June is Pride month as a tribute to those who were involved in the Stonewall Riots in 1969. Most of the world is waving rainbow flags, dousing themselves in glitter, and parading about.
Legend has it we tried Pride here in Palm Springs once in June, but the heat made staying with the traditional month to celebrate nearly impossible. We’ll celebrate in November.
With parades, festivals, and concerts going on across the globe – and around the state – there’s plenty of ways for you to celebrate. It’s also the time to remember and learn some important social history lessons.
We are no longer an oppressed minority hiding in the shadows. We’re out and visible! It’s clear that the majority of Americans – and history – are on our side. The recent dust-ups involving Target and Anheuser-Busch are alarming and a part of a systematic plan to remove our rights. So the fight is not over by any means. Raise a glass or two to celebrate Pride month, then raise a fist or a flag in protest and solidarity.
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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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, Attraction, Gay Resorts with passes, Dispensaries and other services. You can also view it online, and download the PDF [here].
Ross Mathews – “I Gotchu, Gurl!”
Zoso Fun presents Ross Mathews – “I Gotchu Gurl!” on Saturday, June 3 at 7 pm at Hotel Zoso. This is an evening of standup comedy, cocktails, games and major LOLs where everyone is welcome. Designed to be interactive, the show is updated constantly to keep up with pop culture and (once the cocktails really kick in) Ross will go into the crowd to answer very NSFW/after-dark/anything-goes questions! Get tickets
Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week
Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week kicks off this Friday, June 2 and continues through Sunday, June 11. With a variety of restaurants participating, you can refresh your palate and discover new places to eat all while redeeming great offers! Savor the start of summer — every poolside bite, every chilled cocktail, every sunset dinner with a view — with more options including prix fixe menus and exclusive special offers only available during Restaurant Week. See our event listing for a list of participating restaurants: More info
OUTLOUD Music Festival at WeHo Pride
The 2023 OUTLOUD Music Festival takes place June 2–5 at West Hollywood Park, championing queer musicians as the signature music event at WeHo Pride, the City of West Hollywood’s Pride celebration. Weekend headliners include Grace Jones, Carly Rae Jepsen, Orville Peck and Passion Pit. Friday night is free with Idina Menzel, Jessie Ware, Shangela, Tinashe, and more. Get tickets
Riverside Pride Gayla and Awards Ceremony
Riverside Pride presents the Riverside Pride Gayla on Saturday, June 3, from 6–11 pm at the Grand Valley Ballroom in Moreno Valley. All funds raised go towards the September 9 Riverside Pride festival. Individuals and organizations that have made positive contributions towards the advancement of LGBTQ+ equality and advocacy in the Inland Empire region will be celebrated at this year’s Riverside Pride Gayla. The theme and entertainment this year will be Moulin Rouge-inspired with music, dancing, silent auction, photo ops and more. Hosted by Athena Kills, with performances by burlesque performer Kitten de Ville and Rhythm Beatz Sirens Heels Company. Get tickets
Santa Monica Pride
Santa Monica Pride, or SaMo PRIDE, takes place Saturday, June 3, from 11 am – 4 pm. The festival will turn the entire downtown district, from the Third Street Promenade through Santa Monica Place to the Santa Monica Pier, into a PRIDE zone. All ages are welcome to enjoy live musical performances, PRIDE-related treats, free swag, games, and much more. Make sure to stop by the photo booth experience, titled “Colors of Pride” to get your photo taken as a memento from the day. There will be local organizations, businesses and retailers offering information, services, and special Pride deals. More info
Sonoma County Pride
For our NorCal friends, Sonoma County Pride will be held on Saturday, June 3 and includes a morning parade through downtown (11 am), and a daytime festival (12–5 pm) in Courthouse Square with entertainment, booths and activities. Pride weekend events also include a Friday movie night, Boogie Nights after party and drag show on Saturday night, and Wigs & Waffles drag brunch and Aqua Boogie pool party with performances by Kiesza, Crystal Waters, and Monique Heart on Sunday. More info
ShortFest Individual Tickets on Sale Saturday
The Palm Springs International ShortFest is almost here, running June 20–26, and they have just released the line-up of screenings [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 are on sale now and individual ticket sales open Saturday, June 3 at 9 am. Get tickets
🙌 You can also enter to win tickets to ShortFest 2023 on our KGAY Contest Page 🙌
AIDS LifeCycle® Starts Sunday
