Lights! Camera! Action! Cinema Diverse is one of the nation’s top LGBTQ+ film festivals and we’re proud to be a part of Thursday’s opening festivities and the world premiere of “BROS”! DJ Galaxy will be spinning. Will any of the stars be in attendance ??
I will be introducing “All Man: The International Male Story” on Friday at 7:30 PM. Co-director Jesse Finley Reed is a good friend and I’ve been observing the process over the past few years as this film was being concepted and then made.
Saturday, I’ll be hosting the Positively Aging Project’s annual conference. You may attend virtually or at the Jocelyn Center in Palm Desert. Much more below as the Fall season of events and reopening of beloved attractions like Sunnylands marches forward!
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide & KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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Cinema Diverse Opening Night: Bros
The Palm Springs Cultural Center presents the 15th Anniversary of Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs LGBTQ+ Film Festival, running September 15–18 & September 22–25. The festival’s opening night is Thursday, September 15, featuring Universal Pictures’ Bros screening at 7:30 pm with a reception to follow. This highly anticipated film is the first romantic comedy from a major studio about two gay men maybe, possibly, probably, stumbling towards love. Maybe. They’re both very busy. Starring Billy Eichner, the first openly gay man to co-write and star in his own major studio film, and Luke Macfarlane (Killjoys), the film also boasts an entirely LGBTQ+ principal cast. Get tickets
On Friday, September 16 at 12:15 pm, check out the Cinema Diverse Shorts Set “You Gotta Laugh” to enjoy shorts curated to tickle your funny bone. Laughter is the best medicine! Titles include: “Cock N’ Bull 3,” “Dated, episode 4: ‘Fag Test’,” “Every Other Week,” “I’m Not Chris Hemsworth,” and “This Old Tearoom.” Get tickets
DBA Networking Event at Pro VR USA
Join The Desert Business Association for their next in-person Networking Event on Monday, September 12 from 5:30–7 pm at new DBA member Pro VR USA – Virtual Reality. Experience their high-end virtual reality equipment — greatly enjoyed by adults as well as younger people. Check-out their venue for your next party, event, and even for some team building. More info
Modern Men Auditions Monday & Saturday
Modern Men, Coachella Valley Men’s Chorus, invites you to their open Rehearsal on Monday, September 12 from 6:30–8 pm at the Palm Springs United Methodist Church. You can audition after the rehearsal or on the following Saturday morning, September 17, from 11 am–noon at the same location. More info
Monkeypox Community Town Hall Meeting
The HIV + Aging Research Project (HARP-PS) is hosting another Monkeypox Community Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, September 13 at 6 pm on Zoom. This is an opportunity for community members to find out the most current information regarding this epidemic and to meet with state, county and city public health officials along with local health providers. More info
Monkeypox Vaccine Clinic at Oscar’s
Oscar’s Downtown Palm Springs is partnering with Riverside University Health System and Queer Works for a Monkeypox Vaccine Clinic on Thursday, September 15 from 12–4 pm. To sign up, email MPoxVaccine@queerworks.org
Opiates, Pain & Addiction
The LGBTQ Center of the Desert and Eisenhower Health present The Good, The Bad and the Ugly: Opiates, Pain and Addiction on Wednesday, September 14 from 4–5 pm on Zoom. Join K.D. Thrasher, DO, for discussion regarding the use and abuse of drugs used to treat pain. Learn what opiates have been shown to treat, how should doctors be recommending their use and what to do when they become a problem. More info
DBA Presents: Grow with Google
The Desert Business Association (DBA), the desert’s LGBTQ Chamber, presents free online sessions on growing your business through their partnership with Google and other LGBTQ+ chambers. This Thursday, September 15, from 8:30 am–10 am, the topic is Selling Online with E-Commerce Tools, with additional sessions to come on subsequent Thursdays. More info
Sunnylands Reopens to the Public with New Exhibition
Sunnylands Center & Gardens reopens to the public on Wednesday, September 14, with its first new exhibition in two years, A Place at the Table: Dining at Sunnylands, featuring the exquisite china, flatware, and table settings that Walter and Leonore Annenberg used to entertain the parade of notable guests who visited their Rancho Mirage estate. The exhibit examines a remarkable history of gatherings, from yearly events, such as birthday and New Year’s celebrations, to extraordinary occasions that include an official White House dinner and a luncheon visit from Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Learn more
Karaoke, Trivia, and Bingo at Hotel Zoso
On Wednesdays from 7–11 pm, The Lounge at ZOSO presents Raise the Bar Karaoke. Let loose and sing your heart out, while enjoying $5 drink specials all night [More info]. Then, flaunt your pop culture knowledge at Trivia Night hosted by Miss Rusty Waters, every Thursday from 7–9 pm at The Lounge at ZOSO. Grab your friends, raise a glass, and get ready to slay the competition as Palm Springs’ favorite drag personality brings the wit with weekly themes and exciting prizes [More info]. On Fridays, it’s Bingo Night in the lounge from 6–8 pm, hosted by Autumn Brees. Kick off the weekend and enjoy SoCal-inspired bites, playful cocktails, and endless chances to win fun prizes [More info].
