APRIL 24TH - APRIL 30TH, 2019 THE ULTIMATE QUEER GUIDE

This is the big one. 30 years of White Party,
the premiere gay circuit party. Now in its
30th year and loaded with the history of
the gay movement in America. As I was
told, this Party was started as a cancer
fundraising event in Florida. One of the
first parties was held August 8, 1974, hosted
by Chicago business owner Chuck Renslow
to celebrate his birthday and thank his
patrons. It was then held for the next 36
years until 2010.
Palm Springs, California, has held an
annual White Party since 1990. The Palm
Springs White Party Sunday Tea Dance
features a Ferris Wheel and a fireworks
display."[5] In 2004, The New York Times
travel section featured an in-depth look
at The White Party in Palm Springs
in conjunction with staff members of
Noizemag. But locally, it had a much larger
impact and it continues to this day.
drug fueled twink orgy. And many love it
for that same exact reason. The truth is that
it is neither, and it is both at the same time.
Because it is gay people, and WP represents
a very large cross cut of our community,
good and bad. Your experience is entirely
what you make of it. Each person you meet
will be different, and each hotel room party
will go from mild to wild at any point.
There are veterans, first timers, the very old
and their admirers, and the very young and
their admirers.
Locally it changed by more than just
the people that attended, it transformed
our community. Prior to 1994 it was a
small innovative party atmosphere. HIV
treatment was still sketchy at best, there
was little support, and gay life was confined
to Cathedral City. The Aids crisis did not
really help. Palm Springs did not want the
gay community. Gays could not even march
in the veteran’s day parade, much less
parade down the street in Easter bonnets as
well do now.
For one thing, the entire gay community
in Palm Springs owes its existence to the
White Party, even though it’s not really your
party and many locals degenerate it as a Based on the substantial revenue generated
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