Turkish authorities on Tuesday detained more than 150 people who gathered outside an Istanbul courthouse to protest raids that targeted the country’s LGBTQ+ community.

CNN reported the protesters had planned to speak with reporters outside the city’s Caglayan courthouse, but authorities prevented them from doing so.

Turkish authorities over the weekend detained dozens of people in Istanbul and in other cities during raids that were part of the government’s “My Family is Safe” campaign.

A statement from a group of Turkish advocacy groups the Washington Blade received on Tuesday notes “at least 112 people have been detained in connection with the operations.” The organizations said 43 of those taken into custody are “LGBTI+ rights defenders,” and “at least” 62 of those detained “have been arrested, while judicial proceedings remain ongoing in Istanbul.”

“Among those arrested, at least 16 are LGBTI+ activists or individuals connected to LGBTI+ associations, including founders and members of association bodies,” reads the statement. “Per press statements by the prosecutor’s offices, dissolution cases will also be launched against associations.” 

“The majority of those arrested are trans women who are charged with prostitution-related offences,” it adds. “While authorities have framed the operations as part of investigations into alleged crimes such as obscenity, prostitution and child exploitation, human rights defenders and civil society organizations have raised serious concerns regarding the use of criminal law mechanisms and public morality narratives to target legitimate LGBTI+ rights activities. Civil society views the ‘My Family is Safe’ narrative as a smokescreen to distract the public from deep economic crises and actual domestic violence, weaponizing moral panic to scapegoat LGBTI+ rights defenders, who have long been targeted by the government.”

The raids have sparked outrage among LGBTQ+ activists in Europe and elsewhere around the world.

The Congressional Equality Caucus and U.S. Rep. Carlos Giménez (R-Fla.) are among those who have publicly condemned them in the U.S. The Council for Global Equality on Friday is scheduled to hold a rally in support of Turkey’s LGBTQ+ community in front of the Turkish Embassy in Washington.

(UPDATE: Since this story was posted, EqualPride announced that Jay Katari has resigned from the board as of Tuesday afternoon. “I have decided to step down from the Board of Directors of equalpride,” Katari said in a statement shared by EqualPride CEO Mark Berryhill. “My intention was simply to volunteer my time and experience to support the incredible team and the important work they do for the LGBTQ+ community.”)

EqualPride, a prominent LGBTQ+ media company that owns the Advocate and Out magazines, has added a Trump supporter to its board of directors.

Jay Katari, an entrepreneur and investor who now serves as EqualPride’s “Strategic Advisor, Growth & Innovation,” also sits on its official leadership team.

EqualPride’s website describes his role as “focused on helping the company expand its reach, strengthen its commercial partnerships, and develop new sources of recurring revenue.”

This change in leadership has caused an outcry of concern from LGBTQ+ media consumers, people working at the outlets published under EqualPride, and LGBTQ+ advocates who seem unsure of how a Trump supporter will fare on the board of one of the most important LGBTQ+ media organizations in the country.

The story was first reported by Kevin Ortega-Rojas, a freelance writer and podcaster who specializes in covering social issues. His resume includes a number of connections to the world of LGBTQ+ media — particularly under EqualPride — including being a former rapid response reporter for GLAAD and host of “The Advocate Weekly,” a queer news podcast produced by The Advocate magazine.

Earlier this year, EqualPride laid off staff across its existing publications, including senior editors and writers. That move, followed by the addition of a Trump supporter to its board, has created concern among LGBTQ+ consumers.

According to his Instagram, Katari is married to a woman and still has posts showing him wearing Trump MAGA-branded merchandise. He also follows members of the Trump family, including President Donald Trump, his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, Lara Trump, and his daughter Ivanka Trump. He also follows an account with the username donaldtrump.hq titled “Donald Trump Fans.”

This apparent endorsement of Trump and MAGA politics, which includes restricting the rights of transgender people as well as rolling back protections for LGBTQ+ people more broadly, seems to be in direct conflict with EqualPride’s mission statement.

“Our mission is to provide content of inspiration, hope, community, equality and love through our platforms that reach a vast majority of the American LGBTQ+ audience every month and increasingly women and people of color,” a statement on EqualPride’s website from 2023 said. “We are a diverse community of storytellers, innovators, and influencers who believe in giving a voice to all people!”

The Los Angeles Blade reached out to Christopher Wiggins, the politics and news editor at EqualPride, but was directed to the already publicly available joint statement made by editors of the largest publications represented by EqualPride.

In the Instagram post, the editorial teams of The Advocate, Out, Them, PRIDE.com, Out Traveler and Plus all co-signed the statement, assuring readers that Katari being on the board has not — so far — impacted any of their reporting and implying EqualPride needs to expand on what Katari’s role will be for the organization.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Them (@them)

“Our editors became aware of concerning reports this morning that Jay Katari — one of the board members of our parent company, equalpride — may have espoused beliefs that are antithetical to the mission of our brands, per a new article from journalist Kevin Ortega-Rojas.

“The editorial teams only recently learned of Katari’s expanding role and had no information about his background or past political statements prior to this week.

“Please know that Katari’s position has not influenced our reporting.

“In an initial meeting today, we urged management to provide further clarification about Katarı and hıs role at equalpride, and are awaiting information.

As queer and trans journalists, we are committed to independent reporting that serves the LGBTQ+ community — and to getting answers on this critical matter.”

Nearly 200 comments were made online under a joint post made by multiple EqualPride publication accounts, including Them, The Advocate, and Out.

Gisselle Palomera, a Future of Queer Media fellow for The Advocate and former local news reporter at the Blade, commented under the post, questioning how much leadership actually knew about Katari.

“No one did any research on him prior to this moment? How did his political stance get past dozens of editors and reporters? I don’t buy it,” they said in the now most liked Instagram comment under the announcement, with 283 likes.

Another Instagram user, Aaron Frank Duncanson, who goes by the username aaronfrankpdx, pointed out how the situation looks and expressed fears for the future if Katari stays on the board.

“If this man stays in that position, it threatens the integrity of the reporting of all your publications,” Duncanson wrote. “As journalists, it’s your responsibility to ensure that integrity.”