Desert Blues Revival: Jerrell Ballard Blues Band
Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs presents the Desert Blues Revival every Wednesday at 8 pm in the Cascade Lounge. On Wednesday, September 14, The Jerrell Ballard Blues Band takes the stage. Each week, come enjoy great bands playing Authentic Blues, Soul, R&B, and Rock from all over the globe right here in your backyard. Get tickets
Jazzville: Hot Club of Los Angeles
Jazzville, the live jazz scene presented by Barry Martin/DJ Baz and Take Five, takes place at the vibrant Cascade Lounge inside Agua Caliente Casino in Palm Springs. Experience the hottest acts in jazz and step back in time to when all the cool cats came to play and put Palm Springs on the map! On Thursday, September 15 from 7–8:30 pm, Jazzville presents Hot Club of Los Angeles. Hailed by Jackson Browne as “An L.A. treasure,” Hot Club of Los Angeles is a nuevo Django ensemble that showcases eclectic arrangements of gypsy jazz-based instrumentals, vocal numbers sung in French, Roma and Russian, straight ahead jazz repertoire, a unique blend of film music selections, and its own gypsy jazz-inspired originals. Cocktails, wine and delicious small bites will be available while bopping to the tunes of the evening. Get tickets
Tramway Closed for Annual Maintenance
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is closed for its annual maintenance routine, starting Monday, September 12 with a tentative reopening date of Monday, October 10, assuming all goes as scheduled. This year, they will be replacing track sheaves and refurbishing both cabins, including the replacement of the dome windows, along with the usual testing and service upgrades. Safety first, especially when you’re ascending two-and-a-half miles up the cliffs of Chino Canyon, in a tram car supported by cables from the desert floor to the wilderness of Mt. San Jacinto State Park!
THIS WEEKEND
Cinema Diverse 2022
Cinema Diverse celebrates its 15th Anniversary with the 2022 edition running from September 15–25 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. This LGBTQ+ festival is dedicated to advancing and further strengthening our diverse gay community by presenting a world-class presentation featuring lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender cinema from around the world. Organizers say “LGBTQ+ films and LGBTQ+ film festivals are critical to our local community, and to the world community, because they tell stories that remind us of where we came from, who we are, and who we can be.” Check out our event listing for information on tickets, six-packs, and passes: More info
On Saturday, September 17 at 2:30 pm, Cinema Diverse and the LGBTQ+ History and Archives of the Desert present the film Desert Migration. Filmed here in the Palm Springs area under the direction of Daniel F. Cardone and produced by Marc Smolowitz, the film looks at a variety of HIV-positive men who moved here to the desert in search of a healing oasis. Get tickets
On Sunday, September 18 the PFLAG- produced short film, “Taking the Long Road Home,” will screen at 12:30 pm as part of the “Shorts Set: Let Every Voice Be Heard.” Taking The Long Road Home is a film that thoughtfully explores – through a collection of intimate interviews with Black spiritual leaders – the question “Is there room in the Black church for LGBTQ+ people of faith?” Get tickets
Positively Aging Project
The 2022 Positively Aging Project will take place as a hybrid in-person and virtual conference on Saturday, September 17 from 10 am–3 pm on Zoom and at the Joslyn Center. This FREE annual Coachella Valley conference is aimed at providing practical information and inspiration for those living long-term with HIV. The keynote speaker is Jack Mackenroth of Project Runway fame, now a HIV and LGBTQ advocate. Featured speaker Porchia Dees represents “verticals” who were born with and live with HIV their entire lives. Other topics and speakers include: Steve Rossetti, MS on courageously moving forward during times of increasing uncertainty, a roundtable with Let’s KICK AIDS Survivor Syndrome members, an HIV research update panel with Golkoo Morcos, PharmD (BIOS Clinical), Ann Stapleton, MD (Eisenhower Health), Carlos Martinez, MD (Palmtree Medical Research), and Jeff Taylor (HARP-PS). There will also be a Monkeypox update with Dr Phyllis Ritchie (PS Test STD Clinic). Brad Fuhr, owner of KGAY 106.5 and GayDesertGuide.LGBT, will be moderating the day’s events (Both KGAY & Gay Desert Guide are media sponsors of Positively Aging Project). More info
Gay Days Anaheim
Gay Days Anaheim takes place this weekend, September 16–18 at the Disneyland Resort, Disney’s California Adventure, and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel. The event within the parks is a “mix in,” meaning gay people and straight people mingle together; the park is open to the general public, but Gay Days participants wear red shirts to identify one another and show their numbers. Outside of the parks, there will be drag performances with DeJa Skye and Jackie Cox, cocktail receptions, the Kingdom! dance party at House of Blues, Plunge! pool party and more. Get tickets
Southern Fried Nuptials
