JOSHUA TREE—By all accounts this year’s JOSHUA TREE GAY PRIDE marked a moment in Hi Desert history. For the 500 to 1,000 folks who turned out June 26, that ‘ moment’ needed no explanation. Everyone from old timers to clusters of little kids experienced the overwhelming sense of joy and security generated by all who gathered to celebrate their diversity and solidarity.

For this day at least, the voices of our loud-mouthed enemies were muted.

Gay men, lesbians, bi folks, transgenders, many many straight allies, people questioning their orientation and those who aren’t anything at all stood shoulder-to-shoulder In The Name of Equality—the theme of this year’s Pride.

Many people came early to explore Joshua Tree’s trend setting art galleries and quirky shops, all of which extended their hours to accommodate the influx.

Modern day Pied Piper, Darin Rich set the tone of the evening with an upbeat, eclectic mix of feel good music. People came trickling then pouring into the Art Queen Complex.

Throngs gathered at the Fred Drake Memorial Stage to hear from State Assembly candidate Carl Wood, a loyal equality advocate.

“There were so many fun things going on,” said Martha Elizabeth, a grandmother from Landers. “We didn’t want to miss any of it.”

Fans of Gram Rabbit who came to hear Rabbit & Rutherford, found themselves loving the sounds of Quinn & Hood, Kinky, Shari Elf & The Kittens, My Bear Hands, Kurt Schauppner and Santina Giordano. The lineup ran over time, but the audiences didn’t mind. Ted, Patti, Kinky and Kurt displayed a lot of grace and patience waiting to play.

Between sets, the crowd briefly heard more on equality. Keynote speaker, San Diego City Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez spoke passionately about the struggle for marriage, repeal of ’DADT’ and the need to protect LGBT youth from bullies and abuse.

Commissioner Ramirez awarded five locals congressional commendations for their contributions to the community. Recipients included 16-year-old Krista Blevins for starting True Colors GSA group at YVHS, Gary Daigneault for his public support of marriage equality, Lynda Herrington for leading the AWARE club at CMC, Mike Lipsitz for writing and publishing this newsletter, and Andy Woods for his work with the local arts and business community.

U.S. House of Representatives candidate Pat Meagher and wife Trish showed up with a bunch of their nine kids. Meagher blasted Jerry Lewis’ shameful record of opposition to LGBT equality and women’s issues. Meagher is counting on the equality vote to help him get to Washington.

By midnight, the crowd inside the Art Queen Complex was thinning. Tired of circling the block outside the Art Queen, most of the local closet cases had returned home to their families. Most of the cleanup was done by 1:AM and still, about a dozen folks lingered, eager to prolong the good time, hoping it wasn’t over.

Pride after hours!

People piled into vehicles, fed gas and sped toward north Joshua Tree and the SHANGRILA multimedia art installation curated by Drew Dunlap.

Those arriving after midnight found a full out fiesta going with folks from near and far. Almost two dozen artists exhibited works in and around the five acres of silver freight containers and home. DJ Backpack played late night outer space jams long after the full Moon sank low on the horizon.

Many of the works exhibited relate to the juxtapositions and ironies found in this inhospitable part of the Mojave many of us know as paradise.

Gay Pride Media Watch !

Gay Pride events are about coming together in solidarity to celebrate who we are, but they are also about revealing ourselves to our communities … reminding our neighbors that we’re queer and we’re here. For this aspect of Pride we rely on local media to ‘put a face’ on our community.

Whether local media coverage of Gay Pride is to our benefit or detriment depends on many factors, some in our control others not. Probably the most important element in determining whether or not we are portrayed fairly and accurately is the objectivity of the reporter and editor. Do they approach the assignment with a blank canvas to be painted in with their observations, or do they arrive with an agenda that they seek to substantiate?

In it’s coverage of the 1969 Stonewall Riots that gave birth to the gay rights movement, The New York Times described the protestors as “the dregs of society.” Of course today’s Times is a champion of equality.

This year’s Joshua Tree Gay Pride coverage was great. The Basin’s mainstream media, Z107.7 News, Hi-Desert Star & The Desert Trail, all provided excellent pre-Pride coverage.

The Star’s Courtney Vaughn stands out for her insightful post-Pride reporting and her important spin off feature on the True Colors group at YVHS.

Weekly independents, including Desert Valley Star, Desert Local News, and Inland Empire Weekly also provided excellent exposure, as did LGBT media. Some from as far away as San Diego‘s Gay & Lesbian Times. The LGBT media standout was Coachella Valley’s Desert Daily Guide which provided weeks of excellent exposure, choice ad placement, and invaluable encouragement.

- Photos courtesy of Barbara Teran