Greater Palm Springs PridePride Week is November 6-8 in Palm Springs and the Palm Springs Pride organization is encouraging the community to come together in solidarity, in the spirit of activism, and to demonstrate resilience under the theme Exist. Resist. Persist. A combination of social distance, in-person, and virtual programs will be featured.

State guidelines don’t allow for large events where groups of people will gather so don’t expect a Pride Parade with thousands of spectators or flying unicorns along Palm Canyon Drive. Safety protocol also means our traditional Festival with entertainment and the vendor marketplace will return November 1-7, 2021 for the Palm Springs Pride, “You Are Included 35th Anniversary” celebration.

Palm Springs Pride president and CEO Ron deHarte said, “We stand together with our LGBTQ+ colleagues and friends and will deliver residents and our business partners a reimagined, safe, socially distanced Pride Week celebration. We are focused on delivering a Safer Together, Greater Together message that everyone is welcome and respected for who they are in Palm Springs. We believe that all people deserve a diverse, inclusive, accepting, and welcoming safe space to celebrate Pride and our community. In lifting each other up even when it’s hard, even during a pandemic, we build allies, opportunities, and resources to live our best lives and help those around us do the same. This includes helping our community, business, and non-profit partners through these challenging financial times.” 

Details for Pride Week activities can be found online at palmspringspride.gay.  Some of the programs scheduled for this year’s Palm Springs Pride celebration include:

November 3
Rally Against Racism
Virtual Rally
7:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Join this virtual rally against Racism! Your vote is needed to elect politicians who will tear down institutionalized racism and build institutions that promote life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Make sure you are registered to vote at https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/
Voter Registration deadline Oct 19
Ballots sent out first week of Oct
Return ballot ASAP or well before Nov 3
Track your ballot at – voterstatus.sos.ca.gov 

Location: A polling location near you
7:00 AM – 8:00 PM

November 6
Flag Raising
Livestream event
10:00 AM

Flag Raising presented by Gilead on Nov 6 – We’ll open up Pride with our traditional Flag Raising and even though we won’t be able to gather in person, we’ll be able to watch a live stream of our elected officials, and civic leaders speak about what Pride means to the City of Palm Springs. Virtually cheer on and witness the unfurling the giant rainbow from the top of iconic buildings and homes across the city. Rainbow flags, symbolic of both the unity and diversity of the LGBTQ+ community will fly throughout the city and remind the world that everyone is supported, embraced, and welcome in Palm Springs.

November 6
Interfaith Pride Kabbalat Shabbat
Livestream event
6:30 PM

We invite people of all faith communities and beliefs to join the 2020 Pride Welcoming of the Sabbath Service.

The Interfaith Pride Kabbalat Shabbat is a pluralistic online prayer service with a core of Jewish liturgy will include song, ancient poetry, contemporary readings and meditation led by members of our local clergy.

Join us on Facebook LIVE @ https://www.facebook.com/orhamidbarps

Presented by: Or Hamidbar PS, United Methodist Church of Palm Springs, Bloom in the Desert Ministries UCC, Hope Palm Springs, and Saint Gilles Catholic Community.

November 6 & 7
Light Up the Night
A Virtual Lighting Ceremony
5:00 PM to Midnight

Light Up the Night presented by Gay Desert Guide on Nov 6 and Nov 7 – Everyone is invited to host their own virtual lighting ceremony alongside thousands of other advocates for equality, equity, and diversity across Greater Palm Springs. Light Up the Night will also honor those impacted by COVID-19, to remember loved ones lost, and to create a glowing show of community support and hope for a future free of the darkness coronavirus brings to our lives.

November 6
Pride Drive-in Movie Night screening of “Cured”
5:30 – 9:30 PM
Camelot Theatres
2300 E Baristo Rd

Pride Drive-in Movie Night presented by Nissan on Nov 6 and Nov 7.  Socially Responsible + Nostalgic Fun: The Palm Springs Cultural Center Drive-In Experience invites to step back in time under the starlit Palm Springs night and re-live the magic of yesteryear with a modern pop-up cinematic twist!

Join us and celebrate Greater Palm Springs Pride 2020 at the PS Cultural Center Drive-In. The film is brought to you by our presenting sponsor NISSAN and is a partnership between Greater Palm Springs Pride and the Palm Springs Cultural Center.

