GED MAGAZINE MAY 2026

ETHYL’S PLACE ETHYL’S PLACE

BINGO BINGO

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BENEFITING: PRIZES BY: SUNDAY, MAY 10 • 12:00PM

Celebrating Where Art Lives!

THURSDAY

BRANDON WOLF

Advocate for LGBTQ+ civil rights and gun safety. Survivor of the tragic 2016 mass shooting at Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub.

Tickets

ON SALE

HARVEY MILK DIVERSITY BREAKFAST

The Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast Coalition invites you to take your seat at the table where progress begins. This isn't just a breakfast; it’s a powerful gathering of leaders, allies, and advocates dedicated to the relentless pursuit of equality. Come honor Harvey’s legacy and help us fuel the next chapter of the movement.

JUDI & DENNIS SHEPARD

Harvey B. Milk Legacy Award

Advocates for parents’ unconditional love for their LGBTQ+ children. They lost their 21-yearold son, Matthew, to a hate-motivated murder.

9:00 -10:30 am | Program

GED

FROM THE EDITOR

SUMMER IS HERE!

MAY is here and we are counting down the days to the start of summer with Memorial Day Weekend on May 23rd, when GED Magazine and LE Parties are bringing you the fourth annual SunVibes Pool Party at the Riviera Resort & Spa. This will be the last event happening at the Riviera before the property closes for approximately seven months to undergo a multi-million dollar renovation. Along with cabanas, sun, and multiple DJs, this is biggest and best pool party during Memorial Day Weekend. VIP and General Admission tickets are now available at GEDmag.com! And coming up in June is the Palm Springs Equality Wine & Food Fest at the Hyatt Palm Springs. This tasting experience was named one of the top LGBTQ+ Food/Wine/Spirits Festivals in the US by Wine Enthusiast and benefits multiple local charities. Visit EqualityWineFest.com for tickets and more information.

As always, the GED Magazine Team is committed to bringing you the best in LGBTQ entertainment, travel, and lifestyles. Visit us on the web at GEDmag.com and

sign up for our monthly insider newsletter. Insiders will also be entered into future drawings for trips, event tickets, dinners and more. And for all the updates on social media, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok @GEDmagazine and tag us in your photos … #GEDmag. GED MAGAZINE is here for YOUR entertainment!

— MICHAEL WESTMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

EDITORIAL INQUIRIES

ADVERTISING

LEARN TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION

Roth

FROM A DESERT EXPERT

The daily TM practice is a simple, proven approach to calming your mind and reducing anxiety and stress. Palm Springs resident and certified TM instructor Tom Roth makes it his mission to teach you everything you need to know.

BY KAY KUDUKIS

Rooted in ancient Vedic traditions of India, Transcendental Meditation (TM) got a glow up in 1955 from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and by the late 1960s, the Beatles had introduced an already burgeoning movement to the rest of the world.

In 1973, writer-director David Lynch — who died last year, was nominated for four Academy Awards during his lifetime, and received an honorary Oscar in 2020 — learned TM, saying it gave him “unlimited reserves of energy, creativity, and happiness.” So much so, in fact, that he established the David Lynch Foundation (DLF) to share TM’s benefits with those unable to afford the course.

In partnership with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, DLF researched the impact of TM on people living with HIV. Those who practiced TM for just three months reported lower stress levels and signs of a more stable immune response compared to those who did not.

Inspired by these results, longtime certified TM teacher Tom Roth created and established the HIV Wellness Initiative with grants from the David Lynch Foundation and the Chip Conley Foundation. The HIV Wellness Initiative offers TM courses to those living with HIV in the Coachella Valley (as well as to their caregivers) at no cost to them. Tom and I met face to face so I could ask him my most burning questions.

What exactly is TM and how does one practice it?

There are LOTS of different approaches to meditation, all called “meditation,” so it can be confusing! Transcendental Meditation is different. It is a simple, easily learned, mental technique, practiced for 20 minutes twice a day, sitting comfortably with the eyes closed. The technique allows the active thinking mind to effortlessly settle down to a unique state of “restful alertness” — the basis for the wide range of scientifically validated health benefits to mind and body.

How is TM different?

The TM technique is taught one-to-one and is carefully personalized by a certified TM teacher. Once you learn the technique, you will enjoy a lifetime of free follow-up and support anywhere you live.

• No trying to “clear the mind of thoughts.”

• No monitoring of thoughts (mindfulness).

• No concentration or control.

• Practiced sitting comfortably for 20 minutes twice a day.

How did your TM journey start?

Many years ago, my brother [Bob Roth, co-founder and CEO of DLF] was home from Cal Berkeley for the weekend and my parents said, “Something’s great about you, what’s going on?” He said he’d taken a Transcendental Meditation class, so my parents piled my other brother and me into the station wagon, and off we went to Berkeley to learn TM. I was 13 at the time, and I loved it. It was fantastic for me through the challenges of junior high and high school. Then, following in my brother’s footsteps, I went and studied with Maharishi, and became a teacher of TM in 1974. I’ve been a volunteer with the organization ever since, first along with my research career, and now more full-time volunteering in retirement.

What are some of the proven benefits?

TM utilizes our consciousness to naturally dissolve the corrosive stress in our nervous system. When the mind becomes quieter through TM, the body becomes quieter, and when the body becomes quiet, it’s getting rest. Deep rest is the antidote to stress. Every building block of disease is associated with stress, so for a healthy body, we need to dissolve that stress. TM allows the mind to become calmer and find its “happy place.” The mind becomes quieter and more expanded, resulting in more mental energy, mental clarity, and creative spark through the day. Simultaneously, the body attains a deep state of rest that releases stress naturally.

Is there a wrong way to meditate?

There certainly can be, but you won’t learn the wrong way from me!

When did you meet DAP Health CEO David Brinkman?

We met in 2016, when he took the TM course. He’s been practicing and enthusiastic about TM ever since. He’s read the research and feels that people living with HIV (and their caregivers) can really benefit from TM. He helped facilitate the HIV Wellness Initiative at DAP Health, now in our tenth year together. I can’t say enough good things about David.

Who can access the TM course through the HIV Wellness Initiative grant?

Grant funding fully pays the course fee for Coachella Valley residents living with HIV and their caregivers — no cost to them — whether they’re affiliated with DAP Health or not. There are no application forms, etc. It’s very streamlined.

Is the TM course available to others?

Yes definitely. EVERYONE who is interested — including DAP Health team members, volunteers, patients, and the public — are more than welcome to participate. The foundation has a scaled course fee structure, plus payment plans, found on TM.org. Or, if you need more help, we raise funds for scholarships. Just ask. Nobody is turned away from the course due to lack of resources. We make it work.

What does TM training with you entail?

It starts with an email to me at troth@tm.org, and I respond with an outline of the course and a link to stream a 30-minute “Info Session” video of basics — what TM is, what it isn’t, the benefits, and what’s involved. Then we meet live via Zoom (another 30 minutes), followed by your Transcendental Meditation course, which is about one hour a day over four days.

