Lesbians of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley Outings and Events
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This week, I found myself captivated by clips and episodes of Couples Therapy with Dr. Orna Guralnik on YouTube. The sessions are eye-opening—humane, humorous, and deeply moving. Most couples arrive hoping the therapist will "fix" their partner, but what unfolds is far more complex. We enter relationships carrying narratives shaped long ago, often in childhood, and therapy becomes a space where those stories are brought to the surface. The coping strategies of a child without power, trying to survive family dynamics, are brought subconsciously into adult relationships and wreak havoc.
We enter love seeking recognition, not realizing we are asking to be seen by someone outside the frame of our earliest memories.
"I don’t feel seen."
"I don’t feel valued."
The words echo, uncannily, from both partners on the opposite ends of the couch..
I was surprised when Dr. Orna told one woman, softly but without illusion, that this pain—this longing to be fully known—may be something she will have to learn to live with. For many of us, those times in childhood when we needed to feel seen, to feel safe, and to be valued never came. We feel alone. No one to say: I see you. You matter. So we spend our lives searching for those moments, again and again, through love, work, friendship, even spiritual practice—hoping to fill what was left empty.
But the soul’s hunger may be too vast for any one person or activity to fill. Perhaps many of us are meant to find ways to live with the ache of this longing.
On the days when I feel out of balance, when I am anxious or feeling alone, I go to the woods. I walk among the trees. I watch the birds. Slowly, my identities begin to loosen—the hiker, the daughter, the partner, the seeker—and something simpler arrives. Something truer. The forest doesn’t ask who I am. It knows only that I belong.
Awe comes quietly, like dusk.
The chain of thoughts falls away.
I remember how to breathe.
How to be.
There is science behind this. Annie Murphy Paul writes of the “soft fascination” of natural beauty, how it awakens the brain’s default mode network, inviting us into a spaciousness where memory and meaning begin to dance. Nature asks little of us, yet it gives much—lifting the mood without demanding attention, opening the mind without force. In this loosened state, ideas rise unbidden, emotions untangle, and the self becomes porous again.
Researcher Dacher Keltner calls awe a “reset button” for the human mind. It softens our certainties, our edges. We become more curious, more open. But awe cannot be manufactured—it must be encountered, in something larger than ourselves. Something that reminds us of our smallness.
Civilizations rise and vanish.
Religions shift like tides.
But on the days when I am once again that child—six years old, heart sore, running away because no one seemed to care—
Something older than words.
Something unnamed finds me.
And it lets me sit beside it.
Quiet.
True.
Enough.
Hoping that there are moments of soft fascination in your week
Kim
WORLDS #1 COUPLES THERAPIST Answers The Biggest Questions Couples Ask In Therapy | Dr. Orna Guralnik
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My book Travels Into Discomfort is available on Amazon.
It is a travel adventure in its prose and a journey to the heart in its poetry.
Travels Into Discomfort
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Barbara Carpenter Realtor
Shann Carr
Comedian, Event Producer, Realtor, A Lesbian Concierge In The Desert
Andrea Voras, Gerontologist Dementia Specialist Life Aging Life Care Manager
Constance Clare-Newman, Somatic Work for Pain Relief and Stress Reduction
Corlyce Photography
Chris Ann Kallgren Realtor
Sunny Designs-Website & Graphic Design & Video
Rice Notary
Nancy Minger - Massage Therapist
Poochsitter
Motivation Changes — Life Coaching - Dr Ann Sarah Engel, MSW, PhD
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- Cork Women's Fun Weekend
- AdventureWomen: organizes exceptional women’s only travel groups spots around the globe.
- Trafalgar: offers women-only guided vacations to various destinations, with local female guides and experts.
- Road Scholar: provides educational and cultural trips for women of all ages and interests.
- Adventures in Good Company: creates active and adventurous trips for women who love the outdoors.
- Intrepid Travel’s Women’s Expeditions: explores local cultures and traditions from a female perspective, with female leaders and hosts.
| | Email me at gabriolakim@gmail.com if you want something posted on the bulletin board, or an event promoted. | |
Women’s History
Women, We Should Know
In the rugged Texas Panhandle of the 1800s, Mary Ann “Molly” Goodnight lived a life that defied every frontier cliché.
She wasn’t a gunslinger. She didn’t ride in posses or chase outlaws.
But she changed the West forever—armed only with resilience, compassion, and an iron will.
After marrying famed cattleman Charles Goodnight in 1870, Molly became more than a ranch wife. She was a nurse to wounded cowboys, a spiritual anchor for drifting souls, and the quiet manager of a growing ranching empire while her husband was out on the trail.
But her greatest legacy didn’t wear spurs. It had four legs, hooves—and nearly vanished from the earth.
