|
Lesbians of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley
Every Week is Women's Week in Palm Springs
Subscribe to Newsletter
This newsletter may be cut short by your email program. click here to. View as Webpage
| |
| |
Starving for Mystery
Sometimes I feel flat. The words won’t come. I sit down to write and find myself describing the world rather than feeling it. Everything seems too ordinary, too familiar. The imagination has gone quiet.
When that happens, I turn to writers like Rudolfo Anaya. In Bless Me, Ultima, an owl keeps watch outside the window and no one finds it strange. The boundaries between the living and the dead are not firmly drawn, and mysteries do not demand an explanation. The old woman Ultima knows things that cannot be learned from books. I read and my body comes to life.
Emily Carr takes me somewhere similar. She looks at the earth “crowded with growth,” each seed “knowing what to do,” and says plainly that “the soul of the world is the soul of the forest.”
These writers do not simply write about mystery. They inhabit it. They are not standing outside the world, describing its wonders. They are inside it, feeling its pulse.
We live in a culture that trusts what it can prove. And still we fall in love. We grieve. We dream of people who have been dead for decades. We walk into a place and feel something we cannot name. We sense the presence of someone we have loved, although there is no one there.
I believe something of them remains in us. It lies quiet until a memory, a photograph, or a familiar place awakens it.
Facebook brings me a memory, a photo: my sister and me, thigh-deep in the water on the Baja, feeling for clams with our feet. I feel the joy of that day, our laughter in the waves. And I feel the sorrow of knowing we will not have those days again.
And then she is with me again.
Not as a ghost sitting beside me, but as something felt. A presence. A warmth. A whisper from a part of myself that has never stopped loving her.
I find that same sense of mystery when I walk in the desert before dawn. The mountains are still dark, their shapes barely separated from the sky. A hawk circles overhead. The rocks hold the heat of yesterday’s sun. I look at a formation of rocks and there is a fleeting glimpse of a woman. I feel the sudden attention of a hawk. Something pulls my attention down and to left, and my eyes catch the gaze of a bighorn standing quiet.
I know about pattern recognition. I know our brains are wonderfully inventive at finding faces in stones and meaning in coincidence.
But must that knowledge always have the last word? We flatten the world when we deny that many things may exist beyond our five senses. Most of us have felt a quickening somewhere beneath thought, in that mysterious place where the body knows something before the mind can give it a name.
Something stirs. The breath deepens without invitation. The muscles soften, the shoulders release their burden, and an old heaviness begins to loosen its grip. There is a warmth beneath the ribs, a delicate trembling in the chest, as though something long dormant is waking. The senses grow tender and exquisitely alert. Light seems to enter the body rather than merely fall upon it. The skin feels the movement of air. Even silence has a pulse.
An inexplicable tenderness rises, carrying with it a strange longing, almost grief, almost joy. The heart opens to something immense and familiar, something we have known all our lives but forgotten how to recognize. The boundaries between ourselves and the living world grow thin. We are no longer standing apart, observing. We are inside the mystery, breathing with it.
And then comes that extraordinary feeling of being more fully alive. Not excitement exactly, but an awakening. A quiet, almost unbearable sweetness. The sense that something ancient has brushed against us, awakening a memory older than language.
We have gained extraordinary knowledge through science. I would not trade that away. But knowledge and wonder need not be enemies. Life is large enough for both. I want both, I need both.
The desert stirs in the dawn. Somewhere above me, that hawk is riding the first warm currents of air. The stones are beginning to take on color.
Nothing has changed. Except that I am listening again.
Kim
AI and Violence Against Women The Old Machinery of Disbelief
Who Is Missing from AI's answers—and Why?
AI: Friend, Foe or Mirror? Essay
| |
|
REFLECTIONS
The Place That Misses You
Trace the trunk of the tree that gives you joy.
Let your fingertips learn its roughness and smoothness,
its curves and ridges, its knots and hollows.
