LGBTQ+ History & Archives of the Desert

“Out On The Walk” Celebrating the LGBT Honorees on the Palm Springs Walk of the Stars
2023-10-12 14:00 - 2023-11-12 20:00 UTC | Village Green (in the former Aqua Caliente Cultural Museum), 217 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA, 92262, United States
October 12 – November 12, 2023,
Weekly, Thursday – Sunday
THURSDAYS – 2 P.M. TO 8 P.M.
FRIDAYS – SUNDAY 12 P.M. TO 6 P.M.
About Exhibit:
Since 1992, more than 450 stars honoring notable entertainers, humanitarians, civic leaders, architects, artists, authors, athletes, and veterans have been inducted on the sidewalks throughout downtown and uptown Palm Springs.
Each of these honorees, in their own way, was deserving of their recognition, and although many of their accomplishments were known during their lifetimes, or when their stars were installed, many of these individuals are no longer household names. In addition, some of the honorees were known to live openly as LGBT individuals, while others due to time and personal preference did not. By identifying and celebrating these LGBT celebrities, business people, humanitarians, philanthropists, authors, artists, and civic leaders, we hope to share the story of how each one helped to make the greater Palm Springs area the welcoming place for the LGBTQ community it is today.
The material presented in this exhibition was gathered from sources believed to be reliable. Although care has been taken to be as accurate as possible, the LGBTQ+ History & Archives of the Desert makes no guarantee regarding its accuracy or completeness. Neither the LGBTQ+ History & Archives of the Desert or the Palm Springs Walk of the Stars assumes liability for the information presented. The Archives has made every effort to ensure that the individuals identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender have been so identified in a reliable source or personally acknowledged.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH :

SPONOSRED BY :
Presenting:
David Hood & George Sellers
Rainbow:

Diane McKenzie
Community: Thomas Brown & Bill Coughlin

Friend: David Gray & Steve Shuman
Friends of David L. Gray
Tom Lavin
David Powell

Exhibit: LGBTQ+ History & Archives of the Desert on Display at the Welwood Murray Memorial Library
2024-06-01 09:00 - 2024-06-30 18:00
June 1 – 30, 2024 : Exhibit: LGBTQ+ History & Archives of the Desert on Display at the Welwood Murray Memorial Library
The LGBTQ+ History & Archives of the Desert will display various items in their collection to celebrate Pride Month. The exhibit will be in the display cases in the main reading room at the Library and viewable during regular hours, seven days a week.

CAW (Community Archiving Workshop)
2024-06-01 09:30 - 17:00 | Palm Spring Community Libary
Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. – 5: 00 p.m. CAW (Community Archiving Workshop)
Together with Deserted Films, the LGBTQ+ History & Archives of the Desert will be hosting a Community Archiving Workshop at the Palm Springs Public Library. This event is for registered volunteers only who will be helping us to scan, properly capture meta data, and rebox our nearly complete run of the Gay & Lesbian
Times: The Desert’s Newsmagazine. This opportunity was made possible from a grant from the California State Library facilitated by California Revealed.

Palm Springs Leather Pride
2024-10-24 11:00 - 18:00 | Hotel Zoso, 150 S Indian Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, 92262, United States
Pop-Up Displays/Booth:
Hotel Zoso, 2nd floor, 150 S Indian Canyon Dr., Palm Springs

Palm Springs Pride Festival
2024-11-02 - 2024-11-03 | Palm Springs, Downtown, Palm Springs, 92262, United States
Pop-Up Displays/Booth:
Palm Springs Pride Festival
Palm Canyon Drive

Presenting “Home Movies Out of the Closet: LGBTQ+, Hollywood, Palm Springs, and You” in Celebration of Pride Month.
2025-06-01 15:00 - 21:00 | PSCC, 2300 E Baristo Rd, Palm Springs, 92262, United States
The LGBTQ+ History & Archives of the Desert (Archives) is celebrating Pride Month by partnering with other local non-profits Deserted Films and the Palm Springs Cultural Center (PSCC)
Sunday, June 1, 2025, to present a day focused on LGBTQ home movies!
In the afternoon, the public is invited to bring their home movies and allow our home movie preservation experts to assess them and provide recommendations for storage and digitization.
This FREE opportunity will be offered from 3:00 – 5:30 PM in the lobby of the Palm Springs Cultural Center, first-come, first served.
From 6:30-8:00 PM the Archives and Deserted Films will screen family-friendly (13+), rarely and never-before-seen LGBTQ+ footage from our collections.