In 1878, Molly saw something that broke her heart: a group of orphaned buffalo calves, left behind by commercial hunters who had nearly exterminated the species. Refusing to look away, she persuaded Charles to bring them home. She bottle-fed them. Named them. Protected them.
That single act of kindness gave rise to the Goodnight Bison Herd—the last refuge for genetically pure Southern Plains buffalo. Their descendants still roam Caprock Canyons State Park today.
And Molly? She didn’t stop there.
She co-founded Goodnight College in 1898 to bring education to the frontier. She opened her doors to strangers. She shaped not just cattle country—but community.
Statues today show her bottle-feeding a bison calf, a symbol of what she really was:
A woman who turned survival into stewardship.
And wilderness into legacy.
Charles Goodnight may have built an empire.
But Molly made sure there was something worth preserving.
Mary Ann Goodnight: A Texas Woman Who Saved Buffalo From Extinction
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Every Sunday
Locos
Charlies
at 2:30 pm
Learn about Protecting Your Civil Rights with the Ladies of Justice
Michelle Babitz
562-394-7846
michellebabitz.ladiesofjustice.com
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2025 CV Lip Sync Battle: Warm Up Those Jazz Hands and Get Ready to Rumble!
Palm Springs, CA-Comedian Shann Carr and The LGBTQ+ Community Center of the Desert are thrilled to bring you the CV Lip Sync Battle. It's happening Saturday, September 6th at 6:00 PM in the big theatre at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. Get ready for a night of wild performances.
Tickets: $50/VIP $80 http://bit.ly/cvlipsync25
Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Palm Springs Cultural Center – Big Theatre
Address: 2300 E Baristo Road, Palm Springs, CA
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LEA News
2025-08-11 SunLine Transit Agency Presentation on local transportation
Please join LEA for a presentation by SunLine Travel on local transportation services and how to use them. Sunline is our local bus service that provides a variety of transportation services available to our community including their new on-demand service, Sunride.
Join us on Zoom Monday August 11, 2025 at 11 AM
SPECIAL LINK FOR THIS AUGUST MEETING ONLY:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87382164146?pwd=2ILnmsEIJPqiL7MTlkEWWlSWFuD8o3.1
Meeting ID: 873 8216 4146
Passcode: 902781
Shirelle here, your LEA Social Event Coordinator. For the past couple of months, I have posted various events in the Coachella Valley.
If you are interested in seeing movies, just let me know and we can select a day/time that works for all. Mary Pickford has a Senior discount for the matinees. We can also venture out to various locations within the Valley.
If we decide on an event after 5 and you need a ride, please see if you can connect with a LEA member.
I will forward events prior to the beginning of the upcoming month. If you have any suggestions or activities you would like for us to see, don’t hesitate to contact me.
I received a suggestion for the Arts and encourage anyone that hears about any event to post on the Facebook bulletin board, or send an email to leaofcoachellavalley@gmail.com.
LEA - Lesbians Embracing Aging
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REBECCA CLARK WILL BE AT THE ROOST ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 24 FROM 6-9PM. TICKETS AVAILABLE ON ticketbud.com.
SEAN WIGGINS WILL BE PERFORMING AT HUNTERS ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 30 FROM 5-7PM.
GENNINE FRANCIS WILL BE PERFORMING AT THE ROOST ON July 31st and SATURDAYS FROM 6-9PM. RESERVATIONS CAN BE MADE ON LINE AT: ticketbud.com.
LEANNA ROGERS AND MIGUEL WILL BE PERFORMING AT THE V LOUNGE MONDAYS FROM 5-8PM. $5 COVER CHARGE AND LEANNA AND THE FREE AGENTS ON FRIDAYS FROM 6-8PM AT HYATT, PALM SPRINGS.
| MARISA CORVO PERFORMS AT THE ROOST ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 31; WEDNESDAY, JULY 30; AUGUST 6, 20 AT 6:30PM. TICKETS AT ticketbud.com. | | |
Rainbow Alliance of the Spiritual Center is Proud to announce.** Boots on the Ground ** **Spiritual Center of Palm Desert! ** Save the date: Oct. 17th, 6 PM - 10 PM Dinner, Dancing, Libations, Raffle Prizes, and Endless Fun!
Put on your favorite boots and get ready to kick up your heels for an evening filled with joy, laughter, and community spirit. Don't miss out—this is sure to sell out! Grab your friends and dance the night away to the Live Music of the Awesome “ Pulp Vixen Band” Call to purchase your reserved seats now!