The AIDS LifeCycle® sets off this Sunday, June 4 for the 545-mile ride from SF to LA, concluding Saturday, June 10, We wish all the cyclists and support staff the best on this epic challenge! Two locals of note that we know will be participating: Brett Klein from Eisenhower Health and Dr. Jim Cox, chiropractor. Co-produced to raise funds for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center, AIDS/LifeCycle advances these agencies’ shared interest in reducing new HIV infections and improving the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Lizzo – The Special 2our
Global sensation and professional flutist, Lizzo brings her The Special 2our with special guest Latto to Acrisure Arena on Friday, June 2 at 8 pm. Her most recent album Special peaked at number 2 on the US Billboard 200 chart, hailed by Rolling Stone as “the most unabashedly joyous, sonically diverse, and emotionally profound album put out by a major label since Beyonce’s Lemonade.” Get tickets
Boyz Night Out is Back
On Friday, June 2—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 will be hosted by Snatch and feature 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 5
Gay Desert Guide Drag Correspondent Dante Noto has your latest recap for RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 8, Episode 5: Snatch Game of Love, and as Dante notes, “For an episode devoted to the Snatch Game of Love, love was a bit short in supply this week. Anger, hurt and betrayal reared their nasty heads.” Find out what went down, who slayed on both the challenge and the runway, and why Dante says “You can put your body in drag but not your emotions!” Read his full recap of Episode 5 [here].
Sipping, Shopping, and Giving Back
Trina Turk and Mr. Turk invite you to an evening of Sipping, Shopping, and Giving Back on Friday, June 2 from 5:30–7:30 pm. 20% of sales during the event will benefit the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert. RSVP requested. More info
PAPUUT (Pop Art Pop Up Up Town)
Come to the Uptown Design District this Friday, June 2 from 5–9 pm for the opening party of PAPUUT, a pop-up art gallery hosted by Christopher Kennedy and featuring the works of Trevor Wayne and 9 other artists. Complimentary alcoholic beverages will be served, with a portion of art sales during the month-long pop-up donated to the Palm Springs Animal Shelter. More info
Palm Springs Firefighters 90th Annual Fish Fry
The Palm Springs Parks and Recreation Department and the Palm Springs Firefighters present the 90th Annual Fish Fry on Saturday, June 3 from 6–10 pm at Ruth Hardy Park. The Menu includes rainbow trout, hot dogs or hamburgers for those who don’t want fish, corn on the cob, coleslaw, dinner roll, and cold beverages. Cost is just $10. More info
Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival
The 5th Annual Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival (PSYPF) takes place on Sunday, June 4 at 12 pm at the Palm Springs Cultural Center and will showcase three winning plays written by local high school students, using professional actors and directors. The plays were written by this year’s winners: two students from Valley View High School in Moreno Valley and one student from Riverside Polytechnic High School in Riverside. This year, PSYPF received a record 39 submissions. Each play was reviewed by a special committee that selected the 2023 winners, each of whom will receive a mentorship to enhance their playwriting skills, a staged reading public performance of their play, and a $500 scholarship to help further their career in the arts. More info
The Marilyn Manson of Magic
Marvyn’s Magic Theater presents Dan Sperry – The Marilyn Manson of Magic on Friday & Saturday, June 2 & 3 at 6 pm. Sperry’s original approach to magic, twisted style, and humor provokes shock and unsettling awe as his audiences are left in disbelief by his never-before-seen illusions. Sperry’s bizarre visuals mixed with his original shock-based style of magic keeps audiences on the edge of their seat and promises to take them on a roller-coaster style ride into his world of illusion, resulting in a fast-paced, rock concert style show guests will be raving about and wanting to see again and again. Get tickets
Fellini Retrospective: Fellini’s Casanova
Thanks to popular demand, the Palm Springs Cultural Center is extending its Fellini Retrospective series through the end of 2023, continuing on the first Friday of every month. The series is part of the Fellini 100 Tour, an international celebration of Fellini’s centennial. Experience why Fellini’s name is synonymous with the international art of cinema! On Friday, June 2 at 7 pm, the featured film will be Fellini’s Casanova (1976), a visually stunning portrait of Casanova, the infamous Italian womanizer, adventurer, author and libertine. In a remarkable performance, Donald Sutherland portrays the great seducer not as an amorous anomaly, but an everyday man living in extraordinary times. Featuring dazzling European settings (although it was filmed entirely in Rome), an unforgettable musical score and Academy Award-winning costumes, Fellini’s Casanova is a cinematic experience to fall in love with. Get tickets
