By Sara Collas, Ph.D (AKA Peru)
Palm Springs, CA (The Hollywood Times) 9/26/25 – Palm Springs sizzled for the 34th and final Dinah, Mariah Hanson’s legendary lesbian party weekend. For over three decades, The Dinah has promised music, poolside glamour, and celebrity sightings, this year featuring The L Word stars, Crystal Waters, and DJ Tatiana.
But is it really a movement, as Hanson called it, or just an expensive rite of passage? Conversations at the poolside revealed frustration: no sober events, no coffee meetups, and little signage. Early-week programming left some wandering around wondering where the lesbians actually were. Add-on fees, like $75 to meet The L Word icons, only fueled the critique.
The Dinah has always thrived on spectacle: red carpets, influencers, dodgeball games with celebrities, and sweaty late-night dance floors. Yet behind the glamour, Latinx hotel staff worked tirelessly to clean up after the party crowd, their labor largely invisible to those basking in the desert nightlife.
For many, The Dinah was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For others, it felt like a cash-heavy scene wrapped in rainbow branding. After 34 years, the legacy is undeniable: iconic, controversial, and unforgettable. But the big question lingers, what comes next for queer women’s spaces when the glitter settles?