760-346-4649
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California Indian Nations College is thrilled to announce Jim Ruel (Bay Mills Band of Ojibwe) as the featured Native Comedian for our upcoming Fire Gala fundraising event. Jim Ruel, acclaimed for his sharp wit and cultural insight, gained national recognition
through his appearance on Showtime’s “Goin’ Native: the American Indian Comedy Slam,” leaving a lasting impact on audiences across Indian Country. Join us for a meaningful evening where laughter uplifts and community comes together. Purchasing tickets includes
entertainment, dinner, and silent auction. All proceeds go towards higher learning at CINC.
3rd Annual Fire Gala Tickets, Fri, Sep 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite
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Guess who's coming to dinner? No, Sydney Poitier is no longer with us, but the legendary Holly Near is very much alive—and she’s coming to the Sunset Music & Comedy Festival! Get ready for a night of incredible music, powerful performances, and a celebration you won’t forget!
JUST ADDED! The iconic Holly Near will join us for a very special tribute to Women’s Music—the powerful genre born from the feminist and LGBTQ+ movements of the ’70s that gave voice to women’s stories, struggles, and strength. Holly, a trailblazer in this movement, helped shape a sound that empowered generations and created space for women, especially queer women, to be heard and celebrated.
Grab your discounted Two-Day Groove Pass now and join us for an unforgettable celebration of music, community, and liberation. Let’s groove, uplift, and show our Pride together! Tickets here! https://onthestage.tickets/sbj-presents.../subscriptions...
Sunset Music & Education Foundation - Subscriptions
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PALM SPRINGS WOMEN'S JAZZ FESTIVAL
Dedicated to Empowering the Female Presence in the Arts
PRESENTS
BLUES AT THE WOODSTOCK
SEPTEMBER 19-20, 2025 - PALM SPRINGS, CA
Featuring
RUTHIE FOSTER – MARTHA REDBONE
BETTE SMITH – HABAKA
DR. GAIL JHONSON and the BLUES ALL-STARS
Pioneering women artists shaping the sound of blues music!
Women, who showcased empowerment, played a crucial role in the early development and popularization of blues music; connecting the blues to the female voice and power. In essence, the history of women in blues is a story of resilience, innovation, and cultural impact. We highlight female blues artists who helped shaped the blues; masterly singers and musicians who don’t always receive the recognition they deserve. These pioneering artists are shaping the sound of blues music, shaping vocal styles, breaking barriers, and paving the way for future generations of female musicians.
HOME | Palm Springs Women's Jazz Festival | Palm Springs
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Worried about the legality of gay marriage and thinking you should get married just in case the laws change and having a problem booking an appointment at the City Clerk's office?
Fera Mostow
I am a minister and will do marriages for any gay couple that wants to get married before the inauguration free of charge or until Trump does something that eliminates gay marriage.
All they have to do is email me and they can come here - Sun City Shadow Hills, and I'll do the ceremony.
Contact Fera at fmostow@gmail.com
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Sunset Music & Comedy Festival - PRIDE and VETERAN'S DAY WEEKEND
November 6-9, 2025
One Epic Weekend: PS Pride, Veterans Day & Nonstop Music Collide in Palm Springs!
Check this out—Palm Springs Pride Fest, usually a first-week-of-November event, is shaking things up and landing right on our scheduled Veterans Day Weekend. Coincidence? Maybe. Destiny? Absolutely. We’re leaning all the way in and seizing the moment to celebrate it all! Because what do you get when you mix Pride with a concert steeped in music education? Pure magic—a sonic explosion of culture,
community, and pure, unfiltered fun!
When Pride energy meets the power of live music, the result is nothing short of electrifying. Imagine a weekend where every note tells a story, every
performance honors a legacy, and every beat fuels both celebration and connection. We’re bringing together iconic artists, rising stars, and unexpected collaborations
to entertain, educate, and inspire.
Whether you're here for the music, the knowledge,the movement, or just to dance under the desert sky, this Pride week is about to make history—and you’ll want to be part of it!
Exclusive Access! 🎟️ Pre-Sale Tickets on sale now for our newsletter subscribers!
Be the first to grab the best seats in the house—sign up for our newsletter to secure your spot before tickets go on sale to the public on April 6th
SWEET BABY J'AI PRESENTS | Sunset Music | Palm Springs, CA
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Easy/Moderate/Difficult Hikes
Hikes will return in the Fall
Have a great summer
New hikers must register and sign a waiver.
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2025 Walks - Will Return in the Fall
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Movie Meetup
Wednesday - Mary Pickford Theater
No Movie this week - It's hard to find a good movie these days in the theater
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Book and Movie Salon/Club -
2024 Schedule 2nd Mondays 5:30 pm
For the past four years, BAM SALON has been so much fun! You have made me laugh and inspired me to examine different perspectives. Our time together was a lifesaver during Covid and I want to thank you for your thoughtful comments, stories, and humor which created so many interesting and engaging discussions! I have looked forward to our monthly get-togethers but the time has come for me to move in a different direction. Specifically, I am going to focus on some things I've started here in Lincoln. What I will miss most is you! I will no longer be a part of the group but will take with me fantastic memories.