Golden Delicious
The Palm Springs Cultural Center and The Cinema Diverse Showcase present Golden Delicious from June 2–8, with shows at 4:30 & 7:30 pm. Experience the vibrant world of gay cinema as director Jason Corman invites you to embark on a heartfelt coming-of-age journey: When basketball-obsessed Aleks moves in across the street, Asian-Canadian teen Jake finds himself trying out for the basketball team to get his attention in this classic coming-of-age drama set in the digital age. Discover the power of love and the courage to defy societal expectations in this captivating story. Get tickets
Screwball Sundays: His Girl Friday
The Palm Springs Cultural Center presents a series of the greatest screwball comedies of Hollywood’s golden age, showing His Girl Friday (1936) on Sunday, June 4 at 3 pm. When hard-charging New York newspaper editor Walter Burns (Cary Grant) discovers that his ex-wife, investigative reporter Hildy Johnson (Rosalind Russell), has gotten engaged to milquetoast insurance agent Bruce Baldwin (Ralph Bellamy), he unsuccessfully tries to lure her away from tame domestic life with a story about the impending execution of convicted murderer Earl Williams. But when Hildy discovers Williams may be innocent, her reporter instincts take over. Get tickets
Aces!
The Palm Springs Cultural Center presents Aces! on Sundays through June 18 at 2 pm, featuring an afternoon of laughter, tears, truth, Texas, and a whole lot of champagne. Join five Miss Texas USAs as they come together for a hilarious reunion in this side-splitting comedy directed by Judith Chapman and written by Davis Gordon Gilbert. After 35 years, the queens of beauty and grace reunite for a no-holds-barred reunion, starring Denise Strand, Dana Adkins, Kitty Murray, Yo Younger, Denise Carey, and Christine Tringali-Nunez, lighting up the stage with their laughter and charm! Get tickets
LOOKING AHEAD
Rock the Park: Britain’s Finest
The Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce has added an additional concert to their free Rock the Park series, presenting Britain’s Finest on Wednesday, June 7, at 7 pm. Bring your lawn chairs and join 103.1 MeTV FM on-site with free magnet giveaways and you can sign up for our email newsletter! Come early and bring a picnic or get food from one of our downtown restaurants before you settle in for the concert. Britain’s Finest is a band of Beatles tribute all-stars who bring the look, the sound, the cheeky humor and the outright vivacity of the Beatles back to life. More info
Coachella Valley Firebirds in Western Conference Finals
The inaugural season for our local ice hockey expansion team, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, keeps getting better. This 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 three rounds of playoffs and now they are in the Western Conference Finals against the Milwaukee Admirals. This best-of-seven series will return to Acrisure Arena for games 6 & 7 on June 5 & 7 (if necessary). Get tickets
DBA Networking Event at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter
Join the Desert Business Association (DBA) on Monday, June 5 from 5:30–7 pm for a fun Networking Mixer at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, a non-profit advocacy organization for the humane treatment of animals. Their Adoption Center places hundreds of animals in loving, safe, and healthy environments each year. Their facility and their model of sheltering have set a new standard for all shelters in Southern California. To support the shelter, you can bring: dry dog food (kibble), wet and dry cat food (Friskies Fancy Feast), dog and cat toys, and new or gently used sheets and towels. The DBA will also be holding their regular raffle to support LGBTQ Youth Scholarships through Safe Schools Desert Cities. More info
Palm Springs Police LGBTQ Town Hall
The Palm Springs Police Department’s LGBTQ Outreach Committee presents a Town Hall on Tuesday, June 6 from 5–6:30 pm at Hunters in the Arenas District. Chief Andy Mills and other members of the PSPD will be on hand to discuss where we have been, where we are now, and where we are headed. Join the conversation and stay later to hear Marisa Corvo (Season 19 of The Voice) perform live from 7–9 pm!
Villagefest & PS Tramway Summer Hours
VillageFest, the Coachella Valley’s most popular weekly street fair which takes place every Thursday night along Palm Canyon Drive between Baristo and Amado Roads, runs year round, but with slightly adjusted summer hours starting Thursday, June 1, beginning an hour later to help beat the heat, running from 7 pm–10 pm. VillageFest attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world and offers more than 200 booths featuring eclectic art, handcrafted items and unique food. Shops, restaurants and galleries also stay open late.
