Poet John Rondel posted a masterpiece to start June Pride month. It was shared on “the Facebook” by my mom via a long time family friend and former clergyman Mike Anton. Mike had a big impact on me as a youth in the 70s. With his long hair, burlap robe and gentle Lutheran style, he related to young people in a way that few men of the cloth of that era did. He also served with me on a board that helped create a drop in center for youth in my community.
While I don’t hold strong religious beliefs today, I still appreciate those who spread the “gospel of love” over hate. Because many times the writings inspire and cause us to think. And they can also be a counter to the hate that’s being spewed at our LGBTQ+ community.
I’ve published the entirety of the poem, “An Open Poem to Closed Hearts” in my blog below, but I note here the opening line:
when you hate
someone else
because they are
different than you
you are unknowingly hating on
the very Architect of Creation itself
and this line:
get over your fear
of people who
look
live
pray
love
believe
differently than you do
How do we convey this to those who seek to do us harm? We heard in this week’s Town Hall with Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills that while there are no imminent threats, we must remain vigil to the potential for violence from extremists. All we really want to do is live our lives peacefully in this beautiful Coachella Valley. And see a good drag show…
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide on KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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LGBTQ Showcase at Caliente Comedy Night
Caliente Comedy presents an LGBTQ Showcase on Friday, June 9 from 8–9:30 pm at the Cascade Lounge inside Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs. Don’t miss this hilarious 90-minute show headlined by Nicky Paris and a roster full of LGBTQ festival comedians! Every Friday night, Caliente Comedy gets you laughing until your face hurts with well known comics from Comedy Central, Netflix, HBO, SNL, Conan, America’s Got Talent, Showtime and more. Caliente Comedy at the Cascade Lounge offers state-of-the-art sound and lighting with pristine acoustics and plush seating. Get tickets
3rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration
Come to the Palm Springs Cultural Center for a FREE afternoon of festivities on Sunday, June 11 from 2–7 pm, for a Juneteenth outdoor pop-up market featuring live music by Tommy Dodson & Friends, and hosted by fashion designer Aneka Brown and soul-singer Keisha D. Explore African-American history. Tour the traveling African American Aviation Museum. Learn about the significance of Juneteenth and enjoy a Drum Circle Storytelling. Immerse yourself in the vibrant artistry of our community and meet local artists displaying their works as well as enjoy a special youth art exhibition. Later in the evening, from 7–8:30 pm the incomparable Keisha D invites you to an unforgettable soul-filled concert indoors. Get tickets
Upcoming Juneteenth-related events include the Sunday Supper Juneteenth “Family” Reunion with Brothers of the Desert on Sunday, June 18 at 4 pm and the Juneteenth for Everyone Conversation and Gospel Recital on Wednesday, June 28 at 5:30 pm, with performances by Charles Huff, Hope Lang and Doug Need and remarks by Palm Springs Mayor Grace Garner. Both events are at Mizell Center.
Plunge 2 at CCBC
Palm Springs Leather Order of the Desert presents PLUNGE – Round 2 on Saturday, June 10 from 12–5 pm at CCBC Resort. These world-famous pool parties are back for another year of new friends, frolic and fun for their first event of the summer. Music by Palm Springs DJ/Producer Peter Barona. Get tickets
Splash House
Splash House is celebrating 10 years of dancing in the desert with the first of three Splash House weekends, Friday through Sunday, June 9–11, at three hotel resorts in Palm Springs: the Renaissance, the Saguaro and Margaritaville. Each resort is a full takeover hosting a poolside stage, rooms, and balconies that are all part of the fun, featuring Armand Van Helden, Chromeo, Cloonee, Green Velvet, Purple Disco Machine, Gordo, and many more. Desert days continue into the night for the After Hours series, dancing aside the planes and under the stars at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Splash House also returns for two more weekends in August: 11–13, and 18–20. Get tickets.