Watch the afternoon sun move through the leaves
and the snow-covered mountains turn pink at dawn.
Remember the smell of earth,
of hot sand and sun-warmed wood,
of jasmine opening to the morning.
Learn the mockingbird’s song at daybreak
and the raucous complaints of crows
demanding your attention as you walk.
Delight in the first purple vetch of spring.
Smile when new buds appear
among the tangled pink and purple morning glories.
Sigh over the hibiscus,
bursting into wildness for one brief day of glory.
Love this place.
Know this place.
Let it take root beneath your skin.
And when you travel and return,
know that this place missed you too.
Kim
| |
THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS
⚖️ Coachella Valley Ladies of Justice — Regular Weekly Meeting
- When: Every Sunday | 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
- Where: Mountain View Grill (28555 Landau Blvd, Cathedral City, CA)
📅 Upcoming Events
🥾 Seasonal Hikes
-
Start Date: Saturday, October 17 (weather permitting)
-
Schedule: Tuesdays & Saturdays (Regular Hikes) | Fridays & Mondays (Slower, beginner-friendly hikes)
-
Details: Be sure to sign up for email notifications to receive location drops and weekly trail updates.
🚶♀️ Weekly Morning Walks
-
Start Date: Wednesday, October 21 | 8:00 AM
-
Location: Prescott Preserve
-
Details: Start your morning right with a casual community walk!
🎭 Feature Events & Socials
🌸 Bloom Day 2026: World Menopause Day Gathering
-
When: Sunday, October 18 | 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
-
Where: Pavilion at Sunrise Park, Palm Springs
-
Highlights: A lively celebration featuring guest speakers, educational workshops, and community wellness resources.
🌮 Lesbian & Queer Women's Social
-
When: Wednesday, October 21 | 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
-
Where: Low Desert Modern Mexican (1775 E. Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA)
-
Host: The Center
🎤 Comedy Night: Mina Hartong Live!
-
When: Saturday, October 24
-
Where: The Roost
-
Featuring: Mina Hartong joined by special guest comedians Mimi Gonzalez and Renée Santos!
-
Tickets: Secure your seats at ticketbud.com
🎬 Reel Women’s Film Festival: Women Who Refused to Stay in Their Lane
-
When: Sunday, October 25 | 12:30 PM – 6:00 PM
-
Where: Palm Springs Cultural Center
-
Details: An inspiring day of film benefiting Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest.
-
Passes: Get your passes online at planned.org/rwff
🎬 Movie Meetup Update
-
Status: Our next meetup date is currently TBA. Stay tuned for updates in next week's email!
🎷 Live Music & Entertainment at Gertie’s
Gertie's Eatery & Bar is doubling the fun for six weeks, through the fall!
- Schedule: Live entertainment 4 nights a week (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday).
- Highlights: Live music, non-stop vibes, great food, and iconic drinks.
- Note: Be sure to book early if you want to get out on the dance floor!
- Gertie’s Salon & Bar | Cocktail Bar in Palm Springs
Review of Doris K Reed's - A Woman and Her Poetry Oct 4th
| | |
WOMEN WHO LIFTED THE BAR
Taylor Swift and the Power of One Dollar
You don't have to be a Taylor Swift fan to admire what she did in a Denver courtroom in 2017. No glitter, no backup dancers, no carefully rehearsed performance. Just a young woman refusing to be bullied, intimidated, or made responsible for a man's behavior.
In 2013, radio DJ David Mueller reached beneath Swift's skirt and grabbed her backside during a backstage meet-and-greet. Swift reported the incident privately. Mueller lost his job and subsequently sued her, claiming the accusation had destroyed his career.
There it was, that old familiar machinery. A woman speaks about being violated, and suddenly the conversation becomes about the damage done to the man's future.
Swift wasn't having it.
She countersued for one dollar. Not a million. Not a thousand. One dollar. When questioned about Mueller losing his job, she refused to accept responsibility for the consequences of his actions.
