Florida’s draconian policies and laws are having an effect on travel and tourism in addition to the toll that they take on residents.
Case in point: the IGLTA (International LGBTQ+ Travel Association) has selected Palm Springs as its 2025 Global Convention destination. Many in our community worked hard to land this conference, confirming the event’s return to the US West Coast for the first time since 2015. Florida was also in the running.
According to the release, “Known for its thriving LGBTQ+ community and welcoming atmosphere, Palm Springs is set to provide an unforgettable experience for attendees from around the world. IGLTA is proud to partner with Visit Greater Palm Springs to make this historic event possible.”
It’s a big win when a major conference chooses our destination not only for the economic impact, but it also allows us to show off to the world. We’re not a “best kept secret” by a long stretch, and I’m happy that we’ll be hosting! Stay tuned for yet another LGBTQ+ conference announcement soon!
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide on KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
For the latest, follow our socials @GayDesertGuide and @KGAY1065 and listen to KGAY Palm Springs wherever you may be!
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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 2013 documentary short 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
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 for a great afternoon of bowling, fun, and friends—whether you’re bowling or not—come to support HRC’s work to advance equality for all LGBTQ+ people. More info
Sexy Daddy Contests for Father’s Day
Sunday, June 18 is Father’s Day and both Streetbar and Hunters are holding Sexy Daddy Contests! Are you a sexy daddy or do you know one? Hunters holds their contest from 1–3 pm and Streetbar will hold theirs from 4–6 pm. Come to compete or just to celebrate the sexy daddies. First, second, and third place prizes will be awarded for each bar. More info
Coachella 2024 Advance Sale Starts Friday
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 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
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 are now playing away at Hershey, where the Bears tied up the series 2 to 2. The next game will be in Hershey on Saturday, June 17 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
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
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
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
Recap: Season 8 RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, Episode 7
Gay Desert Guide Drag Correspondent Dante Noto has your latest recap for RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 8, Episode 7: Forensic Queens, and “this week’s maxi challenge is to improv in a new Ru-crime series, “Forensic Queens.” The episode is entitled “Wha-ha-happened to Lil’ Poundcake,” the drag puppet daughter of Alaska Thunderf*ck and Lineysha Sparx from season 5.” Find out how the improv played out, who threatened to quit, and who is just not having all these dramatics, when you read Dante’s full recap of Episode 7 [here].
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].
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
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
Click below to sign up for our Gay Desert Guide Oasis Insiders Newsletter to get our Weekly Blog, Top 3 Events for the weekend, Hot Deals and Cool Events all delivered to your inbox every Friday!
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. 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 24 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 - Beyond Inflammation with Dr. Patrick Angelo
Wed. Jun 21 from 8:30 am–12 pm at the Palm Springs Convention Center - 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 - OutFest LA LGBTQ+ Film Fest 2023
Jul 13–23 at various locations around Los Angeles - 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
Welcome New Partners!
Why swelter in the valley’s relentless heat when Big Bear’s cool mountain air is just a click away? Big Bear Vacations offers you a choice from over 350 homes and luxury cabins tailored to your budget. Trade the scorching heat for a breezy sunset on the lake. From quaintly rustic to spectacularly grand, you’ll find the perfect fit for your vacation vision. Book the cool getaway you’ve always dreamed of! Learn more
Golden Smoke Shop has two locations in Palm Springs: 790 N. Sunrise Way and 2755 N. Palm Canyon, open seven days a week, including holidays. They sell top-tier quality vapes, E-juice, water pipes, hand pipes, nectar collectors, atomizers, e-nails, tobacco, PRO-CLUB T-shirts, exotic sodas, exotic snacks, cigars, hookah, whippets, sexual enhancements and much more. They have the best prices and new deals everyday with local delivery available and nationwide shipping. More info
Joshua Tree National Park is open year-round. There are few facilities within the park’s approximately 800,000 acres, making Joshua Tree a true desert wilderness. About 2.8 million visitors come to the park each year to enjoy activities such as hiking, camping, photography, rock climbing, and simply enjoying the serene desert scenery. The Joshua Tree National Park Association has been supporting programming at Joshua Tree National Park since 1962. As the park’s primary non-profit partner, they operate four visitor centers and two park stores that are often the first stop for visitors from around the world. Learn more
- 2023 Greater Palm Springs Pride Poster and Artist Announced
- IGLTA Selects Palm Springs as its 2025 Global Convention Destination
- Pride Month: Palm Springs Couple Launches Witty Streaming Series About ‘Historical Homos’
- The Stars of ‘Dallas’ Reunite 45 Years After the Show’s Debut — See the Photos!
- 9 Beautiful Ways to Celebrate and Support Gay Dads
AMP Sports Lounge has a casual, festive and funky atmosphere that suits all who choose to come and play as they effortlessly find a comfortable place to hang out, drink, enjoy a snack from their bar menu, and make new buddies. It doesn’t even matter what type of balls you’re into, or if you just like a good puck, you’ll feel right at home. And if sport is not your thing, they have everything from bingo to disco for you too. Save at AMP with our HOT DEAL: get $25.00 of beer, wine, or signature cocktails for just $12.50! Get Your Deal
We also have Hot Deals at Coachella Valley Coffee Co., 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, 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)