Coachella Valley Firebirds: Calder Cup Final
The Coachella Valley Firebirds are Western Conference Champions 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, beating the Milwaukee Admirals. Now they advance to the Calder Cup Finals against the Hershey Bears, starting with two home games on Thursday, June 8 at 7 pm, and Saturday, June 10 at 7 pm. The series moves to Hershey for Games 3–5, and if necessary, will return to the Coachella Valley for Games 6 & 7 on Monday, June 19 and Wednesday, June 21. Get tickets
Palm Springs Art Museum’s Summer Party
The Palm Springs Art Museum’s Summer Party will take place in the main museum on Saturday, June 10 from 7–10 pm. The Summer Party will feature a cash bar, drinks and appetizers, and four DJs—DXSKO, Gingee, Olea, and Anastazja—spinning in the museum galleries and gardens. The party will be celebrating five exhibitions: “So Many Songs We Have Yet To Play: Gifts of Donna MacMillan,” “Mythopoetics: Symbols and Stories,” “Meditations in Glass,” “Tajh Rust: Reflections,” and “American Framing.” The theme is “Summer Maximalism.” Embrace the theme by dressing in your most vibrant, over-the-top outfit, from bold prints to colorful accessories! Get tickets
The Palm Springs Art Museum presents Mythopoetics: Symbols and Stories from June 11 through October 16. This exhibition highlights the work of artists in the Southern California inland region whose work incorporates mythologies, iconographies, and cultural codes. These artists rework historical and contemporary symbols and narratives to create new visual imaginings. Taken together, these artists prompt viewers to ask: how do stories from the past actively shape the present? How might the creation of new mythologies impact the development of future events? Artists included in the exhibition are Edie Fake, John Flores, Daniel Gibson, Sky Hopinka, Armando Lerma, Fay Ray, Carlos Ramirez, Cara Romero, Chris Sanchez, and Lily Stockman. More info
Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week
Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week is well underway 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
Boyz Night Out
On Friday, June 9—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
Tony Awards Viewing Party with Madame
Zoso Fun presents the Tony Awards Viewing Party with Madame on Sunday, June 11 from 4:30 pm–closing. Madame has had so much fun at Zoso Fun’s new Boyz Night Out every Friday that she invited herself to host the Tony Awards! Join Madame and her quick wit in the cabaret room to watch the Tony Awards. Dinner service and Broadway-inspired drinks will be available. No cover! More info
LA Pride
LA Pride in the Park is Friday and Saturday, June 9 & 10 a LA State Historic Park. Megan thee Stallion will headline Friday, and Mariah Carey will headline Saturday. The festival will also feature tons of food & beverages, bars for 21+, an array of local vendors and LGBTQ+ exhibitors, a large sober space, sponsor giveaways, Erotic City for the leather community, and a new feature, Trans Galleria, highlighting the art and creativity of the LA trans community. Single-day, weekend, and VIP passes available. On Sunday, June 11, the 53rd Annual LA Pride Parade will travel down Highland Avenue, Hollywood Boulevard, and Cahuenga. Grand Marshals include Margaret Cho and a legacy honor for the late Leslie Jordan. The parade will air live, 11 am–1pm, on long-time broadcast partner KABC/ABC7. It will also air nationally on ABC News Live and Hulu, and wherever viewers stream ABC7 including abc7.com and the ABC7LA mobile app. More info
Country Dance Fridays
Dance Ranch Palm Springs presents Country Dance Fridays, a great night of country western dancing, including two-step, waltz, shadow, East and West Coast swing and line dances, every Friday from 7–9:30 pm at Step by Step. The dance lesson is at 7 pm with dancing from 7:30–9:30. Dance Ranch Palm Springs is a country western dance group serving the LGBTQ+ community and its friends. Country dancers of all levels are welcome. More info
Palm Springs Certified Farmers’ Market Summer Location
The Palm Springs Certified Farmer’s Market moves indoors to the Palm Springs Pavilion from June to September, starting Saturday, June 10 from 8 am–1 pm. The market will feature a variety of California Farmers and Value Added Vendors who will be selling fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, cheeses, honey, organic coffee, flowers, rugelah, prepared foods, soups, herb-infused chocolates, soaps, and more. More info
Diana Ross at The Show
