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Palm Springs celebrates annual gay-themed party weekend
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Palm Springs celebrates annual gay-themed party weekend
Music: "We're searching for a love alive / You hand is out and brushes mine..."] It's time for one of the biggest annual gay-themed dance parties in Palm Springs. Call it "Spring Break" for gay men. KPCC's Steven Cuevas has more on the hedonistic celebration known as "White Party."
Music: "We're searching for a love alive / You hand is out and brushes mine..."] It's time for one of the biggest annual gay-themed dance parties in Palm Springs. Call it "Spring Break" for gay men. KPCC's Steven Cuevas has more on the hedonistic celebration known as "White Party."
Steven Cuevas: L.A. club promoter Jeffrey Sanker got the party started 20 years ago.
Jeffrey Sanker: When I came out to California, and you're out in the desert, you get very tan. It was just a natural fit to wear white. It's sort of a selfish thing, but I look good in white!
Cuevas: About 500 people attended the first White Party. Now it's a staple of the international party circuit, drawing tens of thousands of people every year. Ticket sales are down a bit this year, but Sanker says devotees are finding a way to party.
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Sanker: Even in this economy, people wanna go out and have a little fun and forget their troubles. We have a layaway ticket. A lot of people took advantage of that. So I think they're being a little economical but they're still coming.
[Lady Gaga (music): Sound fanatic / Times tight / But we got no money]
Cuevas: And how could you resist with a silver sequined headliner called Lady Gaga?
[Lady Gaga (music): Daddy I'm so sorry, I'm so s-s-s-sorry yeah / We just like to party, like to p-p-party...]
Cuevas: Several hotels are also hosting events including a "boxer or briefs" party, and lots of pool parties. And yes, straight people are welcome.
Sanker: Well actually, there's a lot of straight people coming. Not a huge amount – but I'd say at least 10 percent.
Cuevas: "White Party Weekend" winds down Sunday.
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