to holiday music. In true WildLights tradition, the festive G-scale model trains with more than 3,300 feet of track will be decked out for the holidays. Delicious food and beverages will also be available for purchase. Get tickets
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I Love Gay Palm Springs Podcast – Episode 72
John Taylor, comedian Shann Carr, and Brad Fuhr of GayDesertGuide.com welcome Dr. Laura Rush, Editor In Chief Steven Biller from PalmSpringsLife.com, our soon to be sworn-in first ever female Mayor of Palm Springs Christy Holstege, Team Mom Margaret Webb from unityride4homeless.com and arts and culture reporter Brian Blueskye from DesertSun.com. We chat about the arts, politics, food, community, volunteerism and activism in #ILoveGayPalmSprings [Listen] or [Watch]
** Desert AIDS Project Offers Free At-Home HIV Tests: [Get Yours] **
Town Hall with Senator Melissa Melendez
The Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce and The Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce invite you to a Zoom Town Hall with Senator Melissa Melendez on Tuesday, November 24 at 2:00 p.m. on Zoom. Senator Melendez will be giving a legislative update and answer pre-submitted questions. Registration is Required. More info
Virtual Events at The Center
Looking for connection in this time of self-isolation? The LGBT Center of the Desert continues to connect people, using the technology of group-meeting platform Zoom, which you can use on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. Here’s just a taste of the programs they are hosting:
Social Caring in the Face of Quarantine with Alexis Ortega – Mondays at 11:00 a.m.
Zumba for Beginners with Shaun Samaro – Mondays at 10:00 a.m.
Managing Emotions During a Pandemic with Jill Hingston, Ph.D – Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m.
Conversational Spanish with Guillermo Biro – Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m.
Prostate Cancer Support Group – 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 4:00 p.m.
Trans Tuesdays with Jill Hingston, Ph.D – Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.
LGBTQ+ Youth Virtual Hangout with Miguel Navarro – Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m.
Seated Wellness with Lynn Simonson – Thursdays at 10:00 a.m.
Women’s Chat with Kim Kieler – Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.
Men’s Chat with Stuart Huggins – Fridays at 10:30 a.m.
Who Cares: Caregiver Support Group with Perry Wiggins – Fridays at 3:00 p.m.
Making Connections During COVID: Men’s Discussion Group with Arlen Keith Leight, LCSW, Ph.D
1st and 3rd Saturdays at 11:30 a.m.
Full list of The Center’s Zoom programs [here]
Coronavirus Survey
The LGBTQ Center of the Desert has teamed up with some of their local organizational partners to better understand how COVID-19 has impacted the lives of our friends and neighbors — that means you! — on an ongoing basis. This survey is anonymous and your answers could help direct resources to the people who need it most. Please consider taking 10 minutes to share your experience during this COVID-19 pandemic. Take the survey