We are proud to announce an exciting partnership with Equality California and the national service agency AmeriCorps, to welcome two federally funded members to assist us in a pioneering program focusing on uplifting LGBTQ+ youth. Based in our Coachella space, our two new AmeriCorps members, Dorra Azizi and Sofia St. John have immersed themselves in The Center's efforts to mentor LGBTQ+ youth throughout the Coachella Valley. And we cannot imagine a better fit!

Dorra was raised in Tunisia and came to the U.S. in 2020 just before the pandemic. Her skills and professional background in graphic design ensure our flyers, brochures, and event graphics are top-notch. Sofia moved to the Coachella Valley in 2020 with a Master's degree in children's literature, focusing on LGBTQ+ storytelling. Both Dorra and Sofia help ensure our website blogs reflect the concerns and passions of today's LGBTQ+ youth. 

Together, Dorra and Sofia will be sharing their time between mentoring middle school students, supporting Gender & Sexuality Alliances (GSAs) in our local schools, and helping to provide a safe and supportive environment for all LGBTQ+ young people in the Coachella Valley. It's incredible what these young leaders can accomplish on a part-time schedule.

We are deeply grateful to partner with Equality California in hosting two fantastic and talented AmeriCorps members this year. In coalition, we are building the Safe and Supportive Schools Initiative to support future generations of LGBTQ+ youth. If only we all had that as we grew into ourselves.

To learn more about our new AmeriCorps members and their work with The Center, check out our latest blog here.

Also, due to unprecedented need, our food supplies at the Community Food Bank are at an all-time low. Please check our Community Food Bank needs below and donate if you can help! Thank you.

We have urgent need for the following food items -

• 1 lb. Bag of Rice
• 1 lb. Bag of Beans
• Macaroni & Cheese
• Pasta
• Ramen/Cup of Noodles
• Pasta Sauce (Jar or Can)
• Tomatoes (Can)

• Green Beans (Can)
• Corn (Can)
• Fruit (Can)
• Canned meat (tuna, chicken etc.)
• Cereal
• Crackers
• Dog & Cat Food (Dry & Wet)

Donated items can also be ordered online through Amazon Smile (you can name the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert as your charity of choice), with delivery to - The Center, 1301 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs CA 92262. Or you can simply drive up with your donations, and our

friendly staff and volunteers will gladly unload them for you.

Click here for a full list of donation needs & guidelines

FOOD DISTRIBUTION

Every THURSDAY

5pm - 7pm

• Distribution: Every Thursday 5:00pm to 7:00pm at 610 S. Belardo Rd. in Palm Springs.
• Outdoor food distribution: drive-thru or walk up.
• First come, first served.
• Face mask required for non-vaccinated folks.
• Bring a picture ID (If available).

THE CENTER IS OPEN FOR

IN-PERSON PROGRAMS

Check our website for details and capacity.

For more info

& to register, click here.

This class is non-judgmental, safe, and fun. It's a non-intimidating, slow, basic practice.

For more info

& to register click here.

For more info

& to register click here.

Games, Friends, and Fun is a group for LGBTQ folks interested in playing board games as a way to meet new people.

Longtime friends Martha and Karen run a boarding school for girls. When an unruly child, Mary is punished for lying, she concocts a story that Karen and Martha are having a lesbian relationship...

For more info

& to register click here.

Next available sessions:

10/11, 10/25, 11/08,

11/28, 12/06 (1 hr. sessions)

For appointments call - 760-281-2616

HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program) offers free Medicare Counseling for pre-Medicare, Medicare & Medicare Disabled Beneficiaries.

GET A FREE HEALTH ASSESSMENT FOR COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Contact: Jose Campos on 760-281-2616 [email protected]

If you have an idea for a program you'd like to see or perhaps facilitate,

submit a program proposal here!

