Photo: Nadya Tolokonnikova, Pussy Riot
Todrick Hall, Pussy Riot, Tanzer, Polartropica, Jake Zyrus, and Ballet Folklorico Proyecto Trans Latina top the 36th annual Greater Palm Springs Pride Festival lineup. The Festival, a highlight of Pride Week, will celebrate and embrace the region’s diverse LGBTQ+ community from November 1–6 in downtown Palm Springs.
Todrick Hall, the fiercely independent pop cultural phenomenon, headlines the Festival on Saturday, Nov. 5, and sets the stage for an unprecedented and diverse group of LGBTQ+ performers in the Palm Springs Pride lineup. Conceptual artist and activist Nadya Tolokonnikova, the founding member of Pussy Riot, a global feminist protest art movement, will be the headliner Sunday, Nov. 6. Pussy Riot stands for gender fluidity, inclusivity, matriarchy, love, laughter, decentralization, anarchy, and anti-authoritarianism. Nadya, the lead member, was sentenced in 2012 to two years imprisonment following an anti-President Vladimir Putin performance.
Direct from Australia, singer, DJ, artist, and proud queer community member Tanzer performs Saturday, Nov. 5. Tanzer is known for her cinematic, high-glamour, escapist works that are intensely powerful and darkly humorous.
The Truly Vodka Main Stage opens Friday night, Nov. 4, with Dash Radio’s Tropical Oasis featuring the LGBTQ+ community’s best-emerging talent. The Tropical Oasis features Los Angeles-based galactic dream pop artist Polartropica, recently crowned LA Weekly’s Best Indie Pop Band. With songs described as a gumbo of soul, funk, pop, and camp, Tolliver joins the lineup that includes Lucy and La Mer with their message of self-acceptance and positivity. The West Hollywood-based electronic rock/pop band with a grungy edge, Glass Battles, and an appearance by Sassy Ross and host Bella da Ball complete the Friday lineup.
Other highlighted acts include Filipino pop star and transgender icon Jake Zyrus, BETTY, the award-winning indie rock trio, and Ballet Folklorico Proyecto Trans Latina, a group of six Trans-identified women showcasing their highly choreographed and colorful traditional Mexican Folklorico. The new Oscar’s Pride stage on Tahquitz Canyon Way will feature Keith George – The Boy George Experience, performances by Mimosa Men, Bitchiest Brunch, and others.
“Pride Week is a time for our community to gather in celebration. This is our time to be seen, be heard, and empower those on a path of discovery,“ said Ron deHarte, President and CEO of Greater Palm Springs Pride. “The Pride platform reflects the diversity in our community and serves as a demonstration of resistance. Resistance to discrimination, resistance to hatred, resistance to fear, and violence.“
This unprecedented diversity of LGBTQ+ performing artists has been made possible by the support from primary sponsors, including City of Palm Springs, PS Resorts, Truly Vodka, Nissan, US Bank, NUTRL, Eisenhower Health, Gilead Sciences, Viiv Healthcare, and DAP Health.
Performers will come together in five venues, including the Truly Vodka Main Stage on Palm Canyon Dr at Amado, Electric Revolution Stage in the Downtown City Park, the Channel Q DJ on Palm Canyon Dr and Tahquitz Canyon Way, the Oscar’s Pride Stage on Tahquitz Canyon Way and Indian Canyon Dr, and the KGAY Stage on Arenas Rd at Indian Canyon Dr.
The three-day Festival will be free to attend and supported by Gateless Tickets. Gateless Tickets are a great way to give back by donating to the local nonprofit Pride organization. Donations help keep Pride free and accessible to everyone.
Palm Springs Pride Week is scheduled for November 1-6, 2022. For more information about Greater Palm Springs Pride, visit www.pspride.org.