Does everyone have to come to the one in-person training or can it all be done via Zoom?

Just one lesson — an hour by appointment in Palm Springs — needs to be in person. The other five sessions are available through our learning app and Zoom meetings. Plus, there’s a lifetime of follow up included in the course.

What brought you to Palm Springs?

My husband and I found San Francisco somewhat cliquey. We never really made a lot of deep connections. We’d visited friends in Palm Springs a few times, but never really thought of living here. But during another visit, it clicked. Both of us just “got” it — the beauty, the community, the friendly attitude. We’ve lived here for five years now, and we absolutely love it. We spend a lot of our time outdoors, and volunteering.

And why have you made teaching TM your mission in life — how does that feed your own soul?

Teaching TM to people living with HIV through the HIV Wellness Initiative at DAP Health (and all others) has been the most rewarding experience of my life. To be able to share what has benefitted me for decades with others — it’s pure magic. I always thank my TM students for allowing me to teach them. I’ve enjoyed a very fortunate life, and I feel driven to use my time and expertise to help others.

If you have questions or are interested in the TM course, please email troth@TM.org. Visit DavidLynchFoundation.org/hiv or additional info.

“I LOVE CREATURES, I LOVE ALTERNATIVE MUSIC AND JAZZ AND PROGRESSIVE ROCK AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I LOVE FASHION…”

illy question: do you want *part* of your soul to be stirred? No, you want your whole damn being to gyrate with the rhythm of rebellion, the elation of elegance, and the grandeur of a great ol’ time.

Well, good news - Astrud Aurelia is delivering all the above.

“My aesthetic is a cross between a couple of different worlds,” Astrud assesses. “I love creatures, I love alternative music and jazz and progressive rock and things like that. I love fashion… and marrying all these things in an interesting way.”

At first blush, Ms. Aurelia projects a punk posture peppered with macabre makeup effects and a kamikaze, kitty-cat panache. But this all-encompassing entertainer digs deep when speaking about her formative years and foundational beliefs. “I went to school for music performance, specifically for jazz, and I remember feeling that there was something that musicians and academics just were not getting. I felt like there was a lack of showmanship and visual art and presentation on stage and I remember thinking, what is the real difference between smaller artists and artists like Beyoncé or Lady Gaga or even Bowie? Those artists have great music, sure, but they also put on a show. That’s drag. There’s costumes, there’s dancing, there’s a show to watch.”

S ICONO CLASH THE DARK, DIVERSE DRAG OF

Diving into the realm of Phoenix Arizona drag, Astrud discovered that part of the cosmic creative equation was still missing. “There’s not a lot of drag queens making instrumental music in general, so I wanna fill that niche. My process is very nerdy and very technical. I love music theory, I love chord progressions, and I love harmony and thinking about the way that chords move between each other... I love it when genres are pushed together in a way people wouldn’t expect, so that’s how I approach the songwriting side of things, then I just think about what would be interesting to look at on stage, so that’s where the drag comes in. Those are sort of separate worlds for me, and then I just kinda smash them together.”

ASTRUD AURELIA

BY KEVIN PERRY

“I WANT TO INVOKE A SENSE OF CHAOS, LIKE ORGANIZED CHAOS. I LIKE MUSIC THAT KIND OF SLAPS YOU IN THE FACE WITH COLD WATER AND I THINK IT’S GONNA BE THAT.”

Astrud is an arena rocker at heart, but her head is practical and pragmatic. “There are still things that I wanna do on stage that I don’t have the resources for. Drag is a very overall low budget way of making something interesting. I don’t have the money or the experience to put pyrotechnics on stage. I can’t always build a full set. I can’t always do the grander concepts that I have, but what I can do is I can put on a costume and do some great make up and then play a killer show.”

Rock. On. Her music is soulful and haunting; the lyrics weave a serpentine journey around each note until they have you in their nurturing clutches, lulling you into a brilliant nightmare.

“I also am working on my album right now, which I hope to have done by the end of the year,” Aurelia narrates. “I want to invoke a sense of chaos, like organized chaos. I like music that kind of slaps you in the face with cold water and I think it’s gonna be that.”

Artistry and activism swirl through Astrud’s work. Despite her nuclear emo appearance, she has an uncharacteristic knack for looking on the bright side. “Don’t let the madness get you down. Doing something is better than doing nothing, regardless of how small it is… It’s all about finding a way to direct your energy because I know it can be overwhelming. The goal of everything in the world is just to overwhelm you with how much horrible shit is going on that it sort of blows you into a sense of complacency or It kind of pushes you to give up, but it’s important to remember that not every person has to fight for every cause. I think it’s a good place to start just by picking one thing that’s important to you.”

Refining your focus can be a big ask for someone as multitalented as Astrud Aurelia, but we asked her to choose one highlight from her recent ascension to indie queen status. “That Troubadour show was really exciting for me because I was opening for an artist named Kimya Dawson and Kimya is somebody who was a pretty big icon of my childhood. I got to see her play solo in the church cathedral when I was 18, and it had a big effect on me. So, opening for

her was kind of a full circle moment. That was really beautiful and it was also my first show; I had just moved to LA at that point, so within three months to get to play this sold out show opening for a legendary artist at a legendary venue in West Hollywood was very, very moving for me.”

Reflection is a powerful force. It can be warped, it can be shattered, but it never truly lies. As Ms. Aurelia glances back in the proverbial rearview mirror, she can’t help but look forward.

“This has been a whirlwind of a year for me,” recounts Astrud. “I am just excited to keep working and keep working on my art. I feel like I’m in the very, very beginning stages of what’s to come. And I hope that anybody who is willing to follow along is as excited by the journey as I am.”

Thank you, fellow traveler. We’re thrilled to cross your path, we’re honored to be co-creatures in your extraterrestrial terrarium, and we’re eager for the next bite of Astrud Aurelia nourishment. Stay amazing.

“I AM JUST EXCITED TO KEEP WORKING AND KEEP WORKING ON MY ART. I FEEL LIKE I’M IN THE VERY, VERY BEGINNING STAGES OF WHAT’S TO COME. ”

THE PUCK STOPS HERE

MOVE OVER, HEATED RIVALRY - GAY HOCKEY IS HAVING ITS MOMENT RIGHT HERE IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY

BY KEVIN PERRY

There’s pleasure in contrast. A hot tub on a cool evening, alternating salty and sweet snacks, a firm grip accompanied by a gentle kiss - these are the yin and yang of satisfaction, and nowhere are the ecstatic extremes more pronounced than in Coachella Valley Pride Hockey.

“It’s an amazing sport to play in the desert in August. When it’s 120 out, you can go to a freezing cold ice rink.” This wintery/warm invite is courtesy of Paul O’Kane, co-founder and president of CV Pride Hockey. It’s a league that embraces the full range of who we are as queer people: warriors and lovers, teammates and competitors, survivors and friends - and it’s all founded on an unexpected conversation between two hockey-obsessed hubbies.

