Brad Fuhr Caricature

Coco Peru is one of the godmothers of drag, performing in movies such as “Trick”, with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles when I chaired the board, and in her snarky “one woman show” performances on stage.  She joined KGAY Palm Springs morning host John Taylor on Friday ahead of her shows at Hotel Zoso.  

As we concluded the broadcast, she asked for a moment to comment on the recent spat of anti-drag legislation.  Yes, dear readers, if you’ve been under a rock lately the right’s fight de jour is to ban Drag performances.  

Tennessee was the first state to sign such a bill into law banning drag where someone who “is not an adult” could view it.  (HRC aptly called out the governor after a photo surfaced of him in drag).

Coco agreed with comments by RuPaul, who earlier in the week said that such legislation is a distraction away from the real issues facing the country. We’ll post the audio @KGAY1065 in Facebook.

Drag is alive and well in greater Palm Springs. Our Visitor Map & Guide lists over 20 drag shows happening weekly.  I don’t see such a ban happening in the Golden state.  And our children will be just fine, thank you.

Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide & KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs,

For the latest, follow our socials @GayDesertGuide and @KGAY1065 and listen to KGAY Palm Springs wherever you may be!
#ILoveGayPalmSprings #ILoveGayCatCity #ILoveGayTravel #ILoveGay #SayKGAY (and win!)

BNP Paribas Open is Underway

The BNP Paribas Open is underway, now through March 19 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. This is the largest two-week combined ATP & WTA professional tennis tournament outside of the four majors. This weekend: There are Friday Night Fireworks at Stadium 1 after the first match of the evening session, and a Drone Show on Saturday night! There will also be entertainment this weekend from Bryan Bros. Band, Johnny Smyth Band, and Radio Ready Band. Tennis Paradise also features top-shelf retail stores and luxurious dining options. And with 20 easily accessible practice courts, the opportunities are endless to encounter tennis’ hottest rising stars and most legendary icons as they prepare to take center stage in the desert. If you can’t make it in person, nearly 120 hours of live coverage is planned. Get tickets

Coco Peru is Bitter, Bothered & Beyond

Hotel Zoso presents the one and only Miss Coco Peru for an 8-show engagement of Coco Peru is Bitter, Bothered & Beyond, from Friday, March 10 through Sunday March 19. After everything that’s been going on in the world, Coco is ready to unleash her thoughts about the past, present, and future. Yes, this exhausted dinosaur of drag is not holding back anything in her new show! A veteran of numerous feature films (Trick, To Wong Foo…, and the cult classic Girls Will Be Girls), and television shows (How I Met Your Mother, Arrested Development, Will & Grace), Coco has also become a viral sensation on social media platforms. Get tickets

Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man

Bus Stop Productions presents Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man in the Tropics Lounge at the Margaritaville Resort on Fridays and Saturdays through March 18, with two shows per night at 7 pm & 9:30 pm. This show has been sharing its upbeat brand of humor with theater audiences all across America for over five years! The play is set at a local university auditorium where the English department holds its monthly meet the authors event. Robyn is the shy and studious moderator of the event and this month’s featured author is Dan Anderson of Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man. With the help of a hunky stage assistant named Stefan, Dan aims to turn this meet the authors event upside down with a highly theatrical, audience interactive sex tip seminar. Get tickets

MeTV Music 103.1 FM Debuts

Just this week, the Coachella Valley woke up to a new radio station! MeTV FM 103.1 features a uniquely appealing mix of familiar songs and rarely played gems from landmark albums across the decades from the 50s through the 80s. This timeless and memorable format was conceptualized to evoke strong emotions of days gone by, much like the MeTV television format. KGAY and Gay Desert Guide’s Brad Fuhr recently finalized plans to purchase the station, previously known in this area as “Channel Q.” Learn more

KGAY Live at Toucans

KGAY’s John Taylor will be making a live appearance Saturday, March 11 from 3–5 pm at Toucans Tiki Lounge! Join us for drink specials and amazing giveaways including tickets to see Shania Twain at Acrisure Arena and a some special happy hour drag performances. Toucans is celebrating 20 plus years in Palm Springs & is the destination for drag performances 5 nights a week. More info

The Kat & Dave Show at the McCallum

This Friday through Sunday, March 10–12, David Foster and Katharine McPhee take the McCallum Theatre stage for the stage version of their viral Instagram show, The Kat & Dave Show. Coming directly from the living room to the stage, this intimate show with the powerhouse duo will be packed with David‘s hits from Chicago, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Josh Groban, Michael Bublé etc. and Kat’s biggest songs from American Idol, Smash, and Waitress. Upcoming shows at the McCallum include: Masters of Harmony (3/19), The Kingdom Choir™ (3/24), Katherine Jenkins (3/25), and Hershey Felder as Monsieur Chopin (3/28 and 3/29). See the full March schedule for the McCallum Theatre with ticket info on our event listing: Get tickets

Daylight Saving Time Starts Sunday

Time to “spring forward” and begin Daylight Saving Time this weekend. Turn your clocks forward at 2:00 a.m. early Sunday morning (or before you go to bed Saturday night) and enjoy an extra hour of daylight at the end of the day!