Desert Theatreworks opens its new season with Southern Fried Nuptials, through September 25. Going to the chapel and they’re gonna get married. Or are they? It’s been a rough year for Attie VanLeer and Harline Frye. Their engagement has been on and off more times than a drunk frat boy on a mechanical bull. Half the town has been invited, dress is fitted, the flowers have been ordered, and the gifts are piling up in the living room. So why does Harline still have cold feet? Will they or won’t they? That’s the big question this hysterical sequel to Osborne and Eppler’s hit comedy Southern Fried Funeral. Get tickets
The Ultimate Selena Experience
Agua Caliente Casinos presents The Como La Flor Band: The Ultimate Selena Experience, performing on the Agave Caliente Terraza stage at Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City on Saturday, September 17 at 8 pm. Playing together since 2011, The Como La Flor Band has made a name for themselves as the most respected and popular Selena Quintanilla tribute band out there. Each band member, led by lead vocalist Tina Aldana, is dedicated to giving their audience an authentic performance every time to capture the essence and energy of one of the most legendary Latin recording artists that ever lived. Get tickets
Sunnylands Films in the Gardens Returns
For three consecutive Fridays in September, starting Friday, September 16 at 7:30 pm, Sunnylands will present Films in the Gardens. The first film (Sept 16) will be Murder on the Orient Express (1974). Filmgoers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, and small picnics. Carpooling is strongly encouraged. Large coolers, alcohol, smoking, and pets are not permitted. Upcoming films are Death on the Nile (1978) on September 23, and Evil Under the Sun (1982) on September 30. More info
LOOKING AHEAD
2022 Business Expo and Taste of Palm Springs
The Palm Springs Chamber or Commerce presents the 2022 Business Expo & Taste of Palm Springs on Wednesday, September 21 from 5–9 pm at Indian Canyons Golf Resort. Come learn about Palm Springs’ businesses and have the opportunity to taste bites from several of the city’s best restaurants. Over 100 local businesses will showcase their products and services, and included will be a taste of more than 40 valley restaurants, wine and beer tasting, a cocktail bar, and live entertainment from Britain’s Finest – The Complete Beatles Experience. Get tickets
On the Air at KGAY 106.5
WIN Tickets to Cinema Diverse
Cinema Diverse – The Palm Springs LGBTQ Film Festival, takes place September 15–25 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, and KGAY 106.5 and Gay Desert Guide have your chance to WIN a pair of “Six pack of passes” to this 15th Anniversary edition of the festival! Enter to win on the KGAY Contest Page. Tickets and passes are available for purchase now, come see LGBTQ+ cinema from around the world, screening for 10 days. More info
WIN Tickets to Pride Under the Pines
Pride Under the Pines, the Idyllwild Pride Festival, is set for Saturday, October 1, for a great day filled with fun, laughter, celebration and love, and KGAY 106.5 and Gay Desert Guide have your chance to WIN a pair of General Admission tickets! Winners will have access to the festival grounds to enjoy a day of food, bars and entertainment hosted by Sabryna Williams, featuring Transgender singer/songwriter Alexa Abraxas and Thea Austin from Snap! Enter to win on the KGAY Contest Page. You can also purchase tickets now, with the option to join the KGAY Party Bus and movie screening of The Birdcage. More info
KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs is “The Pride of the Valley,” and you can show your Pride by proudly wearing our rainbow logo! Check out our selection of apparel and other items emblazoned with the best radio station call letters: KGAY! Shop now
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
- Southern Fried Nuptials presented by Desert Theatreworks
Sep 9–25 - Fahrenheit – An Outdoor Fitness Class
Tue/Wed/Thu mornings at 7 am at Frances Stevens Park - Cinema Diverse – The Palm Springs LGBTQ Film Festival
Sep 15–25 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center and Streaming - Positively Aging Project
Sat. Sep 17 from 10 am–3 pm at Joslyn Center - Gay Days Anaheim
Sep 16–18 at Disneyland Resort - Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend
Sep 21–25 at Margaritaville Resort Palm Springs - 2022 Business Expo and Taste of Palm Springs
Wed. Sep 21 from 5–9 pm at Indian Canyons Golf Resort - Pride Under the Pines
Sat. Oct 1 from 12–9 pm in Idyllwild - One Night Out: Havana Nights
Sat. Oct 1 from 7–10 pm at the Palm Springs Air Museum - Modernism Week – October
Oct 13–16 at Various Locations around Palm Springs - Palm Springs Leather Pride
Oct 27–30 at Hotel Zoso and various locations around Palm Springs - Palm Springs HRC Garden Party
Sat. Nov 5 from 1:30–4:30 pm at a private estate - Palm Springs Pride Festival
Sat. & Sun. Nov 5 & 6, Downtown Palm Springs - Palm Springs Pride Parade 2022
Sun. Nov 6 at 10 am, Downtown Palm Springs
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 2022 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.
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)