The Blade reached out to Katari, and to Tony Morrison of Morrison Media Group— who is working with EqualPride, according to Wiggins— but did not hear back in time for publication.

EqualPride CEO Mark Berryhill issued a statement after Katari resigned.

“I want to clarify Jay Katari’s involvement with equalpride, which was limited to business growth, revenues and the company’s long-term sustainability,” said Berryhill. “Under our investment agreements, our lead investor group held the right to appoint two board members without separate votes or approval by the CEO or management. Jay joined the board through that process. Going forward, the investor group has provided me with the right to appoint future board members.”

Berryhill then noted Katari’s decision to resign and referred to his statement.

“Our focus now is on strengthening our brands, and continuing to support the stories of our LGBTQ community,” added Berryhill.

Palm Springs is celebrating its 40th anniversary of Pride and has announced the grand marshals for this year’s event. The annual Palm Springs Pride Parade will take place on Sunday, November 8, 2026, with the theme “Be Included.” 

The grand marshals for this year were selected for their contributions to uplifting LGBTQ community and efforts to expand equality.  

Comedian, writer, and actor Fortune Feimster was named the National Grand Marshal for the parade. Feimster is widely known for her stand-up specials and will be performing her special, Fortune Feimster: Takin’ Care of Biscuits (Encore), at the Plaza Theater on November 8th at 8:00 pm. Her extensive acting career includes starring roles in Netflix’s hit series The Hawk alongside Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon, FUBAR with Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Mindy Project, and feature films like Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar and Apple’s The Dink. She is also a co-host of the award-winning podcast Handsome and co-host of SiriusXM’s What A Joke Radio.

Actor and singer Cheyenne Jackson will serve as the Celebrity Grand Marshal. Jackson is known for his acclaimed work across stage, screen, and concert hall, being recognized for his work in Broadway productions, earning an Emmy nomination for Julie and the Phantoms and a Grammy nomination for the cast recording of West Side Story. He was seen on Broadway in productions such as XANADU, Into the Woods, All Shook Up, and Finian’s Rainbow. On screen, he’s had prominent roles in American Horror Story, 30 Rock, Glee, The Morning Show, and Julie and the Phantoms. Jackson will perform live in Palm Springs on Sunday, November 8, at 6:00 PM at the McCallum Theatre.

Dottie DuBois, also known as Marshal Percy, was named Pride Royalty for Life to honor the legacy of Les Dames Du Soleil, a drag troupe from the Coachella Valley that raised over two million dollars for DAP Health. 

Gary Moline will receive the Community Service Award in celebration of his twenty-plus years of work with the Pride Bands Alliance and extensive civic engagement. Moline served as Artistic Director, board member, and national delegate to the Pride Bands Alliance. His extensive community work includes serving on the Greater Palm Springs Pride Board, the Desert Business Association, and as a California State Council Member of the Rail Passengers Association.

The pride parade will begin at 10:00 am on November 8, starting at Palm Canyon Drive at Tachevah and marching to the official entrance of the Pride Festival. The parade is free and open to the public. 

For more information regarding the 40th Anniversary Celebration of Pride in Palm Springs, parade route updates, and festival schedules, please visit pspride.org.

Caleb Kaufman is a California Local News Fellow placed with the Los Angeles Blade. The California Local News Fellowship is a state-funded initiative to support and strengthen local news reporting. Learn more about it at fellowships.journalism.berkeley.edu/cafellows.

Indonesia’s top Muslim clerical body has proposed replacing the term “LGBT” with “LGSP,” grouping lesbian and gay people with sodomy and sexual abuse, as it prepares a proposed law that would criminalize conduct and advocacy it consideres prohibited.

Asrorun Niam Sholeh, head of the Indonesian Ulema Council’s Fatwa Commission, announced the proposal in Jakarta in late July, saying the council was preparing an academic paper and draft bill to submit to the government and MPs

The council in August also warned men against wearing women’s clothing during Independence Day festivities, despite a long-standing tradition in some Indonesian communities of men dressing in dresses and hijabs to play football as part of the annual celebrations. In a statement issued Aug. 7, the Fatwa Commission said such cross-dressing was “haram,” or forbidden under Islamic law, and linked the practice to what it described as a covert campaign by the “Lesbian, Gay, Sodomy and Obscenity (or LGSP) movement.

Indonesia on Aug. 17 marks its 1945 declaration of independence from the Netherlands with flag ceremonies, neighborhood gatherings, and a lively tradition of community competitions known as “lomba tujuhbelasan.” Children and adults take part in games ranging from sack races and cracker-eating contests to tug-of-war and “panjat pinang” — teams climb a greased pole to reach prizes at the top. Some communities also hold football matches in sarongs or “daster,” a loose-fitting house dress traditionally associated with women, turning the celebrations into an occasion for communal play and laughter.

The pressure extends beyond religious authorities. 

In a report published in July, Human Rights Watch said attacks against LGBTQ+ university students had escalated during June’s Pride Month, while at least 10 public universities had recently adopted discriminatory regulations and curbed student media coverage and social media discussions about gender and sexual diversity. The rights group said the measures undermine freedom of expression and academic freedom.

Reacting to Pride Month celebrations, the Ulema Council called for “sexual deviation” to carry criminal penalties heavier than those for adultery and said it was preparing a draft law to criminalize LGBTQ+ conduct and campaigning.

President Prabowo Subianto in October 2025 signed Presidential Regulation No. 111 of 2025, which sets Indonesia’s General National Defense Policy for 2025–2029 and classifies the spread of LGBTQ+ culture as a non-military threat to the state. The provision places it among other perceived threats that include terrorism, radicalism, separatism, and the spread of prohibited ideologies. 

The regulation drew public attention in July after Indonesian media reported on the provision, prompting Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid to warn that it could institutionalize discrimination against LGBTQ+ people.

“Amnesty International Indonesia unequivocally condemns these attacks and intimidation by both state and non-state actors based on perceived sexual orientation or gender identity,” said Amnesty International Indonesia. “We urgently call upon the Indonesian government to repeal this regulation and uphold its constitutional mandates and the international human rights treaties it has ratified.”

