The LGBT Community Center of The Desert takes Center Stage

Ellen Bluestein
·3 min read

The LGBT Community Center of the Desert held its 23rd annual fundraising gala, Center Stage, at the Palm Springs Air Museum on Oct. 20. More than 400 people gathered to support the organization that works to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all members of the LGBTQ community.

From Palm Springs to Coachella, The Center offers a wide range of programs and services and includes a behavioral health clinic and community food bank. The organization’s work is focused on ending isolation and loneliness, connecting people to resources and community and enriching the individual and collective experience.

“The Center is a beacon of hope for those in need of refuge from today’s dangerous social and political climate,” said the organization’s CEO Mike Thompson. “It’s that responsibility that inspires us to create places and spaces for connection. Because when we connect, community is created, and that’s magic.

Jim Hering, David Gibson, Dr. Michael Hughes and KESQ anchor Peter Daut pose at The LGBT Center’s annual fundraising gala, Center Stage, on Oct. 20, 2023.
Jim Hering, David Gibson, Dr. Michael Hughes and KESQ anchor Peter Daut pose at The LGBT Center’s annual fundraising gala, Center Stage, on Oct. 20, 2023.

“Our theme — transcending barriers, creating community — celebrates what we know to be true in our valley. When we move from simply living in the same zip code to being connected in community, we transcend.”

The program featured trans activist, organizer and storyteller Cecilia Gentili, founder of Trans Equity Consulting. Gentili, who played Ms. Orlando on the television series “Pose,” spoke of the need for safe spaces for members of the LGBTQ community. “We need spaces that allow us to find each other,” she said. “We need spaces that provide us with services and support when we are down. The Center is an organization that does this work so powerfully and beautifully. They weave together community. They create the safe haven that calls out to people across the country who are looking for a place to escape to.”

In addition to celebrating Thompson’s return after a three-year hiatus, The Center honored Palm Springs drag queen Bella Da Ball with its Legacy Award. The annual award recognizes those who have made a lasting impact on the desert’s LGBTQ community.

“This honor belongs to all of you for your love, sharing, caring, giving, support, volunteering and community participation,” Da Ball said. “Remember, drag is not a crime. Drag conquers hate. Drag is art, drag is entertainment, drag is you and all of us. Keep on dragging. Keep on sparkling and shining. Let’s bring on more sequins, jewels, big hair, high heels and fun to make the world a better place.”

More than 400 people attended The LGBT Center’s annual fundraising gala, Center Stage, on Oct. 20, 2023.
More than 400 people attended The LGBT Center’s annual fundraising gala, Center Stage, on Oct. 20, 2023.

Center Stage was produced by Frank Goldstin and Momentous. The presenting sponsor was Eisenhower Health. The evening’s magic sponsors were David Hood and George Sellers and Harold Matzner. Community sponsors included Contractors State License Schools and Contractor Insurance Agency and John McDonald and Rob Wright. Visionary sponsors were Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Scan Health Plan, Riley Behrens, Ted Briggs and Ted Jarvis, Glenn Johnson, Michael Melancon and Alex Schalasky and Steve Tobin, Johnny Krupa and The Grace Helen Spearman Charitable Foundation. Ally champion sponsors were Associa Desert Resort Management, Brian Rix and Jack Farmer, Jody Silver and Carol Davidson, DAP Health, Don Zuidema, Mike McGinley and Alfredo Izaguirre, Inland Empire Health Plan and Jeff Weyant and Martin Massiello.

Darrel Cummings, former chief of staff of the LGBTQ Center of Los Angeles and current Palm Springs resident emphasized the importance of supporting The Center. “With the increasing threats to our community, now more than ever, it’s important for centers like The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert to thrive,” he said “Not only for those living in our zip codes but to be a haven for those most vulnerable looking for community. They need the magic that exists right here, in this place we call home.”

For more on The Center, visit thecentercv.org.

Ellen Bluestein is a freelance writer and event producer. She has been working in fund development, marketing and event production for the majority of her career. Originally from Boston, she moved to the Coachella Valley in 2018.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: The LGBT Community Center of The Desert takes Center Stage