Your Guide to Everything Gay in Palm Springs

Palm Springs hosts loads of events throughout the year, with Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals taking center stage in April. Possibly even more important to the gay community is the annual Jeffrey Sanker's White Party. Starting in 1989 as a small gay dance party, it has ballooned into a three-day event with 30,000 people and parties day and night. Sanker was a bouncer at Studio 54, where he learned the party promotion ropes, and it shows in this extravaganza of music, dance, and headline performers such as Kylie Minogue. Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend isn't quite as big, but it's still the largest lesbian/queer girl party on the planet. Expect pool parties, DJ battles, and comedy sets. It's no surprise that Palm Springs goes all out for Pride in November, with parties, a massive parade, and public education and awareness of individual rights and civil liberties of the LGBTQI community.

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Even if you plan on visiting Palm Springs apart from an event, there are loads of LGBTQI bars, clubs, parties, and activities worth checking out. Hunters is a fun place to start the night, with dancing and cheap Jello shots served by mingling hosts. There are electric video screens and the atmosphere is usually laid-back and fun, though some people complain that it draws more bachelorette parties than gay men. The Barracks is the spot for leather and beards, if that's more your scene. Toucans Tiki Lounge hosts regular drag queen performances. The scene offers bottle service and daily drink specials, so it suits a range of budgets.

Part of Palm Springs' appeal is its fast proximity to nature and the desert. Hiking, horseback riding, bird watching, golfing, rock climbing, and biking are all available. Joshua Tree National Park offers over 429,690 acres of wilderness, plus it's home to wildlife not found elsewhere. Hot springs are sprinkled around Desert Hot Springs. To soak in curative waters, check out Two Bunch Palms' series of natural pools (open late if you're inclined to take a late-night dip au naturel). If you're more of an indoor person, many of the high-end hotels have traditional spas with treatment rooms and a series of blissful services. (We especially like the Palm Springs Yacht Club inside the Parker Hotel.)

As perviously mentioned, there's no need to seek out a specific LGBTQI hotel while visiting Palm Springs, as you'll find that hoteliers are dedicated to providing inclusion and safety for the LGBTQI community throughout the city. But if you prefer to spend your money and time at a specific LGBTQI hotel, and want to meet like-minded travelers, there are several options to choose from. La Dolce Vita Resort & Spa - Gay Men's Clothing Optional features two pools and a full-service spa, plus clean and contemporary rooms. The gay-owned and clothing-optional Bearfoot Inn is close to the Uptown Design District and features mid-century modern architecture. The Movie Colony Hotel is widely celebrated for its stunning architecture (designed by Albert Frey) and celebrity past. Each of the 17 rooms here have a private terrace and free wine hours that encourage mingling. 


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