What's it really like?
If San Francisco is where gays go to live, Palm Springs is where they go to play. The entire region is gay-friendly, and some places are gay-exclusive.
Since the 1920s, Palm Springs has been a gay getaway. Hollywood celebrities could remain in the closet yet still party with their significant others. Well-known 50s and 60s matinee idol Rock Hudson and his variety of male partners were regular visitors.
It’s still a mecca for gay travelers, not far from the West Coast city of Los Angeles. Palm Springs is unique as it’s a city in the middle of the desert, but unlike Las Vegas, which is glitzy and glamor-motivated, it’s more understated and a place to unwind.
The world-famous Coachella festival happens in mid-April every year, and that’s only 24 miles from Palm Springs.
Palms Springs is easily accessible by road or plane; the nearest airport is 10 miles from the destination. If you’re driving from Los Angeles, it’s just over 90 minutes.
Because it gets so hot in summer (as high as 108°F), the best time to visit Palm Springs is the reverse of other destinations — winter. Between December and April is the peak season, but if you can brave the heat, you’ll find fewer people and massive discounts on accommodation from May to August.
It’s not only the home of Coachella; the region is well-known for its many music festivals, most are scheduled for the winter months, which also bring on crowds.
Palm Springs has the highest number of gay-only, clothing-optional resorts in the US. Most are located in one area, and many offer day passes, so guests don’t need to stay there. There are so many of these resorts in Palm Springs that the district does not need saunas or bathhouses.
Choosing where to stay comes down to the type of accommodation the traveler is looking for. As everything is close by, one location isn’t necessarily better than another.
As Palm Springs isn’t as expensive as other Californian destinations, visitors can stay additional nights. Properties range from 5-star luxury Ritz Carlton to budget options like Days Inn.
Gays in Palm Springs have the same rights as others in California, the most liberal state in the US. Same-sex activity has been legal since 1976, and since Proposition 8 was kicked out in June 2013, gay marriage has been allowed.
Gay people visit Californian cities as the state has some of the strictest anti-bullying and anti-hate laws in the nation. Visitors to Palm Springs can feel safe and comfortable traveling around the area.
In 2019, Palm Springs was the first city to have an all-LGBTQ council. The 25th mayor, Jeffrey Bernstein, has been married to Dr. Oscar Chamudes for over ten years.
All of Palms Springs is gay, so you could say that it’s an entire gayborhood. However, there are three pockets worth mentioning.
Gay venues are spread across Palm Springs, but there is a cluster of them on East Arenas Rd in the downtown area, which is affectionately known as the gay strip. Two venues, QUADZ and Hunters, have been welcoming gays for over 20 years.
There are over ten clothing-optional resorts in Palm Springs, and most of them are located in one area. It’s 1 mile south of the gay strip between Ramon Rd and E Sunny Dunes Drive.
A satellite city of Palm Springs is Cathedral City. This is where the 5-star resorts are found and is also home to the leather/bears/daddies community, especially The Barracks Bar, right on E Palm Canyon Drive.
Visitors staying in the hotels and resorts in North Palm Springs are only a few minutes walk or drive from the well-known gay venue Toucans Tiki Lounge.
Reducing the rate of STI infections in Palm Springs is an initiative that PS Test takes seriously. It offers free testing and treatment for several STIs, including rapid HIV tests. The clinic is open Monday to Thursday, 10 am to 4 pm, and bookings are essential.
For gay travelers who feel they may need a course of PEP, Dap Health can be contacted Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm. Outside those hours, it’s best to visit a hospital emergency room.
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