noizemagazine - Index

noizemagazine - noiZe Magazine Issue 59 February 2009 - Index

by Steve Kleine
YEAr-rOunD Fun In thE DESErt Sun
Don’t think Palm Springs only comes alive for White Party. A once-sleepy oasis
known for golf, geriatrics and getting sober has grown up to become one of the
world’s premier gay resorts. Nestled against the dramatic San Jacinto Mountains,
its proximity to L.A. and San Diego (two hours by car) makes it easily accessible.
Dozens of gay guesthouses, restaurants, bars, clubs, and retail shops not only
serve the thousands of gay tourists, but also residents. While the (gay!) mayor of
Palm Springs estimates the gay and lesbian population at 40%, unofficial reports
put the number closer to 60%.
Palm Springs’ gay roots date back to the early 1920s, when Hollywood stars came
here to relax. Some of them ventured across the city line to what is now Cathedral
City. In this unincorporated part of the county were gambling halls, whorehouses
and, yes, underground gay bars. In the 1970s, these bars became legitimate
establishments; however, due to its conservative attitude, it would take more than
a decade for gay bars to be welcomed in Palm Springs.
By the mid-‘80s, a few small hotel complexes in the Warm Sands area of town
were turned into discrete, gay-owned, clothing-optional gay men’s retreats. Soon,
tourists from all over the world discovered Palm Springs’ never-ending sunshine.
Gay-owned businesses and bars opened up nearby on Arenas Street, sometimes
dubbed WeHo East or Castro South. The year-round gay population blossomed
as well. Many were mature men seeking a comfortable environment in which to
retire. At the same time, many guys with HIV/AIDS took advantage of the low
26
Happy Am I! Healthy Am I! holy Am I!