The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa Rancho Mirage presents Diana Ross – The Music Legacy Tour for a SOLD OUT performance on Saturday, June 10 at 8 pm. Miss Ross is “coming home” to perform her Greatest #1 Hits with audiences and super fans throughout the United States. These rare events promise to be an unforgettable celebration of Ross’ legacy and the impact she has on her millions of fans worldwide. More info
Screwball Sundays: My Man Godfrey
The Palm Springs Cultural Center presents a series of the greatest screwball comedies of Hollywood’s golden age, showing the classic My Man Godfrey (1936) on Sunday, June 11 at 3 pm. Fifth Avenue socialite Irene Bullock (Carole Lombard) needs a “forgotten man” to win a scavenger hunt, and no one fits that description more than Godfrey Park (William Powell), who resides in a dump by the East River. Irene hires Godfrey as a servant for her riotously unhinged family, to the chagrin of her spoiled sister, Cornelia (Gail Patrick), who tries her best to get Godfrey fired. As Irene falls for her new butler, Godfrey turns the tables and teaches the frivolous Bullocks a lesson or two. 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
Recap: Season 8 RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, Episode 6
Gay Desert Guide Drag Correspondent Dante Noto has your latest recap for RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 8, Episode 6: JOAN! The Unauthorized Rusical, and Dante says, “It’s a new day and the werkroom is decorated with portraits of two great Hollywood stars: Joan Crawford and Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford. (Really, who can tell them apart anymore?). This week’s maxi challenge will be to perform in JOAN! The Unauthorized Rusical. Each queen will play Joan at a different stage in her career.” Find out how it all went down, how they worked the runway, and who was sent home when you read his full recap of Episode 6 [here].
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].
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 🙌
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 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. 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
Ross Mathews hosts his popular weekly radio show on KGAY 106.5 this Saturday from 11:00 am–2 pm. 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
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 10 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
Dance with Me Weekend: Join 103.1 MeTV fm starting this Friday night in the 7:00 hour for timeless and memorable dance songs from the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s and ’80s! 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 brings important weather updates to the radio audience of 103.1 MeTV fm throughout every weekday morning! Listen online
- Palm Springs Art Museum’s Summer Party
Sat. Jun 10 from 7–10 pm - Splash House – June
Jun 9–11 at the Renaissance, the Saguaro and Margaritaville - Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week
Jun 2–11 at various restaurants throughout Greater Palm Springs - Zoso Fun Presents Boyz Night Out
Fri. Jun 9 from 4–8 pm (and every Friday ongoing) at Hotel Zoso - Zoso Fun Presents Tony Awards Viewing Party with Madame
Sun. Jun 11 from 4:30 pm–close - 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
- Town Hall Offers Chance for Police Chief, LGBTQ Community to Continue Vital Dialogue
- Gay Solo Travel: A Guide to Safety and Empowerment
- Palm Springs-Set ‘Coming Out for Love’ First U.S. Dating Competition Show For Queer Women
- WeHo Presents Key to the City to LA Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
- History, Fashionably: The Palm Springs Cultural Center Hosts Designer Aneka Brown’s Third Annual Juneteenth Event
Coachella Valley Coffee Company is family-owned and operated, and a quality coffee experience is their mission, their craft, and their passion. Every morning at our roastery, they brew a few selections of our latest roasts. Even after 26 years in the coffee business, we still marvel at the wonderful sensations a great cup of coffee provides. Check out their new cold brew coffee package, it’s top-notch. As the official coffee of the Coachella Valley Firebirds, you can warm up with a cup at their playoffs game at Acrisure this Saturday! With our HOT DEAL, you can get a three-month supply of Coachella Valley Coffee Company‘s Sunrise Blend and a Roastmaster-selected new/seasonal offering for half off! That’s a $140 value for just $70. 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, Destination PSP, V Wine Lounge & Martini Bar, Desert Mischief, Jolene’s Bar & Lounge, Rick’s Restaurant, Willie’s Modern Fare, 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.” 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)