Her testimony was direct, sharp, and refreshingly free of the apologies women are so often expected to offer when describing their own mistreatment.
The jury found Mueller liable for assault and battery and awarded Swift her symbolic dollar.
Most women don't have Swift's fame or resources. Many risk their jobs, reputations, and financial security simply by speaking up. But Swift used her considerable power to make a point that reached far beyond the courtroom.
She refused to be shamed. She stood her ground. And she reminded women everywhere that **we are not responsible for protecting men from the consequences of their own actions.**
Sometimes a dollar is worth far more than a million.
| | |
New Art Class: Everything Drawing is a weekly no-grade, no judgement class developing the skills, techniques and knowledge of the foundation of all art, drawing. Each class starts with a presentation of the day's focus then moving to the day's individual skill practice. A broad variety of drawing media will be used. All skill levels are welcomed.
This ongoing class meets on Wednesdays, 1 to 4. Start when you are ready or stop by for a visit.
Fee: $30 per class or $100 for 4
Contact me, Cathy at 707-363-2698 to register and receive the supply list.
More Information
| | | |
Registration for the 2026 Palm Springs Pride 5K Run & Walk is approaching capacity.
Palm Springs Front Runners and Walkers are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support the Palm Springs Pride 5K Run & Walk has received. Participation has grown steadily over the years, and this year's response has exceeded our expectations.
The participant limit was established in collaboration with local agencies to support public safety, maintain a high-quality participant experience, and support the responsible use of community resources; registration is limited to 1,200 participants. Once capacity is reached, registration will close and no additional entries will be accepted.
Palm Springs Pride 5k Run & Walk
This is a great organization, and their grant covers my costs for the newsletter, zoom and the website. If you are not a walker or runner, please consider volunteering for this event. They need volunteers to keep the runners and walkers on route, give out water etc. It's a fun day for everyone.
| |
Smooth. Soulful. Sweet. Great music, two bars, a dance floor and a room full of grown folks ready to groove. Now what kind of trouble can we get into? Good trouble! Join us Saturday, November 14 we turn up the heat at Hotel Zoso with SATIN & SOUL — Smooth. Soulful. Sexy. Smooth jazz powerhouse Pamela Williams, “The Saxtress,” leads the charge, with Sweet Baby J’ai bringing the spoken word and musical inspiration.
And fresh off the presses: Laurie Morvan joins the Women in Jazz All-Stars! This blues-rock powerhouse, six-string slinger and certified bad mamma jamma comes out slingin’ that guitar—the kind of player who can make it cry, growl and testify, sometimes all in the same
Hit the dance floor. Grab a drink. Feel the groove. You have my personal guarantee you'll have a great time.
Benefiting the Sunset Music & Education Foundation!
Click Here: TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
Satin & Soul Concert - SBJ Shoutout
| | |
October 21st – 5:30-7:00pm
Low Desert Modern Mexican
1775 E. Palm Canyon Dr
Palm Springs 92264
| |
Lesbian & Queer Women’s Tea Dance (The Center)
When: Sunday November 1
Where: Nashville Kitchen & Bar
262 S Palm Canyon Dr.\PS,VA 92262
| | |
AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH CRIS WILLIAMSON
**Dinner • Music • Stories • Celebration**
Join us for a very special evening honoring a voice that changed a movement—legendary songwriter, trailblazer, and icon **Cris Williamson**.
Enjoy an intimate dinner and performance as Cris shares her music and stories, and we celebrate five remarkable decades of inspiring generations.
**Sunday, November 15** **Living Out Palm Springs**
**Seating is extremely limited. Reserve early.**
**SAVE THE DATE: Tickets go on sale September 15.**
A portion of the proceeds will benefit the **Sunset Music & Education Foundation**.
