Stonewall - Annual Community Picnic
Desert Stonewall Democrats
Annual Community Picnic & Candidate Forum
Join us for an afternoon of community, conversation, and sunshine at our Annual Community Picnic! This is our premier gathering for members, friends, and supporters to connect in a relaxed, family-friendly environment.
Event Highlights:
Mix & Mingle: Enjoy a classic picnic atmosphere at beautiful Ruth Hardy Park with food, music, and games.
12:30 PM Candidate Forum: Meet the local, state, and federal Democratic candidates running for office. This is your chance to hear from them directly and chat in a casual setting.
Giving Back: We are hosting a Donation Drive for local animal shelters. Please bring canned dog/cat food or kibble to help our furry friends in need.
When: Sunday, April 19, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Where: Ruth Hardy Park, Palm Springs
Cost: Free and open to all!
Come out, show your support, and let’s build a stronger community together. Visit desert-stonewall.org for more details.
Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast
Join the Desert-Stonewall Democrats Leadership Team at the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast to honor the enduring legacy of Harvey Milk and to actively support LGBTQ+ inclusion throughout our community. Spend a meaningful morning with fellow advocates, community leaders, and elected officials as we celebrate progress made and recommit to advancing equality and justice across the Coachella Valley. To secure your seat with our leadership team, please contact us at info@desert-stonewall.org.
Team Ruiz - Mix, Mingle, and Mobilize
Join Team Ruiz for an afternoon of community connection and collective action! Whether you’re a longtime supporter or looking to get involved for the first time, this is the perfect opportunity to meet like-minded neighbors, hear the latest updates from the campaign, and find out how you can help keep our momentum going.
Join us at 2026 TransPride Empower and Employ
Join us at Trans Pride 2026 "Empower and Employ"! This exciting event is all about celebrating and supporting the transgender community. We're gathering at The Palm Springs Demuth Community Center for a day filled with empowerment and employment opportunities. Come and connect with like-minded individuals, discover resources, and learn from inspiring speakers. Whether you're looking for job opportunities or simply want to show your support, this in-person event is the perfect place to be. Let's come together celebrate diversity, and create a more inclusive future. Expect resource booths, live drag performances, food trucks, fashion show, trans rights forum, MPJ youth space, See you there!
Holiday Party
Relax and enjoy some time with friends and fellow Democrats as we prepare for the hard work ahead of us in 2026.
Your first drink is on us!
Please bring a donation of socks for Martha's Village.
RSVP Required!: RSVP@desert-stonewall.org
Stay after the party for Ron Pass, piano and vocals, 7 - 9 PM.
Beat The Heat with DSD
RSVP for location.
Join us for cool cocktails with appetizers, and the company of fellow Democrats. Meet some of the candidates hoping to unseat Ken Calvert from CD41 n the 2026 mid-terms. Lear how to become active and involved. Your first drink is on us and you can expect some lively discussion about, well, everything!
Mark you calendar today so you don't miss it.
Your RSVP helps our planning.
Debate Watch Party
Join us to watch the California Senate Candidates debate. This event will at the One Eleven Bar in Cathedral. City.
September General Meeting
Empowering LGBTQ Youth: Building Resilience Through Community Support
With LGBTQ+ rights under attack across the nation and even here in California, what can we do to ensure that our youth, who may be unsure of their sexuality, are supported and protected while they figure it out?
General Membership Meeting - Early Endorsements
In accordance with DSD's Bylaws and Standing Rules, four candidates are currently eligible for early endorsement in the 2024 Primary elections. They are:
Will Rollins, 41st CA Congressional District
Derek Marshall, 23rd CA Congressional District
Christy Holstege, 47th CA Assembly District
Lisa Middleton, 19th CA Senate District
At this meeting, we will hear from each of the candidates, with an opportunity for Q&A, and then proceed to a vote by the members for endorsement by Desert Stonewall Democrats.
All four candidates have been recommended for early endorsement by the Political Action Committee.
Join us in person at 5:30 PM for refreshments and some social time.
Mizell Center
480 S Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262
Drag4Drag - The Rally
Defend Drag | Stand in Solidarity
Dress in Drag & Bring a Protest Sign
March Meeting - Sexism in Politics is Alive and Well
We are celebrating Women’s History Month with a slate of local women elected officials to talk about their experiences running for office. They include: Christy Holstege, Palm Springs Council Member, Karina Quintanilla, Palm Desert Mayor Pro-Tem, Denise Delgado, Coachella City Council Member, Marcie Maxwll, former Washing State Representative. Our Moderator will be Karen Borja, former Desert Community Healthcare District Board.
