Palm Springs Gay Pride

Palm Springs, Ca

Story and photos by Pat Krause

The annual Greater Palm Springs Gay Pride weekend was Nov. 7-8, 2009. This festival started on Saturday with entertainment. Tents were set up for dancing and sheltered almost 200 vendors. This Pride Weekend was topped off with a parade on Sunday. It started at Alejo Road and went the full length of Palm Canyon Drive down to Ramon Road.

Thousands of people of all ages came for this spectacular event. Colorful floats are the norm.

Dress was drag, leather, colorful wigs and elaborate costumes and sometimes very little in the way of dress. Palm Springs’ mayor and councilmembers were on hand and rode in specially marked cars. Many local events and businesses were part of the parade.

Some had participants in the parade who handed out candy, pamphlets and beads as they proceeded down the street. Antique cars and organizations with banners led some of the walkers. The parade lasted about and hour.

The Celebrity Grand Marshall this year was Cleve Jones and the Community Grand Marshall was Andy Linsky. Many people walked with banners stating their view on same sex marriage and others walked with partners extolling the amount of years they have been together.

This is always one fun event to see.

For more about the Gay Pride Parade, go to www.PalmSpringsGuides.com.