Indonesia on Jan. 2 began enforcing a new national criminal code, replacing the Dutch-era penal code that had governed the country for more than eight decades. 

MPs had approved the 345-page code in December 2022 after years of debate and public protests over provisions concerning morality, religion, and individual rights. Among its new provisions is Article 411, which makes sexual intercourse outside marriage a criminal offense punishable by up to one year in prison. 

Article 412 makes living together as husband and wife outside a legally recognized marriage punishable by up to six months in prison. The offenses can be prosecuted only after a complaint by a spouse, parent or child, but rights groups have warned that the provisions can disproportionately affect same-sex couples, whose relationships are not legally recognized in Indonesia.

Purba Widnyana, chairman of GAYa Nusantara, an Indonesian LGBTQ+ rights organization, told the Los Angeles Blade that the situation for LGBTQ+ people in Indonesia has become increasingly worrying.

Widnyana told the Blade that the concern extends beyond increasing violence, pointing to stronger anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment in public spaces, on social media and within educational institutions, as well as in politics, including Presidential Regulation No. 111 of 2025.

“The impact is not always in the form of physical violence. Many LGBT+ people, especially trans women, that mostly work in entertainment or other informal jobs, beginning to lose job opportunities because they are considered to pose a ‘risk’ to the event organizers,” Widnyana said. “There are also concerns that the rising stigma and fear could deter people from accessing health services, including HIV test and STI, due to the fear that their identity or sexual orientation might be revealed.”

Widnyana said the changing environment has placed an additional burden on LGBTQ+ organizations; making spaces for gatherings, educational activities, and public information campaigns increasingly sensitive. 

“We are constantly in alert mode,” he said, adding that since the previous wave of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment in 2016, organizations have developed security and risk-mitigation plans before holding events. Previously, he said, the primary concerns were physical attacks, raids and threats that could force venues to cancel events. Now, organizations also have to account for online attacks, including WhatsApp hijacking and social media account hacking, as well as the possibility of an event or organization being targeted after going viral. 

“It’s been limiting our movements,” he said.

Asked about the proposed LGSP framework and its decision to replace the term LGBTQ+ with a classification combining sexual orientation with sexual conduct, Widnyana said the council was conflating fundamentally different concepts. 

“I really don’t know where to begin. They are definitely confused by mixing identities, in this case sexual orientation, with sexual behavior and actions that are understood as violations or offenses, that are sodomy and sexual indecencies,” he said. 

Widnyana said the change should not be viewed as merely a change in terminology. 

“The change shifts how Indonesians understand or perceive LGBT+ issues, moving from identities, rights and existence to behavior, morality, and criminality,” he told the Blade. “We also see it in the context of narrative that has been for so long evolving that frames LGBT+ as the ‘product of the West’ or ‘Western propaganda’,” he said. “In this framework, LGSP can be interpreted as their effort in rejecting how LGBT+ people define themselves and changing it with a category that is defined by those who oppose the existence of LGBT+ people.”

Widnyana also pointed to Indonesia’s long history of diverse gender identities and expressions, citing traditions such as the “bissu,” “calalai,” “calabai,” and “waria,” as well as artistic traditions in which men perform female characters. He cautioned against imposing modern LGBTQ+ categories on those traditions, but said gender and sexual diversity are not foreign to Indonesian history.

Widnyana said his main concern was the lack of clarity around terms such as “campaigning,” “promoting,” and “spreading LGBT+ culture,” which he said could be interpreted broadly enough to affect legitimate work in education, health care, human rights, and community services. He cited HIV and sexual health information, legal assistance for victims of violence, discrimination research, training on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics, and academic discussion as examples. Widnyana also questioned whether a gay man publicly saying he is gay and demanding to live safely, or a transgender woman speaking about discrimination she has experienced, could be deemed “campaigning” or “spreading LGBT+ culture.” Such legislation, he warned, could turn existing social stigma into a tool for systematically limiting the lives, expression, services and LGBTQ+ organizations.

“For me, the situation is becoming more difficult. And I think we need to look beyond just what the law says. Because sometimes, when we talk about Indonesia, people say, ‘Well, being LGBTQ+ is not generally criminalized under the national criminal law,’” said Arisdo, outreach representative of Pelangi Nusantara, an LGBTQ+ community group in Indonesia advocating for love, equality, and the right to live with dignity. “technically, that’s an important distinction. But that’s not really what people on the ground are experiencing. What we’re seeing is more pressure. More harassment. More public shaming. More people being targeted simply because they are perceived to be LGBTQ+.”

Arisdo told the Blade that transgender women are facing escalating violence, citing Pelangi Nusantara’s documentation of 10 attacks in Bogor between March and July 2026 involving 45 victim-survivors. He said the emergence of “Boti Hunter” groups was particularly alarming, reflecting a shift from anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric toward actively targeting people. He added that fear of being outed or attacked prevents many victims from reporting violence, while doxxing and online harassment are increasingly forcing LGBTQ+ organizations to limit their visibility.

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Maygar has said his government will amend a law that essentially bans same-sex couples from adopting children.

Lawmakers approved the effective adoption ban in 2020, when then-Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government was in power. Maygar announced plans to amend the law on Saturday when he was speaking to supporters in Budapest, the Hungarian capital.

Orbán and his government faced widespread criticism over its anti-LGBTQ+ crackdown that also included laws banning Pride events.

Maygar in April ousted Orbán in Hungary’s elections.

Authorities in Turkey over the weekend detained dozens of people during raids they carried out against gay bars and LGBTQ activists’ homes across the country.

The BBC reported the raids were part of the government’s “My Family is Safe” campaign.

A statement from a group of Turkish advocacy groups the Washington Blade received on Sunday noted Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said the operation included “162 individuals, nine associations, and 13 businesses across 15 provinces.” Prosecutors in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Aydın, and Mersin are coordinating the campaign.

Kaos GL, one of the country’s largest advocacy groups, was among the targets.

“The authorities have referred to allegations including ‘obscenity,’ ‘facilitating prostitution or providing premises for prostitution,’ exposure of children to allegedly obscene content, drug-related offenses, and other morality-related offenses,” reads the press release the Blade received. “Information from the field indicates that additional allegations, including forming a criminal organization, may appear in some investigation files.” 