Escape to Margaritaville

Desert Theatreworks presents Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville, opening Friday, March 10 and running through Sunday, April 2. This upbeat and energetic new show features all your favorite Jimmy Buffett classics, including “Volcano”, “Fins”, “Cheeseburger in Paradise” and of course “Margaritaville.” With a tropical island theme, this heartwarming musical is the party you’ve been waiting for! Get tickets

A Funny Thing Happened…

Dezart Performs presents A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Gynecologic Oncology Unit at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center of New York City with performances now through March 12. A foul-mouthed twenty-something comedian and a middle-aged man embroiled in a nasty divorce are brought together unexpectedly when their cancer-stricken mothers become roommates in the hospital. Together, this unlikely duo must negotiate some of life’s biggest challenges… while making some of the world’s most inappropriate jokes. Our theatre reviewer Stephen Radosh writes that A Funny Thing Happened… is a “moving yet laugh-out-loud play,” and “the four cast members all give brilliant performances.” Read his full review [here] and Get tickets

Kafka’s Joke

Desert Ensemble Theatre presents the world premiere of Kafka’s Joke by Rich Rubin on March 10–12 and 17–19 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. On his deathbed, Franz Kafka instructs his best friend Max Brod to burn his unpublished manuscripts. Brod does not destroy his work, believing Kafka is a literary genius. This leads to Kafka’s writings rising to literary prominence decades after his death. Brod then escapes from Nazi Europe with Kafka’s works in 1939, bringing them to Palestine. At the time of Brod’s death in 1968, he left the manuscripts to his secretary. However, Brod’s will is very confusing. Who owns Kafka? A true story based on a 2016 Israeli Supreme Court case. Get tickets

Once

CVRep presents Once, playing now through Sunday, March 11. (Due to popular demand, CVRep added seven additional performances!) Once is a love story reminding us of how the language of music is universal. Winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Once tells the story of Guy, an Irish songwriter who spends his days fixing vacuums in the Dublin shop he runs with his father. While on the verge of giving it up altogether, along comes a girl who convinces Guy to believe in love, music, and the courage to carry on. Our theatre reviewer Stephen Radosh says Once is “a total joy from the moment you enter the theatre until it lovingly sends you on your way home.” Read his full review [here] and Get tickets

Spring Fling 2023

The 14th annual Spring Fling fundraiser benefiting Bloom in the Desert Ministries UCC is Friday, March 10, at the Palm Springs Pavilion starting at 5:30 pm. “Bending the Arc: Embracing our Core Values,” will feature a festive bazaar featuring international foods, music, the awards, raffles, and shopping. The entertainment headliner is the DC6 Singers Collective, an LA-based vocal a capella ensemble singing dynamic and energetic gospel and Motown tunes. Emcee Darci Daniels will host the evening including Strong Words story tellers, DJ Tina Turntables, Too Tall Tomm on stilts, the silent auction, festival booths hosting various justice ministries, and food from four local vendors. Bloom’s Community Justice Award Recipients for 2023 are Mily Treviño-Sauceda, the Executive Director and Co-founder of Alianza Nacional de Campesinas (National Association of Farmworker Women) and Brothers of the Desert, a non-profit organization which provides a growing network of support for Black gay men and allies in the Coachella Valley. More info

Desert X is Here

Sleeping Figure by Matt Johnson

After welcoming a total of more than 1.25 million to all three previous iterations in the Coachella Valley, Desert X returns for their fourth exhibition, running now through Sunday, May 7. The exhibition of site-specific installations by acclaimed international artists examines social and environmental themes with a focus on the changes that give form to a world increasingly shaped by climate crisis, globalism, and the political and economic migrations that follow in their wake. Free and open to the public, stop in at the Desert X hub at the Ace Hotel or download the app for information on artists, a map to find the installations, and interactive content. More info

Free Oscar-Nominated Film Screenings

The Palm Springs Library presents free screenings on Friday, March 10 of two of the films being considered for Academy Awards. The films will be Elvis at 10:10 am, and Tár at 2 pm. More info

The Show: Daniel Tosh, Dancing w/The Stars

Daniel Tosh

On Friday, March 10 The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa Rancho Mirage presents comedian Daniel Tosh at 8 pm. On Saturday, March 11, Dancing with the Stars LIVE brings the ballroom to life featuring your favorite Dancing with the Stars pros Alan, Alexis, Brandon, Britt, Emma, Gleb, Kateryna, Sasha, PLUS special guest stars Gabby Windey and Daniel Durant, at The Show at 8 pm. Get tickets

