Pride Board Names deHarte New President

Greater Palm Springs Pride announced that Ron deHarte has been appointed the nonprofit organization’s new President.

deHarte, a large-scale event producer and nonprofit organization executive, is a LGBT rights activist who was first elected to serve on the board of directors in 2010 to fill a void created when board president Jack Schloeder had taken ill.  Schloeder led Palm Springs Pride as its president over the past eleven years.

Board Treasurer John Willows said, “We wanted to build upon the achievements realized over the last two years, advance the mission of pride so that it will shine out as exemplifying the nature of a pride organization in service to the community.  With Ron’s appointment we have a leader committed to improving the identity and mission of pride.”  READ MORE

Photo by Bruce Howell

Desert Mirage High School Youth Club Awarded $1,000 from Palm Springs Pride

Palm Springs Pride started the 2012 year off by presenting a $1,000 grant to the Gay, Lesbian or Whatever (GLOW) club at Desert Mirage High School. GLOW was recognized for their work to create a safe environment in school for students and for their efforts to fight discrimination, harassment, and violence in schools. 

“We applaud the work of these students.  Their confidence, leadership and activism is inspiring,” said Ron deHarte the president of Palm Springs Pride.  Located in Thermal, California which is just past Coachella near Salton Sea, the GLOW club has 26 members with a school student population of 1,900.  The club aims to make their school community safe and welcoming to all students regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

The funds were raised by the pride organization at the 2011 Greater Palm Springs Pride Festival in November.

deHarte added, “Supporting the Gay-Straight Alliance organizations in the Coachella Valley is one way the pride organization can help combat bullying in schools.”

In the photograph (l to r) Rosa Gutierrez, Ron deHarte, President of Palm Springs Pride, presenting the donation to Andres Valencia, Desert Mirage High School GLOW President and Leidi Manzanarez.  Not pictured is the club advisor Samantha Gomez. The presentation was made at the Palm Springs Pride office.

Palm Springs Pride Donates $1000 to La Quinta High School Gay Straight Alliance

Palm Springs Pride issued a $1,000 grant to the La Quinta High School Gay Straight Alliance in support of their work to create a safe environment in school for students and for their efforts to fight discrimination, harassment, and violence in schools.  We love our GSA’s!

The funds were raised by Palm Springs Pride through water sales and the Vons Farmers Market at the recent Pride Festival.

In the photograph (l to r) Ron deHarte, Pride Executive Vice President, presents the donation to Rebecca Corona, La Quinta High School GSA Treasurer and Susannah Kennedy, the school’s GSA Advisor.  The presentation was made at the Pride office.  Photo by Bruce Howell.

Thank You!

Thank you for making the 25^th Anniversary of Pride in Palm Springs a great celebration of equal rights.  The largest crowds ever gathered along Palm Canyon Drive to watch the Pride Parade and take part in our community’s call for full equality for all individuals.  The Saturday Festival and Block Party drew record breaking attendees.  We certainly did not let a little rain dampen our passion for equal rights!

We are thankful to our volunteers, sponsors, supporters, advertisers and to you for contributing to our mission of raising awareness and breaking down barriers to equality.

In the last twenty-five years many have led the way for the LGBT civil rights movement in Coachella Valley and we acknowledge their vision and thank them for making it possible for us to be proud of who we are as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender individuals.

Our collective voice will be heard from the board room to the halls of justice all year long.  Thank you for participating in the pride events and giving us that voice.

Thank you for your support of Palm Springs Pride.

With pride,

 The Board of Directors

Greater Palm Springs Pride

2012 Palm Springs Pride Festival
Saturday & Sunday Nov. 3-4, 2012

2012 Pride Parade
Sunday Nov. 4, 2012 10AM

About Palm Springs Pride
The Greater Palm Springs Pride organization (pspride.org) is a non-profit organization founded to promote the public education and public awareness of individual rights and civil liberties of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community and to promote the history, diversity and future prosperity of the Greater Palm Springs LGBT community. The organization produces the annual Palm Springs Pride Festival and Parade.

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