“The reported inclusion of the offense of “establishing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes” under Article 220 of the Turkish Criminal Code is particularly alarming and, if confirmed, would mark a significant escalation in the criminalization of LGBTI+ human rights activism,” it added. “While LGBTI+ activists and organizations have recently faced and continue to face investigations and prosecutions on grounds such as ‘obscenity’ and alleged violations of the Law on Associations, the use of an organized-crime allegation represents a qualitatively more serious threshold, both in terms of the gravity of the accusation and the potential penalties involved.”

Turkish authorities under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government over the last decade have cracked down on LGBTQ and intersex activists in the country.

Police in 2015 used tear gas and water cannons against people who were about to participate in an Istanbul Pride march. Authorities in 2017 arrested nearly two dozen people who defied a ban on Pride events in the city.

Police in Ankara, the Turkish capital, in 2019, arrested 18 students and an academic who participated in a Pride march at the Middle East Technical University. They faced up to three years in prison, but a court in 2021 acquitted them. Police in 2022 violently broke up a Pride parade at the same Ankara university.

Turkish authorities in July refused to allow a gay cruise ship — the Scarlet Lady, a Virgin Voyage vessel that Atlantis Events chartered — to dock in Kusadasi, a resort town on the Aegean Sea.

Kusadasi is in Aydın Province, one of the provinces in which authorities conducted the raids. Turkish officials also refused to allow the Scarlet Lady to dock in Istanbul.

A Turkish source on Sunday told the Blade the “My Family is Safe” operation began on the 46th anniversary of a military coup that toppled the country’s government in 1980.

“The fact that this operation began on the night of Sept. 12 — the 46th anniversary of the 1980 coup — is highly significant in terms of the foundations of the prohibitive and repressive mindset directed at the LGBTI+ community,” they said. “Moreover, many LGBTI+ organizations had been subject to official inspections last week.”

“Conducting this operation on a Saturday night shortly thereafter also serves the purpose of heightening fear and anxiety within the community,” added the source.

The source asked the Blade not to reveal their identity.

ILGA-Europe in a statement described the raids as “the systematic dismantling of LGBTI civil society.” Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire is among the European officials who have publicly condemned them.

The Blade will update this story with additional details as they become available.

DO THE RIGHT THING had its most recent recognition ceremony this week at the Palm Springs Police Training Center. Missing was former chief Andy Mills who had helped bring prominence to this nonprofit which recognizes and rewards school-age youth for good behavior.

It was touching to see the kids and hear the stories of their accomplishments, overcoming adversity ranging from learning disabilities to family issues. From a four-year-old to a 20-year-old, each had their moment in the spotlight, surrounded by family, their teachers and school administrators, elected officials, and our police.

Chief Mills’ lasting legacy will be his fostering trust between the youth and local law enforcement. Mills noted that early on, some children were afraid to participate in the program because they feared that interacting with the police could lead to their parents being taken away. Under his leadership and community-focused approach, those relationships changed, and the youth learned to trust the officers. As he departed Palm Springs last week, he strongly urged us to continue on with DO THE RIGHT THING.

Chief Mills also fostered that trust in our LGBTQ+ community during his tenure. Where a former police chief conducted sting operations in Warm Sands, Chief Mills would take to social media to remind men not to cruise in the wash nearby.

He transformed the department to be true allies of ours, and it showed immediately as Chief Kyle Stjerne directed his officers to show up on Arenas after a shooting at a gay bar in Tucson. The social media posts showed officers chatting with patrons at Streetbar. That simple act made all the difference in the world to us.

KESQ quoted Stjerne on how he plans to lead: “My mother taught us very early that actions speak louder than words. So I’m not going to tell you about all the great things the Palm Springs Police Department is going to do for this city and these people moving forward. We’re going to prove it to you, we’re going to show you every single day. That is my commitment.”

Doing the right thing is something we should all aspire to, even if we don’t get an award for it.

Brad Fuhr, your K-Gay Desert Guide

Here’s what’s ahead in sunny Palm Springs!

KGAY BIG SPLASH Pool Party

We’re baaaack! The KGAY BIG SPLASH Pool Party returns Friday, September  11 from 7–10 pm at the Palm Springs Surf Club, bringing nighttime Lazy River access, River Island fun, beats by DJ Galaxy, poolside cocktails, giveaways, and a pre‑party Happy Hour from 5–7 pm. All proceeds support your station KGAY 103.1! Get tickets

New Player Clinics – Palm Springs Gay Softball League

The Palm Springs Gay Softball League hosts New Player Clinics on Saturday–Sunday, September 12–13 at Big League Dreams in Cathedral City, with sessions beginning at 9 am both days. Participants only need to attend one clinic, making it easy for newcomers—whether seasoned players or total beginners—to get involved. Open to anyone over 18, the clinics offer a fun, welcoming introduction to the fall season and encourage players to register in advance and bring gloves, good shoes, and water. More info

SPACEPLAY

SPACEPLAY brings together three dynamic artists for a multi‑day showcase running Thursday–Sunday, September 10–13 at Impell Gallery. Featuring painter/mixed‑media artist James O’Keefe, painter/ceramicist/sculptor Mary Jeys, and ceramicist Eduardo Lerma, the exhibition highlights creative voices from the high desert and beyond. The schedule includes the Lofts Art District Art Walk on Thursday, September 10 from 4–7 pm, a General Reception on Saturday, September 12 from 2–6 pm, and Closing Day on Sunday, September 13 from 2–4 pm. More info

Greater Palm Springs Spa Month

Greater Palm Springs Spa Month unfolds across the Greater Palm Springs Area all month long, celebrating National Self‑Care Awareness Month with exclusive wellness experiences throughout all nine resort cities. This featured promotion invites guests to slow down, breathe deeply, and embrace self‑care their way—whether through a mineral spring soak, a rejuvenating facial, a deeply relaxing massage, a sound bath under the desert sky, or a full day dedicated entirely to restoration. Participating resort spas, day spas, and hot springs spas offer limited‑time treatments and special packages all September, making it easy to explore, book, and enjoy your perfect wellness escape. More info