“I moved here with my husband in 2019 and there was one rink at the time in Cathedral City. They closed down during Covid, so to play hockey you had to drive to Riverside. Then when we heard about the Firebirds, and we heard about the ice plex being built, I turned to him and said, ‘Hey we should have a gay hockey tournament.’ And he looked at me like ‘You’re nuts.’ He’s like ‘Come on, the desert? There are no hockey players in the desert.’ But we decided to go ahead with it, and basically reached out to contacts around the country and had this 10-team tournament. I think it was February 2023. And we just absolutely loved it. We got a huge response from the community. Hunters jumped on board. The Firebirds jumped on board and the Barracks at the time jumped on board and the tournament was just an incredible, incredible amount of fun.”

That’s the funny thing about fun; once you have a taste, you crave the whole meal.

“We wanted to try to build a team locally, so we put out the feelers. I think we found about seven people in the Coachella Valley that played hockey,” recounts O’Kane. “We got those seven people, and we kind of combined them with a bunch of friends, straight ally friends, and we managed to form a team: the Roadrunners, which were

sponsored by Hunters. The jersey’s up in Hunters right now, which is cool, and we played with them for the season. We won our division.”

If Heated Rivalry has taught us anything, it’s this: the more playmates, the merrier. Two more teams have since emerged to round out the roster of CV Pride Hockey, the Eagles and the Bighorns, and O’Kane thanks our local gay bars for their intoxicating enthusiasm. “The Eagle has sponsored a team before they even opened and the Tool Shed of course!”

Support takes many forms. Some monetary, some foundational, and it all adds up to a sporty safe space unlike any other. “John Page, the senior vice president over at the Firebirds, approached us and said, ‘Hey, how about we buy all your players new equipment and we give them lessons?’ And we were just blown away, so we ended up having 25 or 23 people, I think, for our first group that came to our Learn to Play session and paid like $99 and got all their equipment and got four lessons.”

The good deed yielded great results. CV Pride Hockey bulked up brilliantly. “All of a sudden after a year, we went from having eight people to having like 40,” beams O’Kane. “It was such an incredible experience. We all really bonded amazingly.”

Success has a way of rippling beyond the rink and into the big leagues. “The NHL has actually reached out to us, the LA Kings and the Ducks,” O’Kane announces. The league is mulling its sponsorship opportunities outside the Valley, but Paul’s heart still burns for the ‘Birds. “Many organizations have Pride games, and they have Pride days and a lot of that is about trying to attract LGBTQ people to their event, but the Firebirds truly live that. They don’t just have a Pride game; they actually live on the Hockey Is for Everyone mantra and they support us so much. It really has been fantastic.”

Camaraderie accomplished! But the league can’t thrive on vibes alone. “We’re looking for alternate sources of money to pay for it all,” explains O’Kane. When it came time to host this year’s Greater Palm Springs International Pride Hockey Tournament, he

joined forces with an iconic LA-based photographer. “Recently, Blake Little did a whole photo shoot of our players across the desert and we raised $11,000!” The result was a ravishing portfolio of sexy athletes simmering in their natural habitat. “Who would ever envision a fully dressed hockey player in skates standing on a rock in the desert? He’s such a visionary,” praises O’Kane.

We contacted Little to discuss how he joined the proverbial team. “My friends Brian Johnson and John Burkland approached me about doing a photo shoot to raise money. I photographed Brian in 2007 for one of my first books, The Company of Men. John is the co-founder of Coachella Valley Pride Hockey.”

The action in the rink dovetailed compellingly with Little’s signature aesthetics of strength and vulnerability, masculinity and intimacy, and an overall adoration of the human form. “My current book Construction Nudes 1981-1985 is out now,” narrates Little. “I have been photographing portraits, nudes and landscapes in the Palm Spring area for the new book, so shooting hockey players in the desert was a natural progression.”

The three-day shoot sprawled from the wilds of the great outdoors to the splendor of a black-bottomed pool. “I have always loved working with athletes,” declares Little. “Athletes know how to move and are comfortable in their own bodies, so they make great models. Of course they have beautiful physiques as well.”

A-to-the-men (amen)! But beyond the stunning sensuality of his subjects, Little exposes the deeper purpose of the fundraiser. “Pride Hockey is open to all members of the community. We need out queer representation in every part of society, especially now. We are in a very crucial time right now. We all know it. Our democracy is being threatened, LGBTQ+ rights are threatened. Everyone needs to be politically active now and vote.”

Paul O’Kane agrees that teamwork is the cornerstone of change. “The community here has been a driving force in supporting us. We get donations from people anonymously, so our community has really been key in supporting our organization and helping us grow and by the end of the year, I’m hoping that will be approaching 100 players.”

How can YOU be among the athletes

skating toward a better tomorrow? “The first place to start is our website: CVPrideHockey.org,” advises O’Kane. “Hockey is an amazing sport to watch and it’s an even more amazing sport to play. It’s a physically demanding sport but it’s also one that is easy to learn, believe it or not.”

So, strap on your blades and carve a path towards inclusivity! “What we’re really trying to do is attract more of the lesbian and transgender community to come into hockey,” invites O’Kane. “For the first time, we’re going to have a fully gay league - LGBT league - this fall. They’re going to play Friday nights from 9 to 11:30pm starting in October and we’re gonna have volunteers playing music. That’s a great opportunity when that happens to come on out and watch it be part of our community and maybe you’ll fall in love with hockey.”

More importantly, you’ll fall in love with your community.

“We really all found each other and formed this really strong bond. Someone posted ‘What does hockey mean to you?’ and all these guys started sending these messages like ‘Hockey has saved my life. I lost my partner and I had hockey. That brought me up to keep me going.’ I have people telling me that hockey has helped them with addiction and dealing with addiction and providing them with the whole support mechanism to help them deal with issues they’ve been having in their life. As a founder, it’s really rewarding for me to actually hear stories from these guys that we actually made an impact in their lives.”

Punctuating his passionate point, Paul O’Kane concludes, “It really has been such an incredible, amazing experience - certainly a highlight of my life.”

As the rest of the world hurtles toward division, it’s refreshing to know there’s a place where acceptance rules the rink. So get into your gear, get in the game, and get some love on ice. Because when everybody plays, we all win. Thank you, Paul.

To purchase eye-popping, heartstopping portraits of the players, email blake@blakelittle.com - all proceeds benefit Coachella Valley Pride Hockey. BlakeLittle.com

HELL’S KITCHEN: Various – Hell’s Kitchen is a jukebox musical which uses the songs of Alicia Keys. It tells a story that is semibiographical about her coming-of-age in the titular neighborhood of Manhattan. The musical, with a book by Kristoffer Diaz, opened on Broadway in April 2024 and closed in February of this year. Like so much of Keys’ music, the show is very New York-centric, but so far the response to the national tour has been very enthusiastic.