NUTTY at Indio Second Saturday

Jazz & Classic Rock band NUTTY will be performing at the City of Indio’s Second Saturdays Center Stage on Saturday, March 11 at 6 pm. This FREE community concert series for all ages is located in downtown Indio in a safe, fenced-in, “outdoor living room.” Enjoy family activities, local food vendors, and craft beer. More info

Three Perspectives Opening Reception and Show

The Desert Art Center invites you to the opening reception of the show Three Perspectives on Friday, March 10 from 5–7 pm. This evening reception kicks off the weekend show of the work of featured artists for the Three Perspectives exhibition. The artists are Alberto Garcia Uria, whose abstracts move you with color and texture, Lisa Van Herik, featuring wearable jewelry but one of a kind pieces of woven art to be admired and cherished, and D Michael Roman, inspired by the old and abandoned, showing us the beauty of the flawed and forgotten. The show runs March 10–13. More info

Blank Canvas: Exclusive Garden Party Fundraiser

The Desert Art Center presents their first exclusive garden party fundraiser on Saturday, March 11 from 3–6 pm. What do you get when you cross a former set designer, a premier caterer, and a gaggle of fundraisers with the best collection of fine artists in the Coachella Valley? A Blank Canvas. Endless Possibilities. This event is limited to the first 50 guests to purchase their tickets, featuring an art auction, entertainment, and surprises. Hosted in a private home. More info

Richard M. Milanovich Legacy Hike and 5K

The Richard M. Milanovich Legacy Hike and 5K Run takes place on Saturday, March 11 with staggered departure times so that hikers will complete the moderate 3.1 mile route and meet in the celebration area at Indian Canyons as close to 10 am as possible. Proceeds benefit the Richard M. Milanovich Fellowship, created in 2015. In 2021, UCLA Native Nations Law & Policy Center and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians formed a partnership to prepare the next generation of leaders in Indian Country and to honor and preserve the legacy of service and leadership of the late Chairman Richard M. Milanovich. More info

The Desert Underground

Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire presents The Desert Underground on Saturday, March 11 from 5:30–9:30 pm at Imago Galleries in Palm Desert. Be transported to a prohibition-inspired speakeasy featuring expert mixology, uniquely themed bars, live music and dancing. Roam the halls of the exclusive art gallery while sampling craft cocktails paired with an innovative tasting menu. VIP guests will receive an additional password to access an exclusive lounge found at the rooftop of Imago Galleries. Here VIPs will enjoy the finest scotch whiskies by The Macallan, and private entertainment by an authentic comedian host from Scotland who has a flair for the dramatic and will make you laugh! Get tickets

John Stanley King Band at The Gardens

Agua Caliente Casinos present The Gardens 25th Annual Concert Series on Saturday, March 11 from 4:30–7:30 pm with a concert by John Stanley King Band, benefiting Family YMCA of the Desert. For 25 years, The Gardens on El Paseo has brought together the Coachella Valley community to support local non-profits, musicians, and organizations. Reserve your tickets now and wine down on the Center Lawn, Saturday evenings to support your community. Get tickets

Women’s T-Dance at V Wine Lounge

V Wine Lounge and Desert Babes present a Women’s T-Dance on the second Sunday of every month, including this Sunday, March 12 from 1–5 pm. Come out and be out for cocktails, music and fun! Benefits The LGBTQ Center of the Desert and the L-Fund. More info

Screwball Sundays: Bringing Up Baby

The Palm Springs Cultural Center presents a series of the greatest screwball comedies of Hollywood’s golden age, showing Bringing Up Baby (1938) on Sunday, March 12 at 3 pm. Screwball sparks fly when Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn let loose in one of the fastest and funniest films ever made—a high-wire act of invention that took American screen comedy to new heights of absurdity. Hoping to procure a million-dollar endowment from a wealthy society matron for his museum, a hapless paleontologist (Grant) finds himself entangled with a dizzy heiress (Hepburn) as the manic misadventures pile up—a missing dinosaur bone, a leopard on the loose, and plenty of gender-bending mayhem among them. Get tickets

Willie’s Big Fat Broadway Bash

Willie’s Modern Fare presents the unique dinner show experience, Willie’s Big Fat Broadway Bash, every Sunday in March, including this Sunday, March 12 at 4 pm. The talented students of Musical Theatre University are your singing servers, delivering a three course dinner with a slice of Broadway on the side, with a special Broadway guest star at each performance. Guest stars include: March 5 – Keven McMahon (City of Angels), March 12 – Erik Altemus (Pippin), March 19 – Leslie Tinnaro (Evita), and March 26 – Kim Huber (Beauty and the Beast). Make reservations

Architecture Tours by Modernism Week

Architecture Tours by Modernism Week is a season-long series of high-quality, in-depth, small group tours, running now through May. In March the tours run on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, with most tours beginning at 9:30 am, departing from the Palm Springs Visitor Center. Modernism Week has partnered with PS Architecture Tours to enable participants to learn about the exciting architectural history of the Palm Springs area and experience midcentury modern culture and lifestyle. Together, this partnership offers an affordable series of engaging mini-motor coach tours aimed at a growing audience of Palm Springs visitors and modernism fans. Get tickets

Visitor Map & Guide Spring Edition

The Spring 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].

