Gay-Friendly Palm Springs, California

Frequently, gays and lesbians visiting and vacationing away from home do not find the experience always comfortable and easy. Many towns, cities and areas of the U.S. are not gay-friendly and gay tolerant. There seems to be an air of disapproval in many places and the gay visitors have the feeling of needing to conform or to pass and not be found out, feeling they need to hide their true orientation. Of course, this is not right, but unfortunately it is still the case. Things are different in Palm Springs, Ca.

Recently, I spoke with two women who had just moved to Palm Springs. They are a lesbian couple who have been together for nearly 30 years. Their home had been in Washington state where, together, they raised 7 children. They didn't share with me what their lives had been like in Washington, but they did mention when they retired, they looked for a more 'gay-tolerant' area in which to settle. It had been their son who suggested they move to Palm Springs, saying he thought it would be a 'safe and accepting' place for them to live as they grew older.

For years, Palm Springs has been known as "The Gay Mecca". Palm Springs is a very pretty desert town snuggled against the magnificent San Jacinto mountain range, and is as picturesque and romantic as a movie set. The sunrise turns the mountains into an exquisite terra cotta blaze, and throughout each day, the light and shadows change the mountains' appearance and color. The skies are always blue and the sun shines brightly almost every day.

In the very early years of Palm Springs, it was known as the place for Hollywood swingers to stash their mistress du jour, a retreat for the stars to dry out and lose weight and as a 'home base' for the stars because the studios required them to live within 100 miles of Los Angeles.

Palm Springs was the glitzy and glamorous world of Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, the eccentric Mogul, Howard Hughes, and, of course, Liberace, Rock Hudson and an entire entourage of 'closeted' gay, lesbian and bisexual actors, actresses and their friends.

During the 1970's, the town went into a tailspin. It became, as history books call it, 'An elephant's graveyard for blue hairs with money'. 1989 saw Sonny Bono (of Sonny and Cher fame) become mayor, and he brought his Hollywood friends with him. Palm Springs began its retro revival in the '90's and, once again, became a hot spot.

Today, Palm Springs has 35 gay resorts, a nearly 50% permanent gay population and its mayor is an openly-gay progressive. One tour book describes Palm Springs as '...Idyllic in that it has something for everyone: the strong gay presence is relaxed, laid back and unselfconscious, with a small town friendliness and camaraderie, and without the cliquishness and self imposed ghettoizing of so many gay meccas'.

The friendly Palm Springs community welcomes gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people of all ages and from all backgrounds and places. Rainbow flags fly proudly!

Imagine this scene:

You're walking down a shady, tree-lined street with your special someone. The spectacular San Jacinto mountains in the distance have taken on an unusually brilliant, flaming orange hue just as the sun slips from view behind the tallest peak. The scene is breathtaking, and you stop and take your loved one's hand to enjoy the awe-inspiring moment together. You may even embrace and exchange a brief kiss before walking on. There's no need to glance around to see if someone is watching. No one cares whether you happen to be two men, two women or a man and a woman enjoying a special moment together. This is the way it should be everywhere, but it truly is the way of life in Palm Springs, California.