At the top of the show we meet Ali, a 17-year-old avatar of Keys. She introduces us to her friends, family, and a number of musicians who busk on the streets. She has a musical relationship with everyone, but since most of the people she hangs out with are musicians, it isn’t quite so much a stretch when they break into song as some shows. Even her mother is supposed to be a professional singer, so naturally she and Ali are comfortable singing together.

The show has been praised for its acting (Tony Awards for Best Actress and Best Featured Actress in a musical), set designs, costumes and urban dance routines. Keys has also received excited responses for her songs, especially “freshening up” some familiar favorites.

Hell’s Kitchen plays the San Francisco Orpheum 5/5 - 24; Hollywood Pantages 5/26 - 6/21; Sacramento SAFE Performing Arts 7/29 – 8/9; and San Diego Civic 8/11 – 16.

“AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW WE MEET ALI, A 17-YEAR-OLD AVATAR OF KEYS. SHE INTRODUCES US TO HER FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND A NUMBER OF MUSICIANS WHO BUSK ON THE STREETS. SHE HAS A MUSICAL RELATIONSHIP WITH EVERYONE, BUT SINCE MOST OF THE PEOPLE SHE HANGS OUT WITH ARE MUSICIANS, IT ISN’T QUITE SO MUCH A STRETCH WHEN THEY BREAK INTO SONG AS SOME SHOWS.”

A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE: Palm Springs – Now in their fourth blockbuster season, Palm Springs’ LGBTQ theater company, The Bent, seems to set high goals for itself So far they have triumphed over each of them. Their next project is their first musical, A Man of No Importance. The music and lyrics are by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (Ragtime, Once on this Island) and the book by Terrence McNalley. A musical brings numerous difficulties beyond those encountered with a traditional book show. In addition to acting, sets, costumes, lighting, sound, etc., there are added components of singing, dancing, and music. In fact, usually more rehearsal time is spent with songs and dances than with actual dialogue scenes. Then the individually rehearsed elements of songs, dances and dramatic sequences get melded together to produce what looks like the effortless telling of a story.

A Man of No Importance is adapted from the 1994 Albert Finney film of the same title. It follows the difficulties Dublin bus driver Alfie Byrnes, a passionate amateur theatre director and closeted homosexual, has while trying to convince his local church-based theatre company to produce Oscar Wilde’s Salome. The story balances humor, drama and lyrical moments, highlighting Alfie’s journey towards self-expression and acceptance.

The Bent already has a very solid fanbase and those fans are truly excited to see the next step in this exciting theatre company’s growth. Plays 5/8 – 24. Tickets at www.TheBent.org.

“A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE IS ADAPTED FROM THE 1994 ALBERT FINNEY FILM OF THE SAME TITLE. IT FOLLOWS THE DIFFICULTIES DUBLIN BUS DRIVER ALFIE BYRNES, A PASSIONATE AMATEUR THEATRE DIRECTOR AND CLOSETED HOMOSEXUAL, HAS WHILE TRYING TO CONVINCE HIS LOCAL CHURCH-BASED THEATRE COMPANY TO PRODUCE OSCAR WILDE’S SALOME.”

HELL-BENT FOR LEATHER: Palm Springs – Every gay man has a coming out story and we generally like to hear others so we can compare them to our own. This month actor/singer Michael Pacas is sharing his story in an evening of songs and anecdotes at the Palm Springs Cultural Center Pacas was born and raised in Baton Rouge, LA, in a family that was saturated in Southern Baptist discipline. On every day there was a meeting – sometimes two – the family attended. He knew he felt different but couldn’t identify why.

At 15 he performed in his first musical – Brigadoon (which he recently directed in Palm Springs). The experience of being part of a team, adopting a character, and singing and dancing felt natural to him, though if there were gay people around him, he somehow managed to miss them. In fact, he didn’t have his first sexual experience until he moved to Chicago to go to college.

As part of his Chicago self-discovery, he went to a few gay bars, but his inherent shyness kept him from letting loose and enjoying them. Then he found out about the leather community and assembled himself an outfit. When he entered a bar in his leathers, at 6’2” and just over 200 lbs., he definitely garnered attention. He had found his “tribe,” and was eventually voted Mr. Leather.

His current show, called Hell-Bent for Leather, is a narrative about an individual from a sexually repressed background leaving home, coming out in the leather community, and all the interesting twists and turns along the way. He learns to honor who he was meant to be rather than who he had been taught to be. His story is maybe cautionary, maybe relatable, but it is told through his selection of songs, interspersed with his stories, so it has an added level of entertainment. Pacas presents a unique style of storytelling through songs. Performances are 5/14 & 21, and tickets are at www.Eventbrite.com , search for Hell-Bent for Leather.

“HELL-BENT FOR LEATHER, IS A NARRATIVE ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL FROM A SEXUALLY REPRESSED BACKGROUND LEAVING HOME, COMING OUT IN THE LEATHER COMMUNITY, AND ALL THE INTERESTING TWISTS AND TURNS ALONG THE WAY. HE LEARNS TO HONOR WHO HE WAS MEANT TO BE RATHER THAN WHO HE HAD BEEN TAUGHT TO BE.”

RENT: San Diego – Chances are you have seen one or more productions of Rent, but San Diego’s Diversionary Theatre, America’s third-oldest LGBTQ+ theatre company claims to have re-invented it and I, for one, am eager to see what they have done.

San Diego has a robust theatre community and Diversionary is recognized as one of their finest theatres companies, which coincidentally happens to be gay. Their theatre in the University Heights neighborhood is a warm and inviting place to visit. Your evening starts in the downstairs bar area, home to the very active Clark Cabaret. Then a few moments before showtime, you work your way upstairs to their comfortable theatre. I have never seen a production there which I didn’t enjoy for its performances, sets, costumes, and inventiveness. This month they promise that they are re-inventing Rent, the 1996 musical that changed so many things. Set in the heart of a community that knows firsthand the power of chosen family, love, loss, and resilience, Rent promises to come alive in a way that only Diversionary can deliver. With raw intimacy, electric energy, and unapologetic authenticity, this production strips the story down to its core, reminding us of what it means to live, to fight, and to love—no day but today. If you’re new to this theatre, allow yourself time to find street parking and perhaps to pick up a meal or coffee at one of several artsy cafes and coffee houses located within a block or two of the theatre. The neighborhood is a very comfy throwback to hippy culture, and fun to walk through.

Performance run 5/21 – 6/14 and tickets are available at www.diversionary.org.

“RENT PROMISES TO COME ALIVE IN A WAY THAT ONLY DIVERSIONARY CAN DELIVER. WITH RAW INTIMACY, ELECTRIC ENERGY, AND UNAPOLOGETIC AUTHENTICITY, THIS PRODUCTION STRIPS THE STORY DOWN TO ITS CORE, REMINDING US OF WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE, TO FIGHT, AND TO LOVE— NO DAY BUT TODAY.”

