Greater Palm Springs celebrates 36 years of Pride with ‘Say Gay’ – Desert Sun
Growing national anti-gay sentiment has emerged as a result of the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade. More than 250 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in 39 states in 2021-22. Following the Supreme Court decision, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the court should reconsider Lawrence v. Texas, the 2003 decision that established the right to same-sex intimacy, and Obergefell v Hodges that legalized same-sex marriage in 2015.
Palm Springs Pride President and CEO Ron deHarte announced that this year’s theme, “Say Gay,” is a political statement, and it’s a call to action. “Mobilize your friends, family, neighbors and workplace to vote for politicians who stand up and fight for LGBTQ+ rights,” he said.
In solidarity to fight anti-gay rhetoric, more than 160,000 LGBTQ+ individuals and allies attended the 36th annual Greater Palm Springs Pride celebration over the Nov. 4 weekend, generating more than $30 million economic impact for area hotels, shops, restaurants and other local businesses. The four-day Pride celebration culminated in Sunday’s parade, which boasted 226 entries, celebrating all aspects of the LGBTQ+ community and allies along the one-mile parade route.
Palm Springs Pride Honors Awards
Recipients of the 2022 Palm Springs Pride Honors Awards were introduced at the 2022 VIP Pride Honors reception on Nov 4 at the Hyatt Hotel and Nov. 6 at a pre-parade breakfast.
David “Jax” Kelly who celebrates life as a gay Black man living with HIV was named the Spirit of Stonewall Volunteer of the Year. Reproductive Health Advocate Maria Fraser received the Spirit of Stonewall Community Service Award. Air Force veteran Nino Eilets was honored with the Spirit of Pride Award. President of the Desert Healthcare District Karen Borja was named the 2022 Friend of Pride, while trans advocate Antonia “Toni” D’orsay was named the Spirit of Stonewall Advocate of the Year.
These five awards celebrate extraordinary voices in the community. “Advocacy and community service is a common thread that connects the 2022 honorees to our community,” deHarte said. “They each have lived their life help others, and our community is better because of their leadership.”
Sponsors
Greater Palm Springs Pride is grateful to the following sponsors who support the LGBTQ+ community: Presenting sponsor: City of Palm Springs; associate sponsors: PS Resorts, Eisenhower Health and Truly Flavored Vodka; rainbow sponsors: Nutrl, The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert, US Bank, Alaska Airlines, Gilead, Nissan, DAP Health, Volvo Cars Palm Springs and Oscar’s Palm Springs.
Pride Venues
Throughout the four-day celebration, multiple venues were available to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community: Arenas District remained the “Gateway to Pride” and became a pedestrian-only social center where dancing occurred not only in bars but also in the street. The Recovery Oasis provided a place for sober fun, and the DAP Health Wellness Pavilion was new to the festival. QueerWorks TransPower Lounge was a unique space to provide a safe and arriving environment for transgender, non-binary and intersex individuals.
Other festival features included a Youth Zone presented by US Bank, a children’s garden presented by Nissan, The Art of Pride presented by Eisenhower Health and 200 back-to-back exhibiters, community groups and food and beverage stations.
Special Events
“Pride on the Page” book festival introduced 40 LGBTQ+ authors to attendees. While all events were free, a special evening program filled all the seats in the Plaza Theatre to hear Sharon Gless, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actress, in conversation with actor Peter Paige, her former co-star on “Queer as Folk.” They discussed her book “Apparently There Were Complaints” as well as her life and career.
Other book events included discussions with authors about their first books, mystery and anthem in the desert, the voices of queer poets and other topics.
Mission and Vision of Greater Palm Springs Pride
Greater Palm Springs Pride (pspride.org) is a nonprofit community enhancement organization founded to promote public education and awareness of individual rights and civil liberties of the LGBTQ community and to promote the history, diversity and future prosperity of the Greater Palm Springs LGBTQ community. It has served as an advocate for equality and diversity in the Coachella Valley since 1986.
Al Jones was appointed by the city council as a Trustee of the Palm Springs Library, where he serves as its treasurer. He was the former chairman of the Palm Springs International Airport Commission and is a member of the board of directors of Dezart Performs, the CSU Palm Desert Campus Advancement board, the Advisory board of Priority One Coachella Valley and a member of DBA and Main Street. Prior community engagement includes DAP Health Partners for Life Leadership Committee; the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert, where he served as the Board secretary for five years, and Sanctuary Palm Springs.