“Weird Al” Yankovic – Bigger & Weirder 2026 Tour

“Weird Al” Yankovic brings his Bigger & Weirder 2026 Tour to Acrisure Arena on Sunday, September 13 at 7:30 pm, delivering a full‑production multimedia spectacle packed with iconic parodies and fan‑favorite deep cuts. Joined by his longtime band and four new players, Al’s super‑sized show blends sharp musical comedy with high‑energy performance. From “Eat It” to “White & Nerdy,” this Grammy‑winning legend offers an outrageous night of entertainment for fans across generations. More info

Purple Room Weekend Entertainment

The Purple Room Supper Club has reopened after an A/C failure made it too hot to handle! It sets the stage for a standout weekend of music and entertainment Friday–Sunday, September 11–13, with a spotlight on two powerhouse evenings to start things off. Brenna Whitaker and Michael Orland headline Friday, September 11, offering an intimate blend of beloved classics, heartfelt ballads, and selections from Brenna’s album Reverie, all elevated by Michael’s signature piano artistry. On Saturday, September 12, Scot Bruce channels the early years of Elvis Presley with uncanny resemblance, signature vocals, and a high‑energy band that brings rock ’n’ roll’s formative era to life. The weekend wraps on Sunday, September 13, when The Judy Show! delivers hysterical comedy, Golden Age glamour, and Michael Holmes’ razor‑sharp parodies of Judy Garland and Hollywood’s greatest icons. More info

Billy L’Amour & The Love Notes – Apocalipstick

Billy L’Amour & The Love Notes take over Spirit Animal at Hotel Zoso on Friday, September 11 from 7–9 pm, delivering Apocalipstick—a glamorous cabaret filled with live vocals, comedy, storytelling, and theatrical flair. Joined by special guest Todd Mackofsky, Billy blends vintage Las Vegas inspiration with Parisian revue style for a night of fabulous chaos, with a live band, spectacular costumes, and two cocktails included with every ticket. More info

Films in the Gardens – The Hidden Life of Trees (2020)

Films in the Gardens: The Hidden Life of Trees screens at Sunnylands on Friday, September 11 at 7:30 pm, part of the Roots & Reveries outdoor film series presented with the Palm Springs International Film Society. Inspired by Curating Canopy: Trees at Sunnylands, this week’s program explores how trees communicate and support one another, guided by forester Peter Wohlleben. Gates open at 6 pm, inviting guests to arrive early, bring a blanket, and enjoy a cinematic night under the stars. More info

Hitchcock Retrospective – Strangers on a Train

Camelot Theatres at the Palm Springs Cultural Center presents Strangers on a Train (1951) on Friday, September 11 from 7–10 pm, a sinister Hitchcock thriller where a chance encounter spirals into obsession and danger. Starring Farley Granger and Robert Walker, the film transforms everyday settings—trains, tennis courts, amusement parks—into stages for escalating tension and psychological intrigue. More info

Voyage – Celebrating the Music of Journey

Voyage rocks The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa on Friday, September 11 from 8–11 pm. Fronted by vocalist Pedro Espada, whose tone channels Steve Perry, the band delivers blistering guitar solos, lush keyboards, and soaring harmonies that recreate Journey’s iconic sound. With hits like “Faithfully,” “Open Arms,” and “Don’t Stop Believin’,” Voyage transports audiences back to the height of arena‑rock glory. More info

Brothers of the Desert Members & Allies Lunch

The Brothers of the Desert host their Members & Allies Lunch on Saturday, September 12 from 12:30–2 pm at Mark’s Burgers in Cathedral City. Both members and allies are welcome for this casual community gathering, with attendees encouraged to RSVP before September 11. It’s a friendly midday meetup designed to connect, socialize, and enjoy good company. More info

Whitney Cummings – Big Baby Tour

Whitney Cummings brings her Big Baby Tour to the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre on Saturday, September 12 at 7 pm, showcasing her bold, observational humor and sharp cultural commentary. Known for stand‑up specials across Netflix, Max, and Comedy Central, Whitney blends personal stories with fearless wit, diving into single‑mom life, personal growth, and the comedy of owning your mistakes. More info

The Power of Participation — Turn Up. Turn Out.

The Mizell Center hosts a free, one‑hour civic engagement event on Sunday, September 13, inviting the community to come together for The Power of Participation: Turn Up. Turn Out. Presented by Voices Reclaimed, this nonpartisan gathering begins with voter registration at 1:30 pm, followed by a 2–3 pm program featuring uplifting music, community voices, and practical ways to get involved. Speakers include Lauren Mayer, Lisa Middleton, Chris Jackson, and Becki Robinson, with Joe Smith as emcee. The event encourages attendees to show up for one another through voting, volunteering, mentoring, and meaningful connection. Advance registration encouraged at UMCPS.org.

Burgers, Boys & Brews – Sunday BBQ

The Social Cafe & Lounge heats up Sunday afternoon with Burgers, Boys & Brews on Sunday, September 13 from 2:30–4:30 pm. This weekly backyard‑style cookout features fresh‑grilled burgers, hot dogs, sides, bottomless mimosas, bottomless draft beer, and live male entertainment. It’s an all‑inclusive brunch atmosphere where guests can eat, drink, and enjoy the lively weekend vibe. More info

Bylines Film Series – Citizen Kane

The Palm Springs Cultural Center screens Citizen Kane on Sunday, September 13 from 3–5:30 pm, presented as part of the Bylines, Broadcasts & the Big Screen Film Series. Often hailed as the greatest film ever made, Orson Welles’ masterpiece follows journalist attempts to decode Charles Foster Kane’s final word—“Rosebud”—through a groundbreaking narrative structure and deep‑focus cinematography. The series, hosted by the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation, includes introductions and post‑film discussions exploring journalism’s cultural impact. More info

