In 1989, for example, the Radisson (now the Renaissance) welcomed fans to a purrrfect purrrformance by Catwoman herself, Eartha Kitt.īut this kitten had claws the summer weather was just too much for a successful Palm Springs Pride.
Over the ensuing years, organizers did their best to plan around the blazing Palm Springs temperatures. It was an appropriately intimate affair, since the crowds were escaping the desert heat by clamoring into the Riviera’s ballroom in the sweltering summer of 1986. In fact, “Sizzle” was the title of our inaugural Pride festival: a variety show and dinner hosted by the Riviera. History had been made, and it was about to “Sizzle” its way to Palm Springs. Those rebellious kisses reverberated around the globe and across the country, spawning a “Christopher Street West” march on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles that very same day. The crowd grew from hundreds to thousands as they descended on Central Park to publicly display their affection and affiliation. This would come to be known as the first Gay Pride parade, and it fanned the flames of fury into a flourish of fabulosity. The following year, the women of Lavender Menace and the men of the Homophile Youth Movement staged the Christopher Street Liberation Day on June 28th, 1970. Queer New Yorkers demanded equality, but justice requires diligence, so one riot wouldn’t be enough. The LGBTQ universe rippled when those infamous bricks were thrown at the Stonewall riots of late June 1969. Credit: Arthur Coleman A Brief History of Empowerment So what makes our Pride the best of the fests? Let’s sashay down memory lane to see how we got here… and where we’re marching next. While other Pride festivals crowd the summer months, our hometown takes its time and savors the first weekend of November, welcoming tourists and thrilling locals until we all weave a rainbow flag of inclusion, one stitch at a time. The crispness in the air denotes how cool our event is the changing of the seasons represents the evolution of self, from denial to acceptance to celebratory wonder and harvest time symbolizes how we as a community have lovingly gathered our friends and arranged them into a second family. Palm Springs Pride HistoryĪutumn is the embodiment of Greater Palm Springs Pride. The result is like no place else – Palm Springs Pride. Add all that to great shopping restaurants, clubs, and entertainment venues. Enjoy beverages and food with friends while you explore a diverse array of artists, entertainers, beverage stations, and purveyors of a variety of items including, jewelry, snacks, and sweets. Palm Canyon Drive is home to the friendly Pride Festival unique to Southern California. Sip, Sachet, and Celebrate in the Pride Event Zone. Palm Springs Coming Out celebration is Nov. This is a multi-day pride festival and admission is free. Greater Palm Springs Pride is celebrating their 35th Anniversary. “You Are Included” – That’s this year’s theme.