True beauty can’t be politicized or marginalized. It just is. Wonder radiates from every great sculpture, sonnet, sonata, and still-life until it cradles you in a creative embrace that blots out the ugliness of everyday hostility.

“What’s going on in the country and the planet is separation.” Craig Liebelt, Chair of the Cathedral City Arts Commission, assesses the state of our current disunion. “It’s them versus us and there’s always somebody different. But art is universal. Everybody can respond to color. Everybody can respond to shape and form. Everybody can respond to music. Everybody has a response to poetry. Everybody responds to story. These things are universal. It doesn’t have to do with class. It doesn’t have to do with monetary values. It has to do with just a simple human experience… some artists might be a little more challenging than others, but when you talk about form and shape and color and music, it’s a universal language and everybody can relate to that.”

ART WALK

Connection is the star of the show at this month’s Art Walk on Perez Road in Cathedral City. The event struts its stuff at 4-9pm on Friday, May 22nd, and again on Saturday, May 23rd, from 11am-4pm, so lace up your sneaks and take a peek!

“Our tagline is Where Art Lives,” announces Liebelt. “That’s what I would like everyone to understand: art is not something for museums or for a certain group or class of people. Art is for everybody and for everyone to experience and enjoy.”

Liebelt invites connoisseurs and curious alike to visit the Perez Art District. “So many times at a gallery, people walk in and say ‘I don’t know anything about art.’ Great, I understand, I ask a couple of questions. What are your favorite colors? What do you like about those colors? What kind of things do you like to look at? They answer all those questions, and I explain ‘You’re an expert because it’s you.’ You are bringing your experience. That makes you the expert. There is no wrong answer.”

These are topics Liebelt has explored since childhood. He didn’t just start on the ground floor - he dug deeper… all the way to the basement.

“People always ask me, ‘What’s your background in art?’ and I say ‘Experiential.’ My parents hosted art classes in the basement of our house then I would come in and see art being created. In high school, I participated in every kind of art form possible.”

WALK THIS WAY

Liebelt’s enthusiasm carried him from one haute hotspot to the next. “Once upon a time many years ago, I lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and it’s known as one of the top art markets in the country. What drew me to the Coachella Valley and the Perez Art District is I see that same potential here. With the quality of the artists and the galleries and the studios, you see that same quality of art emerging and just getting better and better. There are even more galleries now, and it’s growing rapidly; in the last year or two, there’s probably twice as many galleries than there were before, so that’s amazing to see it happen so quickly.” STEP

BY KEVIN PERRY

With an aw-shucks flair, Liebelt emphasizes the populist appeal of Perez. “I didn’t go get all these degrees in art. I’m the layperson. I’m the everyman. I’m the basic person. I’m not an art snob. I want everyone to feel comfortable in a studio, comfortable in the gallery, comfortable looking at things because your eyes and your experience are what make art real. Without your interaction, there would be no successful art. The audience makes it so.”

Yay, us!

“The biggest problem with art is that a lot of people think, ‘We don’t have the background or the experience,’ but Perez makes it so accessible. It’s not an elitist thing. People can interact and ask questions and not feel intimidated by the artwork but really experience and understand it and get to know the artists and so they’re much more comfortable with it. During this event, they’re going to have chances to even do it themselves. So that’s an extraordinary opportunity.”

That’s right, you’ll get the chance to get your hands dazzlingly dirty at the Perez

Art Walk. “Not only are these beautiful, world class galleries, but most of them also have working studios where you can literally walk in and see works in progress. What I like about this event coming up on May 22nd, is that several of these artists and galleries will give you a chance to create artwork. Anne Bedrick is going to provide canvases… Mark Hollenstein is going to let you do string art, there’s going to be opportunities to do basket weaving and make wire baskets.”

Teasing the array of spectator spectacles on display, Liebelt continues, “The event will host different kinds of music, visual art, photography, sculpture, glass, dance performances with kids from the Lindsay Kaufmann dance school in Palm Springs... there will be something for everyone. Art and creativity is definitely bringing us together. We just get to celebrate each other and our community and all the ways that we can express ourselves.”

In some circles, expression yields exclusion. You feel like you have to be

*this* rich or *that* sexy; you’re trying to measure up to fit in. But in the Perez Art District, asserting your truth helps to weave you into a larger tapestry of inclusion, innovation, and incredible vibes.

“We’re not so different,” concludes

Craig Liebelt. “It’s all part of the same human experience and the themes that you see in queer art relationships make you realize ‘Oh my god, the same thing happens in the straight world and straight relationships.’ We’re so much more alike than we are different. Love should always be the common theme and the overriding factor in everything.”

And love is afoot at the Art Walk. So, wear your heart on your sleeve, tiptoe through the triumphs, and meet us in the Perez Art District on May 22-23, 2026. Get drawn into destiny…

The Perez Art District is located at 68845 and 68895 Perez Road, Cathedral City, CA 92234, featuring a hub of working artist studios and galleries. Situated minutes from downtown Palm Springs, it is centered around buildings H and I, as well as buildings A and C on Perez Road.

Long Beach, California is often affectionately called the “hipster sibling of Los Angeles” and has long been a sanctuary for the LGBTQ+ community. With its salt-air breeze, historic architecture, and distinct “gayborhood”, the city is gearing up for its annual Pride celebration.

This year’s theme “Fearless and Free” sets the tone. It is a call to action and a celebration of resilience, reminding us that standing in love is the ultimate path to freedom. Here is your ultimate guide to the 2026 festivities and the best of the “LBC” nightlife.

The Main Event: May 15–17, 2026

The weekend kicks off on Friday, May 15 with Teen Pride, ensuring the next generation has a safe, vibrant space to celebrate.

The heart of the celebration, the Long Beach Pride Festival, takes over Marina Green Park on Saturday, May 16, and Sunday, May 17. Expect multiple stages including the Founder’s Stage (Main Stage), Queer Country, Urban Soul, and the fan-favorite Fiesta Caliente. Between sets, you can hit the roller rink, get a glow-up at the Drag Makeup Station, or lose yourself in the Silent Disco.

The weekend culminates in the iconic Long Beach Pride Parade on Sunday, May 17. Starting at 10:30 AM, the procession marches down Ocean Boulevard, turning the city’s main artery into a rainbow-hued river of music, dance, and community pride.

WHERE TO PLAY:

The Broadway Corridor & Beyond

While the festival happens by the water, the soul of Long Beach gay life is found along the Broadway Corridor. This stretch of East Broadway in Alamitos Beach is the city’s historic “gayborhood,” a walkable strip where rainbow flags fly year-round.

• Executive Suite Nightclub: This three-level powerhouse is the city’s premier dance destination. With a different vibe on every floor—including a high-energy dance level, a chill lounge, and a legendary karaoke stage, it’s the best place for diverse Pride after-parties.