• Bootlegger Tiki Preview Cocktail Menu Tours • Guests can explore an iconic mid-century home with Brandon and Dexter during daytime architectural tours on Friday–Sunday from 11 am–6 pm at The Shag House, or attend the Preview Cocktail Menu Party, with live hula on Saturday from 6–8 pm benefiting Pinups 4 Cancer. Both experiences offer exclusive preview tastings of new Volume 19 cocktails.
• Cinema Couture: Movie Trivia • Participants can test their film knowledge, win prizes, and enjoy drag performances alongside movie showtune sing-alongs on Saturday from 7–8:30 pm at Festival Theaters Palm Springs. Presented by TRASH, this friendly competition promises a fierce and fun night for movie lovers.
• Night Swim • DJs spin live music at the ultimate after-hours pool party on Saturday from 6–10 pm at Palm Springs Surf Club.
• Unbuttoned: A Boylesque Social Experience • Michael Silas blends energetic dance, storytelling, and sharp comedy into a bold, intimate performance on Saturday from 7–8:30 pm at The Social Cafe & Lounge.
• Dance Ranch / Country Dance Saturdays • Rob Ollander-Krane teaches a beginner two-step lesson during a lively night of country western dancing on Saturday from 7–9:30 pm at Step by Step Dance Studio.
• Island Fest • J Boog headlines a tropical celebration featuring live music, cultural entertainment, and hula dancers on Saturday from 8–11 pm at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa.
• Headgames: A Tribute to Foreigner • Headgames captures driving guitars, powerful vocals, and unforgettable hooks on Saturday from 8–11 pm at Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City.
• NSFW: New Season of Work • Russ White, T. Young, Merick Reed, Don Fisher, and Terrence Payne showcase exciting contemporary pieces at a special exhibition celebrating the opening of the local art season at Rubine Red Gallery through September 30.
• A Queer Arcana: Art, Magic, and Spirit • An intergenerational group of artists explores how mysticism and alternative spiritual practices have shaped LGBTQ+ struggles for liberation from Thursday–Sunday at Palm Springs Art Museum through October 18. The works reflect diverse traditions as celebrated by theorist Gloria Anzaldúa.

As part of its commemoration of the 25^th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the September 11^th Victim Compensation Fund, a federally operated program, released information during the past week showing it has awarded more than $18 billion to over 77,000 9/11 victims and their families since 2011. 

Officials with what’s now referred to as the VCF point out that it was created to provide compensation to individuals or to a court-approved personal representative of a deceased individual who were present at one of the three sites where the hijacked jetliners crashed. 

Among those supported under the program are thousands of rescue workers, clean-up crews, and residents living near the World Trade Center Twin Towers destruction site who became ill, many of whom later died, by being exposed to the toxic fumes created by the fire and falling debris.

“Twenty-five years since that day, the September 11^th Victim Compensation Fund has  served tens of thousands of victims and their families, and we continue to receive over 750 new claims each month — a clear indication of the ongoing importance of our mission,” said Allison Turkel, VCF’s leader, who holds the title of Special Master.

In a Sept. 2 briefing for the news media in advance of the 9/11 anniversary commemoration, Turkel pointed out that the VCF operation was upgraded and expanded by separate laws passed by Congress in 2011 and 2019, with the 2019 law signed by President Trump providing full funding to “pay all eligible claims and extended the filing deadline to Oct. 1, 2090.”

LGBTQ advocacy organizations in New York and nationwide have reported that during the time shortly after the 9/11 attacks same-sex surviving partners of 9/11 victims learned they were ineligible for compensation benefits because their same-sex relationships were not legally recognized.

Nicole Nava, a VCF spokesperson, told the Washington Blade she would inquire into whether same-sex couple surviving partners were being supported under the VCF program in more recent years.

She said under long established VCF procedures, all applicants for benefit claims regarding a deceased person, whether same-sex or opposite sex, must be appointed as a Personal Representative of the deceased person by a state court. For D.C. residents, the probate division of the D.C. Superior Court appoints a Personal Representative.

“Claims for deceased victims (regardless of the cause of death) may be submitted only by the Personal Representative,” a statement on the VCF website says. “Each state has laws that define the process for appointment of the Personal Representative and the specific authority granted to that Personal Representative,” it says.

The Washington Blade couldn’t immediately determine the criteria for being approved as a Personal Representative by the D.C. Superior Court  and various state courts, including whether a same-sex survivor partner would be eligible for such an appointment. 

A spokesperson for the District of Columbia LGBTQ+ Bar Association, which includes many local attorneys who specialize in a wide range of specialized legal issues, couldn’t immediately be reached to find out if one or more of their members might be able to determine the same-sex partner eligibility for Personal Representative status.  

In her news media briefing, VCF Special Master Turkel said detailed information about how best to file a claim for 9/11 victim compensation is available on the VCF website.

“Twenty-five years since the events of September 11^th , 2001, we know it has become increasingly challenging for claimants to find documents needed to prove their presence at an eligible location, which is one of the key requirements to be eligible for compensation,” she said.

She was referring to the requirement that 9/11 surviving victims seeking a claim for support for injuries or illnesses related to the 9/11 attacks must prove they were present at the World Trade Center site, the Pentagon site, or the Shanksville, Pa. site where the hijacked jetliners crashed. Those requirements are separate from the less clearly defined criteria for same-sex couple victim survivor eligibility.

“Our team is committed to ensuring no claimant feels lost or overwhelmed when submitting a claim,” Turkel said at the briefing. “We have a great helpline with real live people who can answer or refer any questions that come in,” she added. “They engage in over 4,000 calls a month on average. We encourage folks to call 1-855-1555 with any questions.”

The VCF website, wh

An Indiana prosecutor has declined to file criminal charges against a woman who made a false child welfare complaint against Pete Buttigieg.

Buttigieg, the former transportation secretary in the Biden-Harris administration, was accused in June of posing a threat to his children via an anonymous call to police that resulted in him being temporarily separated from his four-year-old twins.

Marshall County Prosecuting Attorney E. Nelson Chipman Jr. opted not to pursue charges against the Alabama woman who filed the false child welfare claim against the Democratic political figure while she was in Marshall County.

According to ABC 57, the television station in South Bend that published a letter from Michigan State Police to Indiana State Police, the 50-year-old woman, identified only as TJ of Alabama, was responsible for the “brief and intrusive investigation” into Buttigieg and his family.

In the letter to Indiana State Police, Michigan State Police described TJ’s documented alcoholism and other chemical dependencies, as well as hallucinations and delusional thinking. The prosecutor also noted that TJ has self-identified as God and claims to hear voices only she can hear.

