The municipal elections in Palm Springs last November saw something no one ever thought would happen. Ron Oden became the United State’s first openly gay African-American mayor elected, while two other openly gay candidates, Ginny Foat and Steve Pougnet, were also voted into city council. That election was extremely significant for the GLBT community, further empowering and uniting residents.

In the spirit of this equality, the Greater Palm Springs Pride Board of Directors have invited all 4,000 of the gay and lesbian couples who were married in San Francisco earlier this year to act as Parade Grand Marshals and lead off this year’s pride celebration which takes place Nov. 6 and 7 in downtown Palm Springs.

“We wanted to honor them for their convictions and beliefs that they could do this…we wanted to honor them in some way,” says Jack Schloeder, president of Greater Palm Springs Pride, Inc. “They stand as a powerful symbol of the enduring determination of our community to achieve equal rights for all Americans regardless of sexual orientation,” says Schloeder.

The theme for this year’s festival is “World Pride: It Starts With You.”

“That was the theme that we chose a couple years ago. We feel it really does start with the individual,” says Schloeder.

In today’s intense political climate with several anti-gay marriage initiatives on ballots and numerous conservative activists lobbying for even more anti-gay measures, it is extremely crucial for the GLBT community to become more visible.

“It is always important to come together to embrace our lifestyles,” explains City Councilmember Steve Pougnet. “[It is] even more important this year because President Bush has chosen to try to drive a wedge between the gay and straight community.”

It is only fitting that Equality California/Marriage Equality is teaming with Greater Palm Springs Pride to hold a very special event during the festivities. A private wedding reception and celebration will be held for couples, family members and friends on Saturday evening, Nov. 6 from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. on the main stage of the festival grounds. Admission is complimentary for any of the 4,000 couples married in San Francisco from Feb. 12 to March 11, 2004, when certificates were distributed. Couples participating are being asked to bring their marriage licenses issued by San Francisco County as proof in order to gain complimentary admission to the reception. Admission is $35 per person and includes entertainment, refreshments, wedding cake and more.

The parade will kick off at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 7 beginning on Palm Canyon Drive. The route will start at the corner of Alejo Road and North Palm Canyon Drive, and proceed south on Palm Canyon Dive through downtown Palm Springs to Ramon Road.

There will be over 150 groups marching in this year’s parade. Mayor Oden will ride in the parade along with the Palm Springs city council members, including Foat and Pougnet.

“Pride is a celebration of who we are, our fight for equality,” says Pougnet. “It is extremely important in Palm Springs because we are the largest gay governing majority in the country. People see that there is no gay agenda. We care about roads, schools, seniors and the homeless. We serve all the citizens of Palm Springs,” says Pougnet.

Pougnet has been a resident of Palm Springs for more than five years now and over the years has seen the heterosexual community unite with the GLBT community.

“Palm Springs has welcomed diversity for a long time. Our election was significant because the citizens — straight and gay — elected us as openly gay candidates. Everyone is welcome in Palm Springs,” says Pougnet.

Another organization that has shaped the positive gay climate in Palm Springs is the Desert Pride Center. Only two years old, the Center has grown immensely over this period, offering important social, cultural and educational outlets for the residents of Palm Springs. Sharon Doty, a co-administrator at the Center, explains the significance the annual pride celebration has had for the Center.

“The Desert Pride Center each year experiences an influx of visitors and enjoys a renewal of interest and energy with the November Pride weekend,” explains Doty. “Additionally, a reaffirmation of commitment seems to be airborne within the volunteers and board members. This is the literal ‘shot in the arm’ needed after a very busy year.

“Both local and out of town visitors who were not previously familiar with our Center make visits each year and see the facility, programs and enthusiasm housed here,” says Doty.

Marshall Pearcy and Douglas Woodmansee, also known as Dottie DuBois and Maude Chapeau of the drag troupe Les Dames Du Soleil, have been named Community Grand Marshals. Palm Springs residents for more than 24 years, Pearcy and Woodmansee have raised over $500,000 for various charitable organizations including: the Desert AIDS Project, DAP, AAP, Food Closet, PAWS and the Desert Regional Hospital Special Care Unit.

President and CEO of Working Wonders, Evelyn Hernandez Valentino has been named Woman of the Year by the Greater Palm Springs Pride while Man of the Year is Dr. Paul Steier, of the Desert Medical Group. Both will be marching in the parade.

The eclectic entertainment line-up includes bands, comedians, singers, dance groups and cheerleading groups. Some San Diego-based performers will be there as well, including the San Diego Drag Kings and the all-female rock group Abigail’s Attic.

“We are delighted about participating in this year’s Palm Springs Pride event,” says Margot Kelly Rodriguez, known as “El Pachuco” in the nine-member drag performance troupe, the San Diego Drag Kings. “We had a wonderful time performing last year on the main stage. The crowd was wonderfully diverse and welcoming,” says Rodriguez. Diversity is definitely a dominant force at all pride celebrations. Through various performances, the festival attendees can gain a better understanding of each sub-culture represented within the GLBT community overall.

“Drag Kinging is still a fresh concept in mainstream GLBT culture, although there has been more visibility lately, such as on [Showtime’s] ‘The L Word’ and MTV,” explains Rodriguez. “Drag Kinging is a natural extension of all that drives me — weaving together the creative, the political, the outrageous in order to shakes things up and break apart gender preconceptions in an entertaining and engaging way.”

Palm Springs-based singers Mona Caywood, Ms. Fern, Dana Atkins and Diva Denise will be making appearances on the main stage. The Great American Yankee Freedom Band, from Los Angeles, and the Palm Springs-based Desert Winds Freedom Band, will perform in the parade as well as on the main stage. Additional main stage acts include: Pleasure, White Light, the Kickers & Cloggers, Sebastian Sidi, Alyson, Kenny Kerr, Sasha Sacket and Jennifer Moore.

Live entertainment takes place on both the main stage and other sites located on the festival grounds on Saturday, Nov. 6 from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m., and on Sunday, Nov. 7 from 12:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

In addition to the main stage, there will be two dance tents. The country-dance tent will feature guest DJs and dancers, while the disco tent will feature renowned DJs from Las Vegas, who spin at Studio 54, Rain and the Hard Rock. For those who enjoy square dancing, the Boots in Squares Dance Club will be holding a special dance from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the pavilion in Sunset Park.

“This year we are drawing in a whole bunch of DJs from different areas from L.A., Vegas and San Diego,” explains Schloeder. “We are really trying to develop the disco tent into a little bit more than it has ever been before.”

Admission to the festival is $10 per day and is being held at the Palm Springs Stadium, just east of the corner of Sunrise Way and Barristo Road. For more information about the festival and other Pride activities visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com for a link to the Palm Springs Pride website.