BY MICHAEL WESTMAN

• The Broadway Bar: A cornerstone of the corridor, this spot offers a laid-back cocktail lounge vibe by day and a buzzing scene by night. It’s famous for pool tables and friendly locals.

• The Falcon: A staple for over 40 years, The Falcon is the quintessential neighborhood bar that transforms into a high-octane party spot as the sun goes down.

• Mineshaft & The Men’s Room: For those seeking a bit of “grit” with their glamour, these sideby-side bars offer a classic dive

atmosphere and a cruisy, masculine vibe that has anchored the Broadway scene for decades.

• The Silver Fox: Just off the main drag, “The Fox” blends classic charm with modern VJ sets. It remains one of the friendliest bars in the city, especially for its Sunday karaoke.

• Hamburger Mary’s: Located downtown on Pine Ave, Mary’s is a legendary institution. Known for “The Starlette Revue,” it’s the go-to spot for gourmet burgers and the fiercest drag performances in SoCal.

WHERE TO EAT & CAFFEINE UP

Breakfast & Brunch

• The Breakfast Bar: A local favorite for a reason! This “family-owned, family-run” spot is famous for its unique “Great Food & Booze” philosophy. Don’t miss the Lemon Cake Pancakes or the Uncle Ed’s Potatoes. It’s the perfect place to recover with a Bloody Mary after a long night on Broadway.

• Let’s Yolk About It: A popular, LGBTQ-owned breakfast and brunch restaurant located at

4722 E. 2nd St. in Long Beach’s Belmont Shore. Known for its vibrant atmosphere and highquality ingredients, this spot is a favorite for elevated classics and is recognized as a safe space.

Coffee Break

• Hot Java: Located right on the Broadway Corridor, this LGBTQ+-owned coffee house is the neighborhood’s heartbeat. It’s a cozy, community-minded café perfect for meeting friends before the parade or grabbing a

vanilla latte to-go. With local art on the walls and a “come as you are” vibe, it’s a true sanctuary.

WHERE TO STAY:

The Queen Mary Hotel

For a truly unique experience, book a stateroom aboard the historic Queen Mary. This Art Deco masterpiece is permanently docked in the harbor and offers a “Fearless and Free” vibe of its own. For Pride 2026, the ship is leaning into its vintage roots with immersive programming. If you prefer to stay on land, the Hyatt Centric and The Westin are very gay-friendly and feature stunning rooftop pools.

SUPPORT LOCAL:

Queer-Owned Gems

Beyond the bars, Long Beach is packed with LGBTQ-owned businesses. If you’re looking to shop or explore, check out:

• The LGBTQ Center Long Beach: A vital community hub on 4th Street.

• Good Time: A popular, transowned cafe offering quality coffee and brunch, listed among top LGBTQ-owned businesses.

• Wood Coffee Co.: A queerowned, plant-based coffee shop offering breakfast options with a focus on supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

• 6th & Detroit: For incredible vintage home goods.

• The Wine Country: For a curated selection of spirits and local favorites.

Long Beach Pride is the secondlargest Pride event in Southern California. Whether you’re cheering at the parade on Ocean Blvd or dancing under the disco ball at Executive Suite, Long Beach 2026 is shaping up to be a historic celebration of everything that makes our community beautiful.

For more information and tickets, visit longbeachpride.com

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MOVIES ARE SO GAY!

NEW RELEASES FOR SPRING?

GROUNDBREAKING.

BY KEVIN PERRY

Let’s paint the town cerulean! To honor the sheer, chic shade of

The Devil Wears Prada

2, we’re peppering this piece with pure, uncut MirandaPriestly-esque toxicity. In other words: our everyday gay way. Jealous?

This editorial approach isn’t just a bitchy stunt; it’s a queer call to action. You’ve worked hard to craft your catty, aloof attitude. Your style is a suit of armor and a cause célèbre. Now it’s time to flex your fabulosity. Look down on others, look up to our haughtiest haute couturiers, and look forward to some stunning cinema all month long. We’re rating each title on our patented Miranda-Meter, so take notes.

Ready. No, no - that wasn’t a question. Get ready. Why is no one ready?

MAY 1ST

Gird your loins for TDWP2. Btw, nice loins. Literal legends Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Anne Hathaway return for this sumptuous sequel, and this time they’re joined by the dragon lady herself: Anna Wintour. Rumor has it Ms. Wintour was so intimidating 20 years ago that she prevented notable fashionistas from contributing to the original Devil Wears Prada But two decades later, the franchise has become iconic enough to entice the villainess to join the cutthroat cavalcade. Evil is just so in vogue these days, n’est-ce pas? Miranda-Meter: 10 out of 10.

Adam Scott stars in Hokum, the treacherous tale of a traveler tracing the footsteps of his dead parents through Ireland as a bloodthirsty witch stalks his every move. And we thought Fashion Week was a nightmarish trip! Sure, AScott is battling sinister forces beyond his earthly control, but does he need to be so drab about it? He dons that sad, emo trenchcoat like a death sentence. Maybe a pastel belt would cinch up the situation? Despite the creative team’s dreary design choices, this film shows macabre promise for fans of horror and uninspired earthtones alike. Miranda-Meter: 5 out of 10.

Well, this is new and unwelcome: Animal Farm translates George Orwell’s cautionary tale of communism and corruption into an insipid animated trifle… for depressed children, we’re assuming? If we wanted to see a pig waddle his way through the apocalypse, we’d watch Fox News. Miranda-Meter: -4 out of 10.

Sharks are the envy of the ocean. Everyone wants to be them, but nobody wants to cross them. Plus, they always wear those dashing sharkskin suits. Deep Water is admittedly shallow, but it features Oscar winner Ben Kingsley chewing some major scenery as he dodges great whites and not-so-great dialogue. The Academy can’t take your Oscar back, can they? Asking for a friend… a friend named Ben Kingsley. Miranda-Meter: 1 out of 10.

MAY 8TH

Question: what’s more pretentious than a French film about a piano? Answer: a French film about Two Pianos. That’s actually the title of this stuffy romance drenched in longing and smeared with hollandaise sauce. Loving the arrogance, not caring for the film. Miranda-Meter: 2 out of 10.

Fashion tip: when you’re dressed in a sports jersey, you’ve already lost the game. Perhaps Billie Eilish will take this note into consideration before making her next 3D concert movie alongside powerhouse filmmaker James Cameron. Alas, it’s too late to save their bloated blockbuster Hit Me Hard and Soft, a name so provocative yet so meaningless. In fact, we’ve already forgotten it. Billie who? Miranda-Meter: -7 out of 10. The trailer for The Sheep Detectives admittedly made us smile. Smiling is for the weak. Miranda-Meter: -38 out of 10. That’s baaad. Finally, a film that’s certified Priestly-approved. That’s right, it’s Mortal Kombat II, an unauthorized glimpse behind the curtain at Runway magazine. Leather confidence melds with metallic grit and it all galvanizes into a feel-good film about crushing your enemies into an intoxicating goo. MirandaMeter: 8 out of 10.

