By Valerie Milano
Palm Springs, CA (The Hollywood Times) 10/9/25 – The Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) 24th Annual Palm Springs Garden Party returns on Saturday, November 8, from 2:00–4:30 p.m., uniting national and local leaders, advocates, and allies for an afternoon of community, celebration, and action. As proud media partners, The Hollywood Times is honored to highlight this pivotal event, which continues to position Palm Springs as a national hub for LGBTQ+ rights and equality.
Hosted at a private historic estate, the Garden Party is not just a fundraiser but, as Brian O’Connor, Executive Producer and Steering Committee Chair, described in our interview, “a rallying call for action. We need the entire community activating, not sitting on the sidelines, not observing, and not scrolling social media. The rights we’ve enjoyed and appreciated are being attacked, and we need to stand together.”
Click below for our exclusive interview:
This year, the City of Palm Springs will receive the HRC Community Leadership Award for achieving a perfect score on the Municipal Equality Index for two consecutive years. Mayor Ron deHarte, who also serves as Palm Springs’ mayor, reflected that “we are proud to see Palm Springs’ continuing commitment, not only to its employees, but to the residents and visitors who come here. Equality for all people is part of our city’s core. Palm Springs is a welcoming city, and it has become part of who we are.”
Palm Springs’ history as a trailblazer in LGBTQ+ representation will also be celebrated, from the election of Ron Oden, the nation’s first openly gay African American mayor, to the groundbreaking election of Lisa Middleton, the city’s first transgender councilmember.
In addition, the Transgender Health and Wellness Center will receive the Community Impact Award. O’Connor explained, “Their work is essential. From life services to gender-affirming care, they provide critical support in a climate of heightened attacks on the transgender community. We need to stand together and protect our brothers and sisters across the entire alphabet.”
The Garden Party will feature some of the nation’s most inspiring LGBTQ+ voices. Brandon Wolf, HRC National Press Secretary and survivor of the Pulse nightclub tragedy, will deliver keynote remarks. “He is a phenomenal orator,” O’Connor said. “I’m thrilled that our Palm Springs community will get to hear him.”
Andy Linsky, a local icon and longtime HRC volunteer leader, will be honored for his decades of service. “Andy has been a fighter and champion when it wasn’t easy or popular,” Mayor deHarte said. “We’re so proud of him.”
Alexandra Billings, celebrated activist and USC faculty member, will join to honor the Transgender Health and Wellness Center. “She brings powerful advocacy and authenticity,” O’Connor noted.
The Garden Party is part of Palm Springs Pride Weekend, which draws over 100,000 visitors annually. “It’s charged with energy and excitement,” Mayor deHarte told me. “It attracts folks who are committed advocates for LGBTQ equality, making for a wonderful weekend in Palm Springs.”
In addition to the Garden Party, Palm Springs will dedicate the city’s first LGBTQ+ civil rights sculpture, the Pride Monument, on October 17 at Francis Stevens Park, marking the 40th anniversary of Pride in Palm Springs. Designed by local artist Jim Isermann, the monument will serve as a beacon of history and hope for generations to come.
For O’Connor, the Garden Party connects local spirit to national momentum. “HRC has 3.6 million members, but there are 70 million equality voters nationwide. Events like this help activate them. When people know our lives, our families, our stories, that shifts culture and drives equality forward.”
Mayor deHarte added that Palm Springs’ visibility matters globally: “Around the world, there are countries where it’s still illegal to be LGBTQ. When people see what’s happening in Palm Springs, it gives them hope. It inspires them to keep fighting in their local communities.”
The 24th HRC Palm Springs Garden Party promises an afternoon of camaraderie, inspiration, and action, with food, beverages, a cold brew bar, and unforgettable speakers. “It’s our most festive gathering,” O’Connor said. “It’s a perfect representation of who we are in Palm Springs, diverse, welcoming, and committed.”
Tickets are sold out as of 11/4/25