In collaboration with the UCLA Library Film & Television Archive (www.cinema.ucla.edu), we will also treat audiences to LGBTQ+ works from UCLA’s collection by Pat Rocco featuring Palm Springs and Los Angeles, as well as other home movies of Hollywood stars at home, at work, and at play!
Following the screening event there will be a Reception from 8 – 9 PM.
Ticket for both the screening and reception is $45 which includes one drink ticket. Proceeds to benefit the Archives, Deserted Films and The Palm Springs Cultural Center equally.
All events will be held at PSCC located at 2300 E Baristo Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262, with ample free parking available.
To buy tickets to the evening event or to donate if you are unable to attend, CLICK HERE
Sponsors

UNBRIDLED SPIRIT: CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF LEATHER IN PALM SPRINGS
2025-10-30 - 2025-11-02 | Hotel Zoso, 150 S Indian Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, 92262, United States
The LGBTQ+ History & Archives of the Desert is excited to present our major exhibition for this fall, UNBRIDLED SPIRIT: Celebrating 35 Years of Leather in Palm Springs. The exhibit will run from Thursday, October 30 through Sunday, November 2, 2025, at Hotel Zoso.
Curated by Mike Király, MPA, Adjunct Faculty, Social Sciences, Santa Rosa Junior College, and Vice President of the Palm Springs Leather Order of the Desert, the exhibit will explore the significant impact of the leather community on the cultural and social landscape of the Coachella Valley over the past 35 years.
An often overlooked and sometimes hidden aspect of the general LGBT community, it is the goal of this exhibition to bring to the fore how the leather community has helped shape and often fight for gay liberation and rights locally.

PANEL DISCUSSION: Leather Women Celebrating Our Sexuality
2025-10-30 18:30 - 20:30 | Hotel Zoso, 150 S Indian Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, 92262, United States
October 30, 2025, 6:30 p.m., Hotel Zoso.
In conjunction with the exhibit Unbridled Spirit, the Archives will present a FREE lecture featuring a panel of five women and a moderator discussing women’s sexuality and their role in the Leather community.
This program will be at the Hotel Zoso in the Palladium North room located on the lower level of the hotel. As part of CIRCA: Queer Histories Festival this program will also be LIVE STREAMED, to attend virtually, register at: circafestival.org.
Panelists for the program include Cindy Bookout, Ms. Oklahoma Leather 1993 & International Ms. Leather 1994; Shann Carr, Ms. Portland Leather Woman 1987 & International Ms. Leather 1988; Jessica Collins, Ms. Indulgence Spirit of Leather 2025; Sarge, Ms. San Diego 2014 & International Ms. Leather 2015; and Victoria Rendall, (DJ Mixie). It will be moderated by Lex Ortega, Board Member, LGBTQ+ History & Archives of the Desert & Program Coordinator – Palm Springs, The LGBTQ+ Community Center of the Desert.
This program is underwritten by Diane McKenzie.

Tickled Pink: Cocktails at Villa Sierra–That Pink Door House- SOLD OUT
2026-02-18 16:30 - 20:00 | Villa Sierra–That Pink Door House, 1100 E Sierra Way, Palm Springs, 92264, United States
Wednesday, February 18 from 4:30-7 PM for a fundraising event during Modernism Week 2026:
Tickled Pink: Cocktails at Villa Sierra–That Pink Door House.
Every clink of a glass helps preserve community stories—A portion of the proceeds benefit the LGBTQ+ History & Archives of the Desert.
A house tour, a cocktail party, and a piece of Palm Springs history—an unforgettable experience awaits, all behind one very famous pink door!