Flynn and I have talked and she also wants to thank all of you for being involved in BAM. If someone is interested in continuing or leading the group, just let me know. I can give you email addresses and information.
Thanks again!
Irma
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PALS’ no-cost educational seminars provide up-to-date information, resources and opportunities to engage in essential planning ahead conversations before a major health or life-altering event occurs. For info about upcoming PALS Seminars with in-person and zoom registration links click here.
9:30 to 11 am. 3rd Saturday
September thru June
| | PALS Death Cafe is a group-led open conversation about mortality that’s not a counseling or bereavement group. There’s no specified topics or designated outcomes. Just bring your questions about any aspect of death and dying that interests you. RSVP for the next PALS Death Cafe here. | | |
PALS Circle is an hour of enjoyable connection, support and friendship among LGBTQ+ seniors and allies. There's no agenda, no formal topic — just fun conversation and camaraderie each Monday from 6:00 to 7:00 PM on ZOOM. Sign up to receive PALS Circle announcements here.
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Lesbians Embracing Aging
Lesbians Embracing Aging: An Introduction
The mission of LEA is to encourage and assist LBTQIA women with healthy aging by creating
support networks of socialization, information, and healthcare.
We are forming a hub of LBTQIA Women and allies willing to help one another navigate the
changes and challenges of aging and help make the myriad of available services more accessible.
Please join us for our next meeting as we make progress toward our goals.
If you would like more information, be on our email list or join us for our next meeting TBA Please send an email to
LEAofCoachellaValley@gmail.com
The LEA women:
Kelly Watson, Lauren Nile, Barbara Tyler, Rita Gonzales, Kate Ullman, Ronni Sanlo
Exciting News! Join Our New LEA Facebook Group
We’re thrilled to introduce a new way for LEA members to connect and support one another—our brand-new Facebook group, The LEA Bulletin Board!
Click the link below to access the page, then hit the blue “Join Group”button. You’ll be asked to answer three quick questions, and an administrator will approve your request.
This is a private group—only LEA members can see discussions. Once you’re in, be sure to adjust your notification settings by clicking on the gray “Joined” button and selecting “Manage Notifications.” We recommend choosing “All Posts” so you don’t miss out!
What’s This Group For?
Connection & Conversation – A space for us to chat about topics related to aging (and embracing it!).
Support & Community – A place to lend a helping hand and uplift each other when needed.
We’d love for you to introduce yourself, join the conversation, and most importantly—have fun! See you there!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1842826446542272
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Evening Chat Group 5:00pm to 6:30 pm Every Wednesday
LIDS (Lesbians In The Desert) Wednesday evenings, join us for a lively Zoom chat, catch up with friends, and make new ones! Open to Lesbians in and out of the Coachella Valley — California — all 50 States — and beyond. Please email NurseJaynes@yahoo.com to receive the invite with Zoom meeting ID & Passcode. Bring a friend! Hosted by Cindy T, Crickett, & Jayne
Hosted by Crickett and Cindy
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1st and 3rd Fridays are Wine Down Friday’s with the Coachella Valley Ladies of Justice and a Guest Speaker at theV-Lounge 5PM-6:30P. 600 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs.
Network, share info about your business/upcoming event or just drop-by to unwind and make new friends!
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Gay Country Western Dancing - Saturday Nights
Join the Dance Ranch for a great night of country western dancing, including two-step, waltz, shadow, East and West Coast swing, and line dances.
It all happens at Step By Step
933 Crossley Road, Palm Springs.
Admission is $5
Lesson is at 7pm. Dancing from 7:30-9:30pm
Dance Ranch Palm Springs is a country western dance group serving the LGBTQ+ community and its friends. Country dancers of all levels are welcome!
Learn more about Dance Ranch and find out what they’re teaching at danceranchps.org.
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Our history will NOT be hidden!
Not with us two old lesbians and our awesome guests on guard! Our free podcast LGBTQ History Alive! with Ronni and Kelly begins
January 1, 2024.
Meet the Two Old Lesbians!
Ronni Sanlo, Ed.D. is a retired UCLA professor and LGBTQ Center director, founder of the award-winning Lavender Graduation, and editor of the four volume This Day in LGBTQ History. Kelly Watson, Ph.D, DDS, is a retired recovery center director and business professional, and still and always involved with 12 step recovery.
2024 Schedule - Check it Out!
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