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!

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LOOKING AHEAD

Puttin’ on the Glitz

CVRep celebrates their 15-year Crystal Anniversary with Puttin’ on the Glitz, a gala event on Monday, March 13 from 5–9 pm at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort. Wear something black, white, and or shiny and dress to impress. This unique immersive dining and entertaining experience under the stars will provide an exclusive look at what is coming next for CVRep. Get tickets

Glenn Miller Orchestra

The Palm Springs Cultural Center presents the Glenn Miller Orchestra on Monday, March 13 at 7 pm. With its unique jazz sound, the Glenn Miller Orchestra is considered to be one of the greatest bands of all time. The current music director, Erik Stabnau, is a young tenor saxophonist & vocalist who is equally entertaining and informative while hosting the evening. During the course of their show the band features Erik, female vocalist Jenny Swoish, the vocal group The Moonlight Serenaders, and the 16 instrumentalists on all of Glenn Miller’s biggest hits: “A String of Pearls,” “Pennsylvania 6-5000,” “In The Mood,” “At Last,” “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” “I’ve Got a Gal in Kalamazoo” and many more. Get tickets

White Party Palm Springs 2023 Single Event Tickets on Sale Now

White Party Palm Springs, the largest LGBTQ+ dance music festival in the world, has just announced their individual ticket passes are on sale now, at a special price for a limited quantity. Taking place May 12–14, this year’s festival is being reimagined to offer a more modern, fresh, and innovative experience. More than just a dance music festival, White Party Palm Springs is a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and a symbol of unity, love, and inclusivity, with stunning pool parties and electrifying nighttime events that feature top-tier talent and DJs ranging from Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, RAYE, Paula Abdul, and Offer Nissim, from previous years. This year’s festival promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that revelers from all over the globe will never forget. More info

On the Air at KGAY 106.5

Win Tickets to Sex Tips…

KGAY 106.5 has your tickets to Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man. This humorous, highly theatrical audience interactive sex tip seminar is playing Fridays and Saturdays at Margaritaville Resort now through March 18. Win a pair of tickets to the Saturday night show PLUS an overnight stay at Margaritaville! John Taylor will draw a winner on the KGAY Morning Show every Friday morning for the following remaining performances: Mar 11 & 18. Enter to win on the KGAY 106.5 Contest Page

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 also a cover girl on magazines and billboards, a television entertainer, and an award winning producer, director, lyricist and performer. 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 airs on Saturdays from 11:00 am–2 pm. That’s 50% more Ross because now it’s a three-hour show! Ross is a part-time Palm Springs resident and currently working 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

Welcome New Partner!

Desert Island Country Club is now open to non-members for dining, golf and…mischief. Enjoy an 18-hole championship golf course alongside two chef-led restaurants: The Penney & Parlour, an indoor/outdoor seasonal-ingredient-driven restaurant and piano cocktail lounge; and 9½ Bar & Kitchen, for casual, alfresco dining. Experience club life less ordinary. Learn more

  1. Coachella Valley Wakes Up to a New Radio Station – MeTVfm 103.1 Timeless & Memorable Music
  2. Desert X: Why This Free Immersive Art Exhibition Should Be on Your Spring Bucket List
  3. Domestic Broadcast Schedule Released For 2023 BNP Paribas Open
  4. The Desert Open Studios Tour Has Returned to Bring Artists and Audiences Closer Together
  5. Dezart Performs’ ‘A Funny Thing Happened’ Brings Humor and Emotion to a Hospital Room

Locally owned & locally grown, Kitchen 86 is a fantastic, welcoming spot to gather and enjoy an eclectic menu of modern, curated small plate continental cuisine. 86 Live is their state-of-the-art live venue stage & ultra lounge with dancing, live music, stand-up comedy, and more, including KGAY’s own DJ Modgirl on Thursdays! You can save big at Kitchen 86 with our HOT DEAL: Save 40% when you get a $50 gift card for just $30! Get Your Deal

We also have Hot Deals at Coachella Valley Coffee Co., V Wine Lounge, Palm Springs Fine Men’s Salon, Grand Central, Hunters Nightclub, Monster Shakes, Desert Mischief, Jolene’s, Rick’s, Lulu California Bistro, Trevor Wayne Pop Art, Destination PSP, Zin American Bistro, The Purple Room 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)