13 Sep 2016
Organisers of this year's Greater Palm Springs Pride Parade have announced plans to honour the 49 victims of the Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando. The parade, which takes place during Palm Springs Pride Week from the 1 to 6 November, is the largest equal rights march and diversity celebration in the region and will also celebrate the work of award winning director, writer and producer Del Shores and singer and entertainer Nicky Ciampoli.
The massacre victims will be recognised as the 'National Grand Marshals' of the parade and Palm Springs' lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, along with its supporters, will carry signs with the names and pictures of each individual lost in the 12th June shooting. The parade aims not only to pay homage to the victims, but also to others who have lost their lives to anti-LGBT violence.
Palm Springs Pride will also honour Nicky Ciampoli, the homegrown singer-entertainer acclaimed for his performances as the legendary Broadway star Carol Channing. Named as 'Community Grand Marshal' for his tireless work with LGBTQ organisations such as Desert AIDS Project and the Palm Springs Gay Men's Chorus, Nicky Ciampoli is being honoured alongside director Del Shores, who is named as 'Grand Marshal' for the parade. Del Shores has previously been awarded a Key to the City and has a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars for his culturally significant film version of Sordid Lives. Awards will be presented to all Grand Marshals at 'OUT PSP: A Kick Off to Pride' on the 4th November 2016, and the marshals will then participate in the parade.
The city of Palm Springs has a long history of advocacy for the LGBTQ community, with the largest number of LGBTQ resorts in the United States, and Palm Springs Pride Week has been held in the city since 1986. During Pride, the downtown area of the city will become a place for the community to congregate and enjoy a diverse array of artists and entertainers, as well as a number of drinks gardens, food and shopping stands. Visitors to Palm Springs Pride this year will enjoy two days of festival, with a line-up of events to be announced at a later date, as well as the Equality Concert (6pm, 4th November) on Arenas Road.
Mary Jo Ginther, Director of Tourism at the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism says, “We are incredibly proud of our history in supporting LGBTQ rights in the city. Palm Springs Pride is the perfect opportunity to show solidarity with those effected by the Orlando shootings and more widely with anyone who has ever been effected by anti-LGBT violence.”
A detailed calendar of events for Palm Springs Pride will be announced at a later date, with the Palm Springs Pride Parade taking place from 10am on the 6th November 2016.
For more information about Palm Springs Pride visit: https://pspride.org/
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About Palm Springs
One hundred miles east of Los Angeles, Palm Springs is a desert playground with year-round sunshine, blue skies and stunning natural beauty. Nestled beneath California's San Jacinto Mountains, the city is famed for its Hollywood legacy, Native American heritage and huge collection of mid-century modern architecture. The desert oasis boasts a wealth of adventurous hiking trails and historical canyon tours, as well as chic boutiques, world-renowned golf courses and unique experiences, including the chance to stay in the former homes of Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley. For more information, see www.visitpalmsprings.com.
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About Greater Palm Springs Pride
Greater Palm Springs Pride (www.pspride.org) is a non-profit community enhancement organisation founded to promote the public education and awareness of individual rights and civil liberties of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and to promote the history, diversity and future prosperity of the Greater Palm Springs LGBT community. Palm Springs Pride has been a tireless advocate for equality and diversity since the first Coachella Valley Pride event was held in 1986.
The 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation brings together the skills, talents and vision of our diverse community through its programs which include the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast, Pride Honors Awards, the OUT PSP food and drink event, the Pride Parade, Pride Festival, the unique Pet Pride Parade, and the downtown Arenas Rd. Block Party.
For more information about Greater Palm Springs Pride, visit www.pspride.org. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/palmsprings.pride. The 2016 Palm Springs Pride Week is scheduled for November 1-6, 2016.
Photos of Greater Palm Springs Pride Grand Marshals https://www.dropbox.com/sc/rv0u7lgp2eykxpv/AAB65l4s2UgEmpmX2RA4ttZ5a.
Link to list of Orlando shooting victims' names https://www.dropbox.com/s/meccn62djtor50g/Orlando%20victims.docx?dl=0
