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Winner Announced in Desert Gay Tourism Guild Poster and T-Shirt Contest.

The  is pleased to announce that Danny Warhole has won its first annual Greater Palm Springs Play Gay, Stay Gay Poster & T-Shirt Contest. 

“The Board voted unanimously for Danny’s design,” said Michael C. Green, DGTG President. “It was, by far, the clearest representation of what we were trying to achieve as we celebrate fifty years of LGBTQ hospitality in the greater Palm Springs area.”

Warhole submitted both a color and a black and white design, and the DGTG Board elected to use both of them; one for the full color poster and the other for the t-shirt design, which will be executed on one color. “Both designs were uniquely ‘Palm Springs’,” said Bill Sanderson, DGTG Vice-President. “And both had particular aspects that made them ideal for our two applications. They are related, but slightly different in their focus. And since the design features a couple, we asked Danny to create one with a male couple and another with a female couple.”

The artist and contest winner, Danny Warhole, was born and raised in the Midwest (Pittsburgh and suburban Detroit), and currently lives in Chicago with his husband, Joe. As a teenager, Danny was awed by Andy Warhol, whose art was his first exposure to homosexuality in popular culture. Today, Danny continues to take inspiration from Warhol and from the figure artwork of others such as John Singer Sargent, Tom of Finland and Mark Beard, and from photographers such as Tom Bianchi. His inspiration for the DGTG winning design comes from his love for Palm Springs, and out of a longing to see more depictions of LGBT persons in Palm Springs’ thriving art scene. For Danny, art isn’t work, it’s play. It’s a good day if his subject feels beautiful, and those who view it feel represented in the world. Danny primarily showcases his work on Instagram: @DannyWarhole

Warhole will receive $500 for his winning design, as well as an all-expense paid trip to Palm Springs, where he and his husband will stay at the popular Santiago Resort.  Other details of the visit are still being planned, but an artist reception and signing will take place at the Palm Springs Cultural Center on Wednesday, April 15th, and continue with events throughout the weekend.

About the Desert Gay Tourism Guild: The Desert Gay Tourism Guild (DGTG) is a collection of LGBTQ owned and operated businesses in greater Palm Springs, California that are dedicated to bringing the local tourism business community together to work cooperatively in marketing and advertising efforts in order to increase tourism for the Greater Palm Springs area. The goal is to promote the Greater Palm Springs area as the premier vacation destination for the LGBT traveler that it is, and let people all over the world know about the destination. Its website, https://www.palmspringsgayinfo.com/, offers a plethora of LGBTQ tourist information about the destination.

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Uncovering The Colorful LGBTQ+ History of Palm Springs

Let’s take a journey through time and explore some of Palm Springs’ colorful LGBTQ+ history. Palm Springs is known for its stunning landscapes, modernist architecture, and a thriving LGBTQ+ scene that has played a significant role in shaping the city’s unique identity. It has long been a welcoming space for the LGBTQ+ community, with notable celebrities like Rock Hudson, Liberace, and Tab Hunter among the many who sought refuge in the desert.

Palm Springs’ LGBTQ+ history is both fascinating and inspiring, providing insight into the progress made in the fight for equal rights and recognition, and the LGBTQ+ History & Archives of the Desert is a treasure trove of invaluable information dedicated to preserving and celebrating the stories, memories, and experiences of the community. The LGBTQ+ History & Archives of the Desert makes this history accessible to the public through its extensive collection of artifacts, photographs, and documents that paint a vivid picture of LGBTQ+ life in the Coachella Valley.

An exhibition by the LGBTQ+ History & Archives of the Desert. Photo courtesy of the LGBTQ+ History & Archives

One of the key events highlighted by the archives is the city’s first Gay Pride Parade in 1986, a significant milestone that showcased the solidarity and resilience of the community. Another pivotal point in Palm Springs’ LGBTQ+ history was the election of Ron Oden, the city’s first openly gay Black mayor, in 2003. This momentous occasion represented a significant step forward in fostering a more inclusive and diverse city.

Today, the LGBTQ+ community continues to thrive in Palm Springs, with numerous events, organizations, and businesses catering to the diverse needs and interests of its members. The annual Palm Springs Pride is a shining example, attracting thousands of visitors from around the world to celebrate love, acceptance, and unity. Just recently, Greater Palm Springs Pride declared Palm Springs a Drag Sanctuary City at the Drag4Drag rally in Palm Springs. The organization is taking a stand against current anti-drag legislation and anti-LGBTQ+ extremism and supporting artistic expression and advocacy, and as a result, the 2023 Pride Week theme will be “Drag Now. Drag Forever.”

What’s more, Palm Springs Mayor Grace Garner and councilmembers Jeffrey Bernstein and Ron deHarte proclaimed April 18 as Drag Celebration Day to honor the city’s vibrant and economically important drag community.

The LGBTQ+ History & Archives of the Desert regularly hosts exhibits, such as “The Power of Story: How Local Media Put Gay Palm Springs on the Map,” as well as events, including a number of “Sharing Our Desert’s LGBTQ+ History” gatherings. Future plans include specialized exhibits, digitalization of various collections, and an LGBTQ+ segment along the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.

Staying at one of Palm Springs’ iconic boutique hotels allows you to delve deeper into the city’s rich LGBTQ+ history while enjoying an authentic piece of Palm Springs history experience yourself. Many of these hotels are also members of the Desert Gay Tourism Guild (DGTG), ensuring that your stay is both welcoming and supportive of the LGBTQ+ community. 

So, whether you’re a history enthusiast, an LGBTQ+ ally, or simply looking for a memorable vacation, Palm Springs and its boutique hotels are sure to exceed your expectations. There’s truly no place like Palm Springs for vacationers seeking a unique and fun-filled getaway, with a perfect blend of sunshine, culture, and history. 

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