Greater Palm Springs Pride Drive-In Special Event: “Cured”

Five years in the making, CURED illuminates a pivotal yet largely unknown chapter in the struggle for LGBTQ equality: the campaign that led the American Psychiatric Association (APA) to remove homosexuality from its manual of mental illnesses. Before this momentous 1973 decision, the medical establishment viewed every gay and lesbian person as diseased and in need of a cure. Business and government used the mental-illness classification to justify discrimination and bigotry. As long as lesbians and gay men were “sick,” progress toward equality was nearly impossible.

November 6
Rebroadcast of the 2017 Palm Springs Pride Parade
Livestream event
7:00 PM

While we wish we could gather as usual for Palm Springs Pride – especially for the parade – due to the pandemic, we can’t. But we’re doing the next best thing!  Not one parade, but three!  PromoHomo.TV will be rebroadcasting, in their entirety, the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Palm Springs Pride Parades, available worldwide on YouTube, Facebook and at PromoHomo.TV. The 2018 parade will air November 7 and the 2019 parade can be seen November 8.

November 7
Pride Drive-in Movie Night screening of Double Feature “Ahead Of The Curve” and “Exist, Persist, Resist, and Thrive.”
5:30 – 9:30 PM
Camelot Theatres
2300 E Baristo Rd

The Double Feature is brought to you by our presenting sponsor NISSAN in partnership with Lesbo Expo, the Palm Springs Cultural Center, and Greater Palm Springs Pride.

AHEAD OF THE CURVE/ EXIST, PERSIST, RESIST, AND THRIVE
AHEAD OF THE CURVE is the story of one of the most influential women in lesbian history you’ve never heard of and the impact her work continues to have today. Growing up, Franco never saw any representation of queer women–she didn’t even know it was possible for a woman to be gay. When she realized she was a lesbian, it changed the course of her life.

EXIST, PERSIST, RESIST, AND THRIVE 2020
Exist, Persist, Resist, and Thrive is a community film focusing on queer women/lesbians. Produced by Lesbo Expo Presents, Directed by Shann Carr and Marnie Navarro the film strives to present visibility, creativity, and community for the Pride community and beyond. Featuring entertainers you love, commentary, funny stuff, and all the creativity the women’s community has to offer.

November 7
Front Runners Pride 5K run and walk
An individual participation event. No group activities.

Although we cannot meet in person, we are not letting 2020 go by without our annual Pride Run & Walk and the opportunity to raise needed funds for our amazing beneficiary – the LGBT Community Center of the Desert.

With our virtual run, you choose your own 5K route and run or walk anytime on Pride Weekend: Nov 6th – 8th. And best of all – anyone around the globe can participate. That’s right – our Palm Springs Front Runners & Walkers friends and family around the globe can join the fun!

Register now, and also join the Facebook event and follow us on Instagram. Join the virtual celebration!  

For details, visit our event website: https://www.palmspringspriderun.com

November 7 & 8
Land Art Installation presented by Morgan Stanley, Channel Q, and the Palm Springs Art Commission
Noon November 7 to 5:00 PM November 8
On the lawn at Palm Springs City Hall

You can be a part of this land art installation in front of city hall – Community members are invited to participate in this socially distanced art + culture experience Nov 7 and 8.  Those that support equality and social justice for all are invited to make placards, signs of hope, message posters, or statements of protest that will be used in this art installation. Signs should be approximately 18” x 24” and dropped off at city hall 9:30 – 11:30 AM on November 7.

Since there are no in-person events or large gatherings, this art project will call attention to and raise awareness of issues important to our community. Working with the Palm Springs Art Commission, the themed signs made by community members will be creatively displayed on the city hall lawn creating a community message of Pride and solidarity in Palm Springs.

The art installation can be seen starting at Noon on November 7 and it closes at 5:00 pm on November 8

November 7
Rebroadcast of the 2018 Palm Springs Pride Parade
Livestream event
7:00 PM

While we wish we could gather as usual for Palm Springs Pride – especially for the parade – due to the pandemic, we can’t. But we’re doing the next best thing!  Not one parade, but three!  PromoHomo.TV will be rebroadcasting, in their entirety, the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Palm Springs Pride Parades, available worldwide on YouTube, Facebook and at PromoHomo.TV. The 2017 parade will air November 6 and the 2019 parade can be seen November 8.

November 8
A Sunday Brunch Encore presentation of the 2019 Palm Springs Pride Parade
Livestream event
11:00 AM

While we wish we could gather as usual for Palm Springs Pride – especially for the parade – due to the pandemic, we can’t. But we’re doing the next best thing!  Not one parade, but three!  PromoHomo.TV will be rebroadcasting, in their entirety, the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Palm Springs Pride Parades, available worldwide on YouTube, Facebook and at PromoHomo.TV. The 2017 parade will air November 6 and the 2018 parade can be seen November 7.