117 FOUNDING MEMBERS

Strengthen Our Community Forever

With a gift through your Will or Living Trust, you can strengthen The Center in permanent ways. It’s an easy option - and bequests offer tremendous planning flexibility. You can prioritize loved ones in whatever ways you choose and still create a future gift to support our LGBTQ+ community.  

To learn more about creating a legacy gift for The Center, please contact Deb Pollock at [email protected] or 760-281-2600. All inquiries will be held in strict confidence. 

Equality California is looking for volunteers to help greet, guide, check-in guests, and assist during the evening’s program celebrating their work and honoring some of our community's biggest champions for LGBTQ+ equality including The Center!

Volunteer shifts run from 3:00pm - 6:00pm, with a mandatory training from 1:30pm-2:00pm.

All volunteers will be able to enjoy the event after their shift including food and bar! You can sign-up through our Equality Awards Volunteer Sign Up or for any questions, please email [email protected] with your contact info and availability.

If you know of anyone who would be interested in volunteering at the event please share our information.

See great films and support Planned Parenthood.

The need has never been greater. 

Abortion services are up 25% due to patients from

out of state seeking care in the safe haven of California.

Now more than ever they need your help.

Check out the great films here! Passes as low as $25.

To purchase tickets, click here.

Moderated by Brad Fuhr, the conversation will examine the critical role museums and archives, both queer and mainstream, play in preserving and celebrating the diverse lives and experiences of

LGBTQ+ people.

RSVP here.

Mina Hartong (Caroline’s, Curve Magazine) returns with her first show of the season, Lez Out Loud: Election Edition.

Joined by crowd favorite Lin Phillipi (The Improvables), Rosa Escandon (New York City-based comic, Buzzfeed), and Brittny Roberts (Lesbians in Bed) makes her stand up debut! Register to vote and come out and make some noise! 

Tickets go on sale

October 1, here.

A free two day book festival over Pride weekend featuring over 40 LGBTQ+ authors with books available and signings at the event. More info available here.

There will also be a special celebrity evening event on Saturday November 5, 2022, at the historic Plaza Theater featuring multi Emmy and Golden Globe winning actress, Sharon Gless in conversation with Peter Paige, her former co-star on Queer as Folk. This evening event will be a ticketed fundraising event for the Palm Springs Public Library Foundation. $40 tickets available here.

Come join the desert's hottest lesbians for a Palm Springs Pride Tea Dance filled with women, wine, cocktails, music, and fun.

Mina Hartong hosts the second installment of I’m Speaking: Reflections on Veteran’s Day. Three women veterans will share their experiences of serving and their hopes for the future. Sponsored by The L-Fund, Debra I. Moore Arts Grant. Refreshments by Barbara's Been Baking.

For more info, click here.

DWFB’s first concert of the 2022-2023 season is selling fast! The concert features over 85 musicians at the Richards Center for the Arts. The concert will also feature local vocalists Keisha D, and Charles Herrera, with music from Barry Manilow's "One Voice", Rossano Galante's exciting "San Andreas Landscapes", "Gold Rush Rag", "Bella Beach", and a fun medley from the Mama's and Papa's including "California Dreamin".

Click here to purchase your tickets.

PALS seniors and future seniors. Planning ahead before a health issue requires connections. Come join the conversations.

PALS Circle Via ZOOM

Wednesdays @ 4pm - 5pm

While the PALS Café is on hiatus during July, August, and September, why not try PALS Circle? It's an informal, weekly drop-in for connection, support, and planning ahead before a health issue. There is no agenda, no topic, no facilitator - it's like getting together at grandma's house every week.

Zoom link here.

Registration is OPEN for the

Palm Springs Pride 5K Run & Walk, Saturday, November 5 

through beautiful Old Las Palmas neighborhood.

Visit palmspringspriderun.com for all the deets!

All proceeds go to The Center and the Transgender Health and Wellness Center!

So much gratitude to our amazing friends, the Palm Springs Front Runners & Walkers, for their support, partnership, and impact in our communities.