JOSHUA TREE, CA — Top entertainers and notable speakers are expected to draw crowds for the family-friendly JOSHUA TREE GAY PRIDE Saturday, June 26 at the Art Queen next to Joshua Tree Saloon. The theme is In The Name of Equality.

Live music will abound. Headlining is Rabbit & Rutherford of Gram Rabbit, the popular indie space-rock players born out of the Mojave. US House of Representatives candidate Pat Meagher, and State Assembly candidate Carl Wood will both be at JOSHUA TREE GAY PRIDE in the Name of Equality.

Saturday’s program begins with the summer JOSHUA TREE GALLERY CRAWL. The following galleries will remain open until 8 pm: The Red Arrow Gallery, True World Gallery, JTAG, Windwalkers, Woods in the Desert Art Gallery & Mt. Fuji General Store.

The ‘equality’ theme will be played out along the way with works relating to the freedoms denied lesbian,gay, bisexual & transgender people.

About 6 pm activities move a few blocks east to the Art Queen, 61855 Hwy. 62, in Joshua Tree. Refreshments, crafts vendors, area social and non-profits will be at the outdoor venue. Plus lots more live music including Quinn & Hood, Shari Elf & The Kittens, My Bear Hands, and Santina Giordano. DJ Darin Rich spins his brand of sophisticated house, samba and space disco between live sets.

JOSHUA TREE GAY PRIDE is organized by Courage Campaign’s Team Morongo Basin, a non-profit, grass roots,advocacy organization.

The event is funded by individual pledges plus A Design Marketing, Desert Daily Guide, Hi-Desert LGBT News, Crossroads Café , No Limits, Strata Tattoo Lab, Hi-Desert Acupuncture Center, Windwalkers and Zono Art, but more individual pledges remain critical to the success of the the effort.

If you can’t give money, please volunteer some time. Go to JoshuaTreeGayPride.com or call Hi-Desert LGBT News at 760-449-4048.