The letter from Michigan State Police to Indiana State Police states:

“Your investigation reveals that TJ, 50 years old, has a documented history of alcohol abuse and has experienced numerous treatment facilities and programs for alcoholism and other chemical dependency over the years. Further, TJ has a long history of mental illness, manifested by hallucinations and delusional thinking which includes frequently responding to voices only she hears and grandiose ideation including self-identifying as God. She frequently reports she has enjoyed an evening meal with Barack and Michele Obama.

TJ is from Alabama. During her relatively short stay here, TJ was able to generate three separate police encounters that resulted in reports, one of which resulted in TJ’s arrest for domestic battery. I note her BAC in that case was reported at .323. I also note one of the three early reports was based upon TJ’s claim of herself being a victim of sexual abuse at the age of 3 by her mother some 47 years prior. Her explanation for such a delayed report was incoherent.

As you found out, TJ returned to Alabama and took up residence in a treatment facility only to be soon evicted for a rule violation. She currently resides in a half-way house near Alabama, with very limited mental health treatment options available. I note TJ’s abusive and harassing attitude has resulted in restricting only somewhat her access to a telephone, and that she continues to have access to computers at the facility. Obviously she may still have the ability to file additional complaints. No doubt a regrettable situation.

In light of the totality of circumstances, I am unable to conclude that TJ is capable of forming the requisite intent to support a criminal conviction for this offense. Accordingly, this office will not be filing a criminal case in this matter.

Thank you, as always, for a thorough investigation and cogent report.

Stay safe.

Best regards,

E. Nelson Chipman, Jr.

Marshall County Prosecuting Attorney”

When the situation first arose in June, Buttigieg opened up about the experience via his Substack, where he described the situation as one of the worst things that has ever happened to his family — one that resulted in him being separated from his twins, Joseph August “Gus” and Penelope Rose, for their safety.

“The caller said that he had spoken to a woman who claimed to have met me at a conference several years ago in Alabama, where she said I told her that I had committed unspeakable violent crimes, and the caller believed my children were still at risk,” Buttigieg wrote in a post he titled “A Terrible Thing Happened to My Family.” “I am a reasonable man. I try to keep as calm and low-key as possible. But I cannot describe the mix of rage and sadness that I feel at the idea that someone brought our children into this.”

A Buttigieg spokesman declined to comment on the prosecutor’s decision not to pursue charges, but did tell the Washington Post in a statement: “This has been a painful and infuriating situation for the family. They are in touch with Michigan authorities, seeking answers and accountability for what happened.”

In response to the story Buttigieg shared on his Substack, Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, released the following statement:

“I know how I would feel if someone tried to come between me and my kids. This is truly bottom-of-the-barrel stuff. It takes an awful, hateful person to question someone’s fitness as a parent just because of who they are, who they love, or in Sec. Buttigieg’s case, perhaps even who he speaks out against politically. We’re thinking of Pete, Chasten, and their whole family in this moment — and we aren’t resting until all LGBTQ+ families have the kind of safety and justice every one of us deserves.”

The Los Angeles Blade reached out to Michigan State Police after the story initially broke to ask if any disciplinary action would be imposed on the woman who made the false report, but was told to file a FOIA request to view the full report. After filing a FOIA request, the Blade was denied access to any additional information.

Many in the LGBTQ community in the D.C. area and throughout the country were expected to join friends, co-workers, and family members this week in commemorating the 25^th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the New York World Trade Center’s Twin Towers and on the Pentagon just outside D.C. as well as the jetliner hijacking that ended in a fatal crash in an open field in Shanksville, Pa.

A total of 2,996 people died in the 9/11 attacks, including 19 terrorists who hijacked four jetliners whose passengers included Americans and citizens of many other countries.

Activists involved with local and national LGBTQ advocacy organizations recall witnessing a coming together of LGBTQ people and their co-workers, neighbors, and family members to support one another during a time of unimaginable horror and grief.

Among those who lost their lives in the 9/11 terrorist attacks was American Airlines co-pilot David Charlebois, an out gay man and member of the Gay Pilots Association, who was on American Airlines Flight 77, which the terrorists crashed into the Pentagon.

Also among the terrorist victims in the 9/11 attacks was gay public relations executive and rugby enthusiast Mark Bingham of San Francisco, who was among several passengers of the hijacked United Airlines jet who reportedly stormed the cockpit to regain control of the jetliner before one of the hijackers crashed the jet into the countryside in rural Pennsylvania.

 The jet had taken off from Newark, N.J. with its destination being San Francisco. Investigators learned the hijackers turned the plane around and were heading to Washington, D.C., with plans to crash it into the White House or the U.S. Capitol.

The passengers, including Bingham, who stormed the cockpit and were among the 44 passengers and crew who lost their lives in the crash are credited by investigators and family members and friends with saving the lives of hundreds of others if the hijackers succeeded in crashing into the White House or Capitol.

 Among the other LGBTQ people known to have lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks was Father Mychal Judge, 68, a gay Franciscan priest who served as a Catholic chaplain for the New York City Fire Department. According to the National Catholic Reporter, Judge rushed to the scene of the World Trade Center shortly before the Twin Towers collapsed. He was fatally struck by debris falling from the south tower while giving last rites to a fallen firefighter, the Catholic publication reported. 

“He was a decent, wonderful human being,” said New York gay journalist Andy Humm, who had interviewed Judge for LGBTQ-related stories prior to the 9/11 attacks. “I saw him at many demonstrations for gay and AIDS causes, showing up in his Franciscan monk’s cassock,” Humm told the Washington Blade five years ago at the time of the 9/11 20^th anniversary. “And he was equally beloved by the fire department, there at every major fire tragedy in the city, lending moral support to firefighters,” Humm said.

 Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministries, a Maryland-based LGBTQ Catholic group that advocates for LGBTQ supportive policies within the church, reported five years ago that his group was supporting an effort to call on the Catholic Church to officially recognize Fr. Judge as a saint by canonizing him. But DeBernardo told the Blade this week that those efforts failed to obtain the needed support from various Catholic entities, including the Franciscan Order of Friars Minors, of which Judge was affiliated, ending efforts to canonize Judge as a saint. 