Note: The meeting begins at 6PM but there will be a social time with refreshments starting at 5:30
Annual Holiday Party
The address (a private home) will be provided when you RSVP.
This will be a fundraiser to help refill our coffers, so we will ask for a donation ($10/person minimum). Full bar provided by our hosts, and appetizers.
RSVP and Donate at the door here
There will be no general members meeting in December. Instead, join us for an evening of fun and comraderie!
November Meeting
The address (a private home) will be provided when you RSVP to RSVP@desert-stonewall.org
This will be a fundraiser to help refill our coffers, so we will ask for a donation ($10/person minimum). Full bar provided by our hosts, and appetizers.
September Member Meeting
Our September meeting will consider additional endorsements for the November General Election of candidates for positions on local City Councils and certain Boards. At this meeting we will hear the PAC recommendations and then members will vote on endorsements. Note that only members in good standing may vote on endorsements (By-Laws Section 11).
Doors will open at 5:30 PM for some social time with refreshments before the meeting starts at 6:00 PM. Masks are recommended. An option to participate via Zoom (starting at 5:45 PM) will be available
Email us to RSVP and for location and ZOOM registration details: info@desert-stonewall.org
A Day of Advocacy
A FREE Event!
In preparation for the upcoming political season, Brothers of the Desert is collaborating with Stonewall Democrats and will host “A Day of Advocacy” to highlight the political issues of Black voter suppression and anti-gay legislation.
The joint information and education forum will be held Saturday, September 10, at the Mizell Senior Center, 480 Sunrise Way, Palm Springs. Following the forum, “get out the vote” volunteers will outreach to non-active voters in California, Texas and Georgia.
The event is intended to inform, educate and promote civic engagement among members, community allies and the general public. It is not designed to endorse any candidate but to promote political common ground for the common good.
BOD is encouraging members, friends and allies to participate.
The September gathering at Mizell will occur between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.; from 11 to Noon, participants will share lunch and basic information on the issues; from Noon to 1 p.m., participants will engage in an educational forum with Secretary of State, Shirley Weber and Director of External Relations for Equality Caliornia, Sam Garrett-Pate. From 1:30 to 3 p.m., volunteers can engage in a variety of “get out the vote” activities.
Space is limited, so please register and reserve your seat today!
Meet the Candidates + Endorsements
Our SECOND meeting in August will be devoted to candidates for positions on local City Councils and certain Boards. This meeting is scheduled after the close of the filing period for City Council in order to give the Political Action Committee time to interview all the candidates. At this meeting we will hear the PAC recommendations and then members will vote on endorsements. Note that only members in good standing may vote on endorsements (By-Laws Section 11).
Doors will open at 5:30 PM for some social time with refreshments before the meeting starts at 6:00 PM. Masks are recommended. An option to participate via Zoom (starting at 5:45 PM) will be available
Email us to RSVP and for location and ZOOM registration details: info@desert-stonewall.org
August Member Meeting
We are honored to announce that Congressman Raul Ruiz MD, currently serving as our Representative in CD36, will join us for our regularly scheduled meeting on August 16 at 6:30 PM. Dr Ruiz will speak to us about current events in Congress and legislative goals after re-election. There will be time for Q&A. As a result of redistricting, Dr. Ruiz’ new district (CD25) will not, after the 2022 mid-term elections in November, include many of us in the western Coachella Valley. Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs and East valley cities such as Bermuda Dunes, Indio and Coachella are in the new CD25. Please join us to thank Dr. Ruiz for his ongoing support of our community and to wish him success in his newly drawn district.
Join us at 6:00 PM for social time with refreshments pre-meeting. Masks are recommended.
Email us to RSVP and for location details: info@desert-stonewall.org
UPDATE: PromoHomo.TV® will broadcast the meeting live from Nicholas Snow’s Public Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/Nicholas.Snow. A reminder link will be published to this page the day of the event.
An encore presentation will be available later at www.YouTube.com/PromoHomoTVNetwork and at www.PromoHomo.TV.
July Member Meeting
Join us at 5:30 PM for social time pre-meeting.
We will meet in person (with a ZOOM option) at Mizell Senior Center.
Email us to RSVP and for details: info@desert-stonewall.org
June Member Meeting
Join us at 5:30 PM for social time pre-meeting.
We will meet in person (with a ZOOM option) at Mizell Senior Center. Our expert panel will discuss The Politics of Water: How racism, classism and politics affect who gets an adequate supply of clean water.
Email us to RSVP and for details: info@desert-stonewall.org