November 8
Pride Tea Dance presented by KGAY 106.5
Livestream event
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM 

Enjoy your own private Sunday Tea Dance at home with DJ Galaxy and dance away to his unique set of today’s hits, throwback jams, and custom DJ Galaxy remixes.

Online via Twitch @ TWITCH.TV/KGAY1065

Pride month is usually a time to connect with friends, old and new, as we celebrate the progress we’ve made and recharge for the work ahead.

We know it’s difficult to think about celebrating as we are facing a global pandemic and fighting for racial justice. However, it’s so important for us to stay connected as a community and take care of our mind and spirit at the same time.

Join us on our virtual dance floor as we host our Virtual Pride Tea Dance!

Pride Celebration Highlight Activities

Land Art Installation presented by Morgan Stanley, Channel Q, and the Palm Springs Art Commission
Noon November 7 to 5:00 PM November 8
On the lawn at Palm Springs City Hall

Pride Party Packs TO GO is a fundraising promotion supported by Trio and Channel Q for the Pride organization. 

Plan ahead and leave the party planning to us. Order your Pride party packages today and pick up curbside at Trio on November 4, 5, 6, or 7th from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. All proceeds go to fund Palm Springs Pride’s year-round civic engagement, events and programs.

The Pride theme party packs will offer a variety of cocktails kits for pickup and will encourage same household Pride celebrations on Pride Weekend. Kits feature Bud Light Seltzer, Effen Vodka, Hornitos, Jim Beam, Cruzan Rum, SQRRL Whiskey, mixers and plenty of Pride Swag.

Must be 21 w/ valid ID. Party Packs are TO GO only. Order online by Noon, Friday 11/6/20. Pick up your Pride packs curbside at Trio – 707 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs.

Purchase online at apps.pspride.org

Desert Diversity
Pride will be celebrated through photography.  Palm Springs photographer, Ron Williams has published, a 200-page photo-book of Palm Springs Pride parades going back to 2008.  “Desert Diversity” is an official publication of Palm Springs Pride.  Order on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08H6M4S4N or at Destination PSP in Palm Springs.

Prime Time Pride – Producer and Host of PromoHomo.TV Nicholas Snow will present the online series “Prime Time Pride” every week in October at 7:00 PM PDT (Oct. 13, 20, and 27) and nightly Nov 2, 4, 5. All programs are free to watch and will be live-streamed on Facebook.

How/where to watch

On YouTube

On Facebook (Like/Follow These Pages)

And find all episodes at www.PromoHomo.TV.

Virtual Food Court – visit us online at apps.pspride.org to support restaurant partners who promote take out and patio dining and observe mask requirements and social distancing protocols for the health and safety of all.

Palm Springs Pride Window Design and Display Contest
Taking place November 2 through November 9.  Businesses, including restaurants, hotels, retail and service businesses, are encouraged to create unique Pride related displays visible from the street. 

Judging will take place via an online community poll November 2 through November 9, allowing for community members to view displays at their leisure without any crowds, and maintaining social distancing. Businesses are encouraged to post images of their displays on social media, allowing those who are sheltering in to participate in the judging and voting.

All participating as well as non-participating Palm Springs businesses are asked to make a donation to the prize package. Winners will be announced in three categories: restaurants, retail and other. The winner in each category will receive the donated prizes. In addition, Main Street will award each winner $250 in cash to be donated to the Greater Palm Springs Pride organization.

Additional donations by the public and businesses to Greater Palm Springs Pride to support their awareness, education, and outreach efforts are encouraged.

“We are working with local business owners to come up with safe and socially-distant programs where they can promote their businesses and offer something to the local community,” said Joy Brown Meredith, Main Street Board Chair and owner of Crystal Fantasy, a popular Palm Canyon retail store.

ABOUT GREATER PALM SPRINGS PRIDE
Greater Palm Springs Pride (www.pspride.org) is a nonprofit community enhancement organization founded to promote the public education and awareness of individual rights and civil liberties of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and to promote the history, diversity and future prosperity of the Greater Palm Springs LGBTQ community.  Palm Springs Pride has been a tireless advocate for equality and diversity since the first Coachella Valley Pride event was held in 1986.

The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization brings together the skills, talents and vision of our diverse community through its programs which include the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast, Pride Honors Awards, the Cesar Chavez Breakfast, the Pride Parade, Pride Festival, and the downtown Arenas Rd. Block Party. 

For more information about Greater Palm Springs Pride, visit www.pspride.org. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/palmsprings.pride.