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is also running summer hours now through September 3: Every Friday and Saturday, the last tram up will be at 9 pm and the last tram down will be at 10:30 pm. In addition, Peaks Restaurant will extend the last seating to 8:30 pm and Pines Café will remain open until 9:30 pm. “Our extended summer schedule provides guests the opportunity to spend more time outside in cooler weather during the hot summer months,” says Tramway General Manager Nancy Nichols. “Visiting the Tramway after dark is a truly unique experience when guests can have dinner and enjoy seeing the city lights across the Coachella Valley from 8,516 feet.” More info
Annual LGBTQ Community Survey
We at KGAY 106.5 and Gay Desert Guide ask you to please take part in the Community Marketing & Insights (CMI) 17th Annual LGBTQ Community Survey! For over a decade, this survey has provided free data to help non-profits, universities, and organizations better understand and serve the LGBTQ community. Also, 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. Please [click here] to start the survey
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 and 103.1 MeTV
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. The exciting 7 day festival will be screening 300 shorts from 65 countries. 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
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!
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. 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
Ross Mathews hosts his popular weekly radio show on KGAY 106.5 on Saturdays from 11:00 am–2 pm. Ross is a part-time Palm Springs resident and will be in town for his new standup show “I Gotchu, Gurl” at Hotel Zoso on Saturday, June 3! He currently appears on The Drew Barrymore Show, RuPaul’s Drag Race and many other projects. He brings celebrity gossip and news, plus a rundown of what’s happening each weekend in #ILoveGayPalmSprings as he plays some of his favorite dance hits each weekend on KGAY. Listen Online
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
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. New this week: Jerry Steffen of NBC Palm Springs will bring important weather updates to the radio audience of 103.1 MeTV fm throughout every weekday morning! Listen online
- Ross Mathews: I Gotchu, Gurl!
Sat. Jun 3 at 7 pm at Hotel Zoso - Zoso Fun Presents Boyz Night Out
Fri. June 2 from 4–8 pm (and every Friday ongoing) at Hotel Zoso - Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week
Jun 2–11 at various restaurants throughout Greater Palm Springs - Splash House – June
Jun 9–11 at the Renaissance, the Saguaro and Margaritaville - 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 - 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!
Jeffrey A Orr, Esquire, Trusts + Estates Attorney, has years of experience working with clients and families. As a consultant, he has assisted the clients of most of the major national investment firms and banks in developing strategies to minimize taxation and ensure the orderly transfer of assets. As a member of the LGBTQI+ community, Jeffrey understands the particular goals, needs, and objectives of community members. He is a former board member of Equality California and is an ardent supporter of diversity, equality, and inclusion. More info
El Asado Mexican Grill is a new restaurant offering authentic Mexican food from Puebla, Mexico, with flavors that burst in your mouth with each bite! They also have a meat market next door with top-of-the-line cuts. Place your carne asada order for your next pool party! More info
- Things to Do in June in the Coachella Valley
- From Glitter to Unity: Unveiling the Global Spectacle of the Gay Pride Parade
- Restaurant Week is a Win for Diners and Local Restaurants
- New Restaurants to Savor During Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week
- Inside the Barbie Dreamhouse, a Fuchsia Fantasy Inspired by Palm Springs
Willie’s Modern Fare combines the elegance of fine dining with the warmth and conviviality for which its founder is best known. Recognized for Palm Springs’ top restaurants EIGHT4NINE Restaurant & Lounge and 1501 Uptown Gastropub, your host Willie Rhine invites guests to savor classic cuisine with a modern twist, along with creative cocktails and a carefully curated wine list. With our HOT DEAL, you can save 30% at Willie’s Modern Fare and get a $25 gift card for $17.50! Get Your Deal
We also have Hot Deals at Palm Springs Fine Men’s Salon, Papa Dan’s Pizza and Pasta, Il Giardino, Zin American Bistro, Coachella Valley Coffee Co., Destination PSP, V Wine Lounge & Martini Bar, Desert Mischief, Jolene’s, Rick’s, Trevor Wayne Pop Art, AMP Sports Lounge, 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.” Ross Mathews is on Saturdays from 11 am–2 pm, 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)