Sunset Music and Education Foundation
| | |
Reel Women’s Film Festival Benefiting Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest
Celebrates 13th Year with Powerful Stories
Palm Springs, CA – Planned Parenthood’s 13th annual Reel Women’s Film Festival takes place on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at the Palm Springs Cultural Center.
The festival, chaired by Eileen Stern and the dedicated Festival Committee, has become a testament to the power of storytelling and its ability to inform and move people toward empathy and action. Welcome | Reel Women's Film Festival
| |
COMMUNITY CALENDAR SNAPSHOT
🎶 Please check venues for updates or possible changes.
Entertainment
WEEKLY EVENTS
Gennine Francis
Saturdays at 6:00 PM Venue: The Roost Tickets: ticketbud.com
Sundays from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Venue: Gertie's Salon and Bar (at Alice B's Restaurant) Details: Reservations suggested.
Leanna Rogers (with Miguel)
Mondays from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM Venue: The V Lounge Details: $7.50 cover charge.
Thursdays from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Venue: Hyatt Hoodoo Lounge (Palm Springs)
Wednesdays: October 14 & October 28 from 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM Venue: Babaloo's
Keisha D'
Sunday, October 18 at 5:00 PM Venue: The Roost Tickets: ticketbud.com
Thursday, October 29 at 6:00 PM Venue: The Roost Tickets: ticketbud.com
Marisa Corvo
Thursdays from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM (including Oct 15 & Oct 22) Venue: Gertie's Salon and Bar
Wednesdays: Oct 14, Oct 28, Nov 11, Nov 25, Dec 9, Dec 23 at 6:30 PM Venue: The Roost Tickets: ticketbud.com
🪩 Social
Mahjong (American) Thursdays & Fridays 1pm to 3:30pm
Weekly Chat Group - Zoom - Thursdays 5PM
🌿 Outdoors
Bird Walks – 2nd & 4th Thursdays | Prescott Preserve
Easy/Moderate/Difficult Hikes – Tuesdays & Saturdays
Easy Walk - Wednesday Starting Wed 21st at Prescott Preserve
💬 Community & Support
PALS Seminars & Death Café
Evening Chat Group – Thursdays 5 PM
BAM Book & Movie Club – Monthly
Scroll down to COMMUNITY CALENDAR DETAILS for more information on these events
| |
Upcoming Events & Schedule
Kitchen Table Meetup
-
Date & Time: Thursday, October 22 | 2:30 PM
-
Location: Member's home in Palm Springs (Address provided upon RSVP)
-
RSVP: Space is limited. Please confirm your spot by emailing leaofcoachellavalley@gmail.com.
| |
|
Bloom Day 2026 is a lively World Menopause Day gathering built around women’s health, strength and connection.
Move through four hands-on zones focused on nourishment, restoration, strength and community.
A fireside conversation and anonymous Hot Seat bring real questions about menopause into the open.
The afternoon is free, indoors and designed to remind women they do not have to navigate midlife alone.
Event information
- Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026
- Time: 3:00–7:00 PM
- Location: The Pavilion at Sunrise Park, 401 S. Pavilion Way, Palm Springs
- Admission: Free; RSVP required
- Capacity: Limited to 350
- Virtual option: Livestream from 3:30–4:45 PM Pacific, with 72-hour replay access
- Host: Shanae Smith, founder of the Midlife Bloom Method
- Details and registration: Bloom Day 2026
| |
YACHT ROCK HALLOWEEN / LADIES PARTY!
Oct 28th
Low Desert
5 to 9PM
| |
Oct 24th
Big laughs. Big heart. Zero apologies. After Filming her debut comedy special Miss Personality (coming to streaming from Comedy Dynamics this year) in front of two sold out audiences in Palm Springs, Mina Hartong (Olivia Travel, Curve Magazine, The New York Times) is coming home to her beloved desert audience with new material, new songs and special guest comics. A sapphic night to remember that wraps up before lesbian bedtime. Don't forget your toe separators! Fall in love. Laugh a lot. Repeat
Mina is joined by comedians Mimi Gonzalez and Renée Santos..
