Palm Springs doubles down on LGBTQ+ inclusion, and we’re loving it

At a time when many destinations in the U.S. are trying to erase LGBTQ+ visibility–we’re looking at you, Florida and Texas–Palm Springs is doubling down on its commitment to the queer community. 

Literally doubling! Within ten days last month, the city unveiled two new installations: the eight-foot-tall Pride Monument in Frances Stevens Park and a permanent 65-foot flag pole flying the Gilbert Baker-designed rainbow flag in the Arenas gayborhood. 

“I’m proud to serve as the Chief Economic Development Officer… on behalf of a city that doesn’t just tolerate diversity, it invests in it,” said Wayne Olson at the inaugural flag-raising ceremony. “At a time when many of those hard-won laws and hard-earned rights are being tested and reversed, our community demonstrates the value of inclusion… We, as a city, have ensured that inclusion is more than a policy; it’s a practice.”

That same week, Palm Springs also hosted the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) global convention, bringing more than 750 delegates from 30 countries to experience the all-embracing, desert oasis.

Pack your bags, we’re going on an adventure

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for the best LGBTQ+ travel guides, stories, and more.
Subscribe to our Newsletter today

“Welcoming LGBTQ+ travel professionals from around the world allowed us to showcase what makes our community so special–our inclusivity, creativity, and genuine warmth… and we’re so proud to have been part of advancing global LGBTQ+ tourism together,” said Scott White, President and CEO of Visit Greater Palm Springs.”

Never one to rest on its lavendar laurels, Palm Springs is constantly reinventing what it means to be a "queer mecca" in 2025, with new cultural experiences, museum exhibits, and experiential tours to join our perennial favorites. 

Explore Native Culture

Many visitors don’t realize that Downtown Palm Springs sits on an Indian Reservation. The Agua Caliente are one of nine bands of the Cahuilla Nation, with homelands across the Coachella Valley and beyond. Start your journey at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum. According to Reid Milanovich, the tribe Chairman, the museum’s goal is to help visitors “really understand that the land they’re walking on is sacred. We've been here since time immemorial, and we’re very proud to display who we are as a people, what we do, our traditions, and our cultures.”

Since opening in 2023, the museum has offered a glimpse of what it means to be an Agua Caliente person, with every voice, picture, and video on display featuring one of their own. For Milanovich, this creates a 100% authentic experience: “This is us telling our own story.”

Next, since you’ve seen the palms, it’s time to soak in the springs that complete the city’s name. The Spa at Séc-he (meaning “the sound of boiling water”) has been bringing hot mineral spring waters from an ancient aquifer deep underground to the surface since opening two years ago. The 73,000-square-foot Agua Caliente-owned spa complex includes multiple pools, halotherapy salt caves, and private “Taking of the Waters” bath experiences (among many more treatments). 

Enjoy the Great Outdoors

Palm Springs is surrounded by naturally-stunning scenery. Explore the San Jacinto Mountains at dawn with gay-owned Sunrise Grounding. Trust me, it’s worth the early wakeup. You’ll begin your one-mile hike up the South Lykken Trailhead under the stars, watching the emerging light change the colors of the terrain, and eventually resting on a high clearing overlooking Indian Canyons, just in time for sunrise. Your guide, Timothy, will then lead you through a grounding meditation with the Coachella Valley as your backdrop, before the one-mile trek back down.

If you prefer nature from the comfort of an open-air vehicle, join Red Jeep Tours for one of their trips to the rugged lands surrounding Downtown Palm Springs. Their most popular tours include trips with hiking options for all fitness levels to Indian Canyons, San Andreas Fault or a private Joshua Tree National Park tour. Regardless of your choice, you’ll learn about the geological forces that shaped this desert terrain, as well as the Agua Caliente people who have called it home since before recorded history. 

Connect with Your Inner Artist

Make your own one-of-a-kind masterpiece with the creators of SUPERBLOOM. Their 90-minute “Paint with Meaning” session teaches you basic painting techniques using their 10-color palette, and includes flowing wine for extra inspiration. You can bring your own item from home or choose from their in-store products, like hats, flower vases, clutch purses or pet bowls, among others. My personal favorite: turn a pair of blank Converse sneakers into your own walking art statement. Created by Alexis and Chris, the immersive SUPERBLOOM experience is truly unique and you’ll leave with a hand-made souvenir of your own creation.

For art lovers who prefer being spectators, the Palm Springs Art Museum boasts a permanent collection of over 12,000 objects, focused on modern and contemporary art. Two years ago, the museum launched Q+ Art, an initiative focused on artists who identify as LGBTQ+ or incorporate themes of our community into their work. Currently, it’s the only year-round, queer art initiative of a major established museum. Curated in the Q+ Art gallery, some of these pieces have also been acquired by the museum, incorporating the work of LGBTQ+ artists into the Palm Springs Art Museum permanent collection. 

At a time when “diversity” is politicized, Palm Springs is embracing all the communities that make this city unique. Here, inclusion isn’t a buzzword; it’s a daily practice to protect and celebrate the city’s LGBTQ+ population — with more monuments, flags, and rainbow beacons welcoming travelers. 

Looking for an extra dose of gay joy?

Join your queer family during the Greater Palm Springs Pride celebration from November 6-9, 2025.

Join the GayCities newsletter for weekly updates on the best LGBTQ+ destinations and events—nearby and around the world.