DeBernardo has written a book about Judge’s life and legacy published in 2023 called “Mychal Judge:Take Me Where You Want Me to Go.” 

Among the other widely reported LGBTQ victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks were a gay couple from California, Daniel Brandhorst and Ronald Gamboa, and their adopted son, David, who were among those who died aboard the United Airlines flight that crashed in Pennsylvania. The Los Angeles Times reported that Brandhorst, an attorney, and Gamboa, the manager of a Santa Monica Gap store, had adopted three-year-old David when he was an infant.

For many LGBTQ residents of New York and the D.C. area, the suffering over the loss of loved ones, including same-sex partners, was heightened a short time later when they learned they were initially ineligible for local and federal programs aimed at providing financial assistance to survivors of the 9/11 attack victims because same-sex couples were not legally recognized. 

At the urging of LGBTQ rights organizations, state and local officials in the New York and the D.C. area took steps to address the initial denial of financial support for surviving same-sex partners In programs under their control. Officials with a massive federal aid program for 9/11 survivors, however, said they did not have legal authority to authorize payments to same-sex partners. 

The officials, in the administration of then-President George W. Bush, said the best they could do would be to leave it up to local authorities to determine whether state probate laws would recognize a same-sex partner as a family member for eligibility in the federal aid program for 9/11 survivors, many of whom lived in states outside the New York and D.C. area.

A spokesperson for the September 11^th Victim Compensation Fund, a federally funded program established to compensate for physical harm or death caused by the 9/11 terrorist attacks, including support for surviving family members, didn’t immediately respond this week to a request by the Blade for information on whether same-sex surviving partners were being supported under that program. 

The program, which remains in effect, is operated by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Events commemorating the 25^th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks were scheduled to take place this week at memorial sites honoring the 9/11 victims located outside the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., at the site of the World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York City, and the site of the jetliner crash in Shanksville, Pa., which is operated by the U.S. National Park Service.

The U.S. Congress in 2017 and 2021 approved separate bills signed by President Donald Trump during his first term in office and President Joe Biden creating the Global War on Terrorism Memorial and its construction, to be built on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. that’s scheduled to be completed in 2028.     

The memorial, to be located near the Lincoln Memorial and Vietnam Veterans Memorial close to 23^rd Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., is intended to honor people who served and were lost in the wars and counterterrorism operations that followed the 9/11 attacks, including U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.     

Longtime LGBTQ rights advocate Jay Fisette, who at the time of the 9/11 attacks held the elected position of chair of the Arlington County Board, which serves as the county’s governing body, was among the Arlington officials that came to the Pentagon’s grounds in Arlington to oversee efforts by firefighters to rescue Pentagon workers on the day of the attack. 

At an Oct. 7, 2001, 9/11 Day of Remembrance and Appreciation ceremony held in Arlington, Fisette expressed the views of many in the community in response to the 9/11 attacks.

“Tonight, our community gather as a family,” he told the gathering. “We gather in sorrow and in disbelief, in remembrance and appreciation,” he said. “But we come here, too, with resolve and pride. We come together as Arlingtonians who love our country, as Americans who love our country,” he said.

“Our enemies may hurt our bodies and destroy our buildings, but they will never defeat our determination to make this a world of peace and a community in which our children grow up safe and secure,” Fissette said. 

Although some of the same-sex partners of those killed in the 9/11 attacks faced obstacles in obtaining financial support through the federal 9/11 relief program, Tom Hay, the surviving partner of 14 years of American Airlines pilot David Charlebois was treated with respect and honor by American Airlines officials and colleagues at Charlebois’s funeral mass at D.C.’s St. Matthew Cathedral. 

More than a dozen uniformed company pilots and flight attendants attended the mass. And a press release issued by American Airlines mentioned Charlebois’s relationship with Hay and told how Hay stood with Charlebois when Charlebois advocated for equal rights for LGBTQ people in the airline industry through his involvement with the National Gay Pilots Association.

“David was an early member of the NGPA,” the American Airlines statement said. “His contribution helped ensure ongoing progress toward fairness and solidarity.” 

Activists in New York have said the 9/11 attacks drew attention to the need for legal protections for same-sex couples, including the need for recognition of same-sex marriage, which the U.S. Supreme Court legalized nationwide in its landmark ruling in 2015.

But LGBTQ advocates in New York pointed to the difficulties LGBTQ surviving partners faced when desperately seeking to find out if a partner had survived at the site of the World Trade Center attack where the Red Cross and other emergency relief agencies set up a station near the site of the attack. 

“Literally, gay people had to go there, turn around, go back home, and get some paperwork that spouses didn’t have to get to prove a relationship existed,” said Ryan Levi, who at the time served as executive director of the New York LGBTQ advocacy group Empire State Pride Agenda.

“You were nervous and scared and sad and then you had to go through that,” Levi told the Blade in 2011 at the time of the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. “And worse yet, other people turned them away, even with the paperwork, saying sorry you’re not a family according to our guidelines.”

Activists said New York City and New York State officials quickly recognized the inequities faced by same-sex partner survivors and took steps to change polices and laws to correct the situation. Among other things, New York’s then-Gov. George Pataki (R) issued an executive order in October 2001 that included surviving partners of gay and lesbian victims of the World Trade Center attacks in receiving full spousal benefits from the state’s Crime Victims Board.

In a separate development, the LGBTQ litigation group Lambda Legal, ESPA, the Human Rights Campaign, and other LGBTQ advocacy groups created the September 11 Gay & Lesbian Family Fund to provide some support to surviving same-sex partners who were ineligible for help from the federal relief fund program. 

“The terrorist attack on September 11^th is a tragedy that touched every American, impacting people and families from all walks of life,” Jonathan Lovitz, the Human Rights Campaign’s Senior Vice President for Campaigns and Communications told the Blade in a statement this week.

“As in all moments in American history, LGBTQ+ Americans were there, and feel the impact of this day,” he said. “As we remember the lives lost 25 years later, the heartbreak remains strong and the work to ensure that every person can live safe from violence in this country continues.”