Ticket link
ticketbud.com
| |
Nov 8th at the Plaza
Fortune Feimster is a critically acclaimed comedian, actress, and host known for her upbeat style, unique comedic perspective, and infectious energy. She invites audiences into her world where laughter and love reign supreme.
She recently wrapped production on the Netflix film The Fifth Wheel, starring alongside Kim Kardashian, Nikki Glaser, and Brenda Song, and directed by Eva Longoria. She will next be seen opposite Will Ferrell in Hawk, Netflix’s upcoming golf comedy series premiering in July 2026, and is currently on her national “Takin’ Care of Biscuits” tour. Most recently, she voiced “Nibbles” in Disney’s Oscar-nominated animated hit Zootopia 2, which grossed $1.8 billion worldwide.
FORTUNE FEIMSTER: TAKIN' CARE OF BISCUITS (ENCORE) | The Plaza Theatre
| |
Jane Lynch's A Swingin' Little Christmas Featuring Kate Flannery & Tim Davis with The Tony Guerrero Quintet - Dec 15th
Classic holiday tunes come to life as Jane Lynch, Kate Flannery, Tim Davis, and the Tony Guerrero Quintet take the stage in "A Swingin' Little Christmas.” This hilarious and heartwarming holiday extravaganza promises to be a delightful blend of comedy and music, ensuring a ‘swingin’ good time. The group has brought their joyful banter to audiences across the country, with their holiday album “A Swingin’ Little Christmas” hitting Billboard’s Top 10 Adult Contemporary chart. Hollywood Digest calls it “captivating,” the comedy “spectacular” and the vibe “absolutely precious.”
Jane Lynch's A Swingin' Little Christmas | The Plaza Theatre
| |
Samantha Bee wants to talk about menopause. She actually doesn’t want to, but she must. In How To Survive Menopause, Bee comically shares everything she has learned through the process in an intimate one-woman show, because everyone needs that best friend who will keep it real for them. Like, really real. This is a show for anyone who is going through it, has gone through it, will be going through it, or knows someone currently going through it…basically the entire population
Samantha Bee | The Plaza Theatre
|
BAD DOG
February 26 - March 13, 2027 at The Bent
written and directed by Jennifer Hoppe-House
After years of being clean and sober, Molly Drexler drives her Prius through the house, leaving a sedan-sized hole in the wall that serves as a metaphor for what can no longer be ignored. When her beleaguered wife gets her home from the hospital, Molly’s far-flung and riotous family are descending for an intervention, and as the events of her blackout emerge, her family tries to cope with her wreckage, and in the process, runs headlong into their own. This is BAD DOG. The Bent is proud to present the west coast premiere of this powerful story wrapped in barbed wire.
Buy Tickets
Jennifer Hoppe – writer and producer jennifer hoppe
| |
🏓 PICKLEBALL TIPS:
🏆 PICKLEBALL DRILLS AND TOURNAMENTS:
| | COMMUNITY EVENTS DETAIL & SIGNUPS | | |
Mahjong (American)
1PM to 3:30pm Thursdays
In a private home for summer.
Mahjong Signup
| | |
Every Sunday
Mountain View Grill
28555 Landau Blvd
Cathedral City, 92234
2:00-3:30
| |
BAM (Book & Movie) Discussion Group
We are an online book and movie club that has been gathering via Zoom/online since 2020. Every member gets the chance to pick a book or movie and lead the discussion for their selection!
Upcoming Schedule
- Summer Break: August (No meeting)
- Resuming: Monday, September 21, 2026 | 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM PT
- Meetings: We meet regularly on the 3rd Monday of each month.
Upcoming Selections
-
September 21: So Gay For You: Friendship, Found Family and the Show that Started it All by Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey
-
October 19: The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
| | |
Easy/Moderate/Difficult Hikes
On Hold for Summer, Starting again in October
Hikes are Tuesdays and Saturdays, weather permitting..
