Sunday, November 06, 2011

Palm Springs Gay Pride Weekend 2011



The migration of gay people retiring to Palm Springs continues at an accelerating pace.



They seem to be coming from all over the country and the world as if there were some siren broadcasting a secret signal.



In fact, the place is reminiscent in mood of the Castro neighborhood in San Francisco back in the 1970s, except everyone is about 40 years older.



In Palm Springs, Gay Pride Weekend follows Halloween and precedes Leather Pride Weekend. "It's the holy trinity of gay holidays around here," somebody remarked at a lovely party given by Steven Wibben (below center) before Sunday morning's parade.



The Palm Springs High School Marching Band and the Desert Hot Springs High School Marching Band were both featured today, sandwiched between drag queens, religious groups ranging from Buddhists to Methodists, animal rights activists, politicians, and somebody who had a float just because it was his 50th birthday and he wanted one. Like every other parade I have seen on Palm Canyon Drive over the last five years, from Homecoming to Veterans Day, this morning's promenade was beyond charming.

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