MAY 15TH

Henry Cavill and Jake Gyllenhaal make us wetter than the Fontaine des Fleuves. Psst! That’s the fountain where Andy threw her annoying cell phone at the end of The Devil Wears Prada Part 1. Try and keep up, will you? Moving right along, Cavill and Gyllenhaal team up for In the Grey, but we’d rather have them in the pink, amiright ladies? Miranda-Meter: 7 out of 10.

Judging from the trailer, Magic Hour is about a struggling couple who solve all their problems by driving to the desert and getting a makeover from a gaggle of drunk drag queens. No notes. Miranda-Meter: 10 out of 10.

Love is like last year’s fashion trends. At first, they hug your contours and accentuate all of your best features. Then after a few wash cycles, they fade and shrink until they suffocate you. But perhaps we’re overanalyzing Obsession, a horror flick in which a lovelorn loser wishes upon a willow twig and transforms his crush into a clinging, psychotic bodybag of a woman. Oy, the college years. Miranda-Meter: 3 out of 10.

MAY 22ND

Pedro Pascal is hotter than Miranda’s morning coffee and twice as fulfilling. For some reason, he appears alongside random cast members Sigourney Weaver and Martin Scorsese in Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu. It’s like a movie smoothie, mashing together pop culture tidbits into a cloying melange of popcorn cutesiness. And please, that robe makes you look 900 years old even though you’re only 50. Grow up, Grogu. Miranda-Meter: -6 out of 10.

If you like your couture cranked up to a bazillion, then you’ll adore I Love Boosters, a cinematic hallucination filled with kitsch, kookiness and Keke Palmer. She leads a ragtag rebellion against a menacing mogul played to the goddamn hilt by Demi Moore. The film dares to ask who is the real thief: a successful style succubus or a squad of charismatic shoplifters? No matter how you see it, you will be delighted in I Love Boosters Miranda-Meter: 11 out of 10.

MAY 29TH

If a piano prodigy used his talents to crack safes, how rich could he get? Better question: why are there so many dreadful films about pianos? Tune out Tuner, starring a desperate Dustin Hoffman. MirandaMeter: 0 out of 10.

The Breadwinner combines two of our most loathsome pet peeves: carbs and comedians. Nate Bargatze “stars” in this sickeningly saccharine slop about a successful mom and the worthless man she should - quite frankly - just leave in her dust. But wait, she loves him. Cue the vomit and let the banality begin! Miranda-Meter: -4,782 out of 10.

Riddle me this: what’s the least exciting aspect of any story? If you answered “the weather” then give yourself a prize. Also, steer clear of Pressure, a film about the invasion of Normandy that focuses on (you guessed it) the weather on D-Day. The forecast calls for mediocrity. Miranda-Meter: 1 out of 10.

Let’s cleanse the palate with a perfectly mundane thriller set in the bleak, barren subspaces of a furniture outlet store. Backrooms explores an Ikea-esque wasteland of affordable accessories and cookie-cutter decor. The longer you spend in this suburban hellscape, the more unsettled you become. We weep, we scream, and we applaud the filmmakers for finally getting under our moisturized, makeup-dappled, marvelous skin. Miranda-Meter: 9 out of 10.

Now it’s time to take a bow, rewatch The Devil Wears Prada incessantly, and get gloriously, gorgeously gay. That is all.

Show 7p

REMEMBERING JAMES MILLS

A VOICE FOR WEST HOLLYWOOD, A HEART FOR THE COMMUNITY

BY MICHAEL WESTMAN

he West Hollywood community and the world of LGBTQ+ journalism are a little quieter this month. James F. Mills, a veteran journalist, former editor of Wehoville.com, and a foundational voice for GED Magazine, passed away on April 12, 2026, at the age of 64.

TFor those of us at GED, this loss is deeply personal. When this magazine was just a fledgling idea over 14 years ago, James was one of the first writers to lend us his talent, his time, and his unwavering belief in our mission. He didn’t just write stories; he helped build the foundation of what we are today.

Born and raised in North Carolina, James moved to California shortly after completing his graduate studies at UNCChapel Hill. While he embraced the West Coast lifestyle, he famously never lost his gentle Southern accent—a trait friends say was a core part of his persona as a “gay man in the West.”

James’ career was a testament to his versatility and his nose for a good story. Before becoming a staple of the WeHo news circuit, his bylines graced LA Weekly, Backstage West, Frontier, and Gay Star News. He began his dedicated coverage of West Hollywood around 2010 with AOL’s Patch, eventually moving to Wehoville in 2012.

To James, West Hollywood wasn’t just a beat; it was his home. He served as the Editor of Wehoville during some of the city’s most transformative years, leading the site from 2020 until 2021. Even when he moved on to work for Law360, his heart remained on Santa Monica Boulevard.

He was the kind of journalist who was “always watching.” Whether it was a heated City Council debate or a local community event, James was there— often seen riding his bike through the neighborhood in the early evenings. He had a rare gift for catching the tiny, human details that others missed.

What many didn’t see in his professional reporting was the immense thoughtfulness James practiced in his private life. He was a man of tradition and deep connection:

• The Birthday Chronicler: He was legendary for never missing a friend’s birthday, always sending a text or a handwritten card.

• A Holiday Baker: Every Christmas, James baked cookies and wrapped them as gifts for his inner circle.

• An Engaged Peer: Fellow journalists and local figures recall receiving supportive texts from James immediately after a public speech or a published article, simply saying, “That was a really good answer” or “Great piece.”

He had a private passion for soap operas – James truly “loved the people and he loved the drama.” He cared about the preservation of the city’s history, the integrity of its buildings, and the colorful characters who inhabited them.

James Mills was a journalist who showed up. He showed up for the city, he showed up for the truth, and he showed up for his friends. As we look back on the early archives of GED Magazine, we see his fingerprints on our history - a reminder of a man who was as kind as he was sharp.

James is survived by a massive community of colleagues, friends, and readers who are better for having known him.

Rest in peace, James. Thank you for telling our stories.