Sign up below to receive hiking information
New hikers must register and sign a waiver.
Sign up below for email notifications.
With the heat now, hikes are pretty much over for the season
https://form.jotform.com/252917689579178
| | |
2026 Walks
On Hold for Summer, Starting again in October
| |
|
Evening Chat Group 5pm to 6:30pm PST Every Thursday
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 JayneStrelecki@gmail.com to receive the weekly invite & reminder with Zoom meeting ID and Passcode. Bring a friend! Hosted by Cindy T and Jayne!
| | |
Entertainment - This Week's Recommendation
The Diplomat Season 4 on Netflix. If you think American politics has become a circus, The Diplomat is back to remind us that things could always get worse, especially when nuclear weapons, fragile alliances, and oversized egos are involved.
Keri Russell returns as Kate Wyler, the brilliant, sharp-tongued American ambassador who would rather solve an international crisis than brush her hair. Her marriage to the charming, infuriating Hal (Rufus Sewell) remains a diplomatic disaster all its own. Allison Janney is magnificent as President Grace Penn, a woman whose intelligence, ambition, and appetite for power make her both fascinating and terrifying.
Kim
| |
Dr. Karyl Ketchum, the Director of The L-Fund at The Center, has open office hours every Wednesday and Friday from 11:30 to 1:00 at The LGBTQ Center. (Because the habits of old professors die hard! 🤓) Whether you'd like to learn more about The L-Fund, ask a question, share an idea, borrow a book, or simply introduce yourself, come by and say hello! The L-Fund is on the second floor of The Palm Springs LGBTQ Center, 1301 North Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, 92262. Just follow The L-Fund signs! You can also call or email: karyl@thecentercv.org or 760.416.7790. Learn more about The L-Fund’s work here.
| | |
🎬 CASTING CALL: LOCAL PICKLEBALL SHORT FILM
🌍 AN INVITATION FROM SUNNIVA SORBY: TWO EXPEDITIONS
"Fellow Explorers and Friends, I have two wonderful invitations for you—one for this upcoming fall, and one for next year. Whether you walk 800 kilometers or 800 meters, I want you walking with us. See you out there!"
— Sunniva x
| | |
Lesbian Owned Business
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
B's Table
Local Lesbian Authors
Animal Samaritans - Pets for Adoption Fur babies needing family at Animal Samaritans
Shelter — Animal Samaritans
Special Thanks to Frontrunners for their ongoing support of LPSCV
Palm Springs Front Runners & Walkers is a running and walking club for members and friends of the LGBTQ+ community in the Coachella Valley. We are a local chapter of International Front Runners, an informal network of LGBTQ+ running groups around the world. Membership is open to everyone without regard to ability, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation. Join for daily runs and walks! Palm Springs Front Runners & Walkers - Home
| | PALS - Planning Ahead for LGBTQ Seniors | | |
PALS no-cost seminars provide up-to-date info and resources to own your
future, engage in essential conversations and take action because it’s never too soon to start planning ahea
For program updates and to sign up for upcoming PALS Seminars, Death Cafes and PALS Circles, please visit palsinthedesert.com.
| | |
PALS Death Cafe at 2 pm on the 1st Thurs each month provides a group
led and safe space to have open conversations about death and dying without taboo.
For program updates and to sign up for upcoming PALS Seminars, Death Cafes and PALS Circles, please visit palsinthedesert.com.
| | |
.PALS CIRCLE for an hour of connection, support and friendship among
LGBTQ+ seniors and allies. No formal topic — just fun conversation and
camaraderie each Monday from 6:00 to 7:00 PM on ZOOM.
For program updates and to sign up for upcoming PALS Seminars, Death Cafes and PALS Circles, please visit palsinthedesert.com.
| | |
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.
| | | | |