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PEEPA’S

120 N Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.318.3553 peepasps.com

PS HOMEBOYS

108 S. Indian Canyon Dr

Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.318.7388 pshomeboys.com

Q TRADING COMPANY

606 E Sunny Dunes Rd Palm Springs, CA 92264

760.416.7150

HAIR SALONS

CUT BARBER

1109 N Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.322.2999 cutbarber.com

DADDY’S BARBERSHOP

192 S Indian Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92264

760.537.1311

daddysbarbershop.com

MEN’S GROOMING SPOT

68487 E Palm Canyon Dr Suite 43 Cathedral City, CA 92234

760.992.0028 mensgroomingspot.com

PS FINE MEN’S SALON

750 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 3 Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.904.0434 psfinemenssalon.com

REALTORS

3 BEARS REALTY

2905 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.699.6175 3bearsrealty.com

PALM SPRINGS HOME TEAM

Conrad Miller (DRE #01973983)

760.464.9559

Brandon Holland (DRE # 01986968)

760.413.1220 Palmspringshometeam.com

RESTAURANTS

1501 UPTOWN GASTROPUB

1501 Uptown Gastropub 1501 N Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, 92262

760.507.1644 1501uptown.com

BLACKBOOK

315 E. Arenas Rd Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.832.8497 blackbookbar.com

BOOZEHOUNDS PS

2080 North Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.656-0067 boozehoundsps.com

EIGHT4NINE RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE

849 N Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.325.8490 eight4nine.com

FARM

6 La Plaza Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.322.2724 farmspalmsprings.com

JOHANNES

196 S. Indian Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.778.0017 johannespalmsprings.com

RICK’S DESERT GRILL

1596 North Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.325.2127 ricksdesertgrill.com

THE SOCIAL CAFE AND PLAY LOUNGE

2825 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Bldg C, Palm Springs, CA 92262

760-808-8588 thesocialcafeps.com

TRILUSSA

68-718 E Palm Canyon Dr Cathedral City, CA 92234

760.328.2300 trilussarestaurant.com

TRIO RESTAURANT

707 N. Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA. 92262

760.854.8746 triopalmsprings.com

WILMA & FRIEDA’S

155 S Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.992.5080 wilmafrieda.com

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

DAP HEALTH

1695 N. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.323.2118 daphealth.org

DESERT CARE NETWORK

760.561.7373 desertcarenetwork.com

DESERT OASIS HEALTHCARE

275 North El Cielo Road Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.325.DOHC (3642) mydohc.com

EISENHOWER HEALTH

39000 Bob Hope Drive Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

760.340.3911 eisenhowerhealth.org

PALM SPRINGS ANIMAL SHELTER

4575 E. Mesquite Ave, Palm Springs, CA 92264

760.416.5718 psanimalshelter.org

PALM SPRINGS FRONT RUNNERS & WALKERS frontrunners.clubexpress.com

PALM SPRINGS TEST

140 N Luring Drive, Ste D Palm Springs, CA 92262

760-299-6487 healthypstest.org

STONEWALL GARDENS

2150 N. Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.548.0970 stonewallgardens.com

LGBTQ COMMUNITY CENTER OF THE DESERT

1301 North Palm Canyon Dr, 3rd Floor Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.416.7790 thecentercv.org

SAN FRANCISCO DIRECTORY

BARS & CLUBS

440 CASTRO 440 Castro, San Francisco, CA the440.com

BEAUX

2344 Market St., San Franciso, CA beauxsf.com

HI TOPS

2247 Market St, San Francisco, CA

415.551.2500 hitopsbar.com

LOBBY BAR

4230 18th St. Unit A, San Francisco, CA lobbybarsf.com

LOOKOUT

3600 16th St., San Francisco, CA

415.431.0306 lookoutsf.com

MAC’S CLUB

39 Post St., San Jose, CA

408.288.8221

MIDNIGHT SUN

4067 18th St., San Francisco, CA

415.861.4186

midnightsunsf.com

MOBY DICK

4049 18th St., San Francisco, CA

415.294.0731

OASIS

298 11th St., San Francisco, CA

415.795.3180 sfoasis.com

RENEGADES

501 W Taylor St., San Jose, CA

408.275.9902 renegadesbar.carrd.co

SF EAGLE

398 12th St., San Francisco, CA 415.200.2002 sf-eagle.com

SPLASH

65 Post St., San Jose, CA

408.292.2222 splashsj.com

THE CINCH SALOON

1723 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 415.776.4162

THE MIX

4086 18th St., San Francisco, CA 415.431.8616 thesfmix.com

WHITE HORSE BAR

6551 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, CA 510.652.3820

HAIR SALONS

HEALING CUTS

2350 Market St., San Francisco, CA 415.286.2970 healingcutssf.com

SPUNK SALON

4147 19th St., San Francisco, CA 415.701.7865 spunksalon.com

THE CASTRO BARBER LOUNGE

2265 Market St., San Francisco, CA 415.678.5942 thecastrobarberlounge.com

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

HEALTH/COUNSELING/SUPPORT

API WELLNESS CLINIC

726 Polk St. SF LGBT Center 1800 Market Street San Francisco, CA apiwellness.org

BILLY DEFRANK

LGBTQ CENTER

938 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 408.293.3040 defrankcenter.org

LYRIC CENTER FOR LGBTQQ YOUTH

127 Collingwood St (@ 18th St), San Francisco, CA 415.703.6150 lyric.org

OAKLAND LGBTQ COMMUNITY CENTER

3207 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland, CA 510.882.2286 oaklandlgbtqcenter.org

PACIFIC CENTER FOR HUMAN GROWTH

2712 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley, CA 510.548.8283 pacificcenter.org

QUEER LIFESPACE

2275 Market St, San Francisco, CA 415.358.2000 queerlifespace.org

RAINBOW COMMUNITY CENTER

2380 Salvio St., Concord, CA 925.692.0090 rainbowcc.org

SF AIDS FOUNDATION

470 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 415.437.3400 strutsf.org

SF LGBT CENTER

1800 Market St, San Francisco, 415.865.5555 sfcenter.org

STONEWALL PROJECT

1035 Market St, #400, San Francisco, CA 415.487.3000 stonewallsf.org

THE TREVOR PROJECT

866.488.7386 Text: 678.678 thetrevorproject.org

UCSF ALLIANCE HEALTH PROJECT

1930 Market St, San Francisco, CA 415.476.3902 ucsf-ahp.org

LEGAL

AIDS LEGAL REFERRAL PANEL

1663 Mission St, #500, San Francisco, CA 415.701.1100 alrp.org

OASIS LEGAL SERVICES

1900 Addison St, #100, Berkeley, CA 510.666.6687 oasislegalservices.org

TRANSGENDER

LAW CENTER

510.587.9696 transgenderlawcenter.org

HOTLINES

THE GLBT HOTLINE OF SAN FRANCISCO: 415.355.0999

GLBT NATIONAL HOTLINE: 1.888.843.4564

GLBT NATIONAL YOUTH TALKLINE: 1.800.246.7743

TREVOR PROJECT HOTLINE (Queer Youth Suicide Prevention): 866.488.7386

CALIFORNIA AIDS, STD, & HEPATITIS HOTLINE: 1.800.367.2437

SEXUAL ASSAULT - COMMUNITY VIOLENCE SOLUTIONS: 800.670.7273

CONTRA COSTA CRISIS CENTER for Suicide & Crisis Intervention: 800.273.8255

LGBTQ people are among the many subgroups of Americans known to experience high rates of food insecurity.*

*The Williams Institute

The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert provides food for 30,000+ people annually.