By Valerie Milano
Photos Credit: Kate Castle and Mei Ling Tom
Palm Springs, CA (The Hollywood Times) 10/18/25 – Reporting today (even though I’m currently in Athens, Greece, and my wonderful colleagues took notes for me!) from the heart of downtown Palm Springs, where Frances Stevens Park was transformed into a vibrant tapestry of pride and purpose for the long-awaited dedication of the Palm Springs Pride Monument.
Under a flawless desert sky, community leaders, artists, and allies gathered to celebrate a dazzling new symbol of LGBTQ+ history, resilience, and unity.
Designed by acclaimed local artist Jim Isermann, the monument stands as both a masterpiece and a message — composed of 720 stainless-steel modules painted in bold rainbow hues and built around three timeless symbols: the lambda, the triangle, and the rainbow. Each carries deep significance in LGBTQ+ history; together, they form a fearless declaration of visibility and pride.
The City of Palm Springs has officially added the Pride Monument to its permanent public art collection, ensuring that it endures as a lasting testament to authenticity and love for generations to come.
For Al Jones, Monument Board President, the installation represents more than celebration, it’s a call to remember. “It will serve as a powerful educational tool, illuminating the rich history and vibrant culture of our LGBTQ+ community,” Jones shared.
And the celebration continues. One week from today, the city will host the official flag-raising ceremony for the new Permanent Pride Flag in the Arenas District, another milestone in Palm Springs’ unwavering commitment to visibility and equality.
The ceremony, part of the Arenas Road Block Party on October 24 at 5 PM, will unveil a 65-foot flagpole at the intersection of Arenas Road and Indian Canyon Drive. Approved by the Palm Springs City Council and maintained by Palm Springs Pride under a 30-year license, the installation will fly year-round as a permanent landmark of love and resilience.
While LGBTQ+ symbols are being challenged or removed in many parts of the U.S., Palm Springs stands proudly in defiance, a beacon of hope where equality isn’t just celebrated, it’s literally cemented in steel and raised high for all to see.
As the monument shimmered in the afternoon sun, surrounded by laughter, tears, and applause, one truth rang clear across continents: love always rises above fear and hate.
SIDEBAR: Palm Springs Pride Weekend Highlights
Upcoming Event: Permanent Pride Flag Ceremony
- Date: Thursday, October 24, 2025
- Time: 5:00 PM
- Location: Intersection of Arenas Road & Indian Canyon Drive
- Event: Official flag-raising during the Arenas Road Block Party
- Details: A 65-foot flagpole will permanently fly the Pride flag year-round — a first for downtown Palm Springs.
About the Monument
- Location: Frances Stevens Park, downtown Palm Springs
- Artist: Jim Isermann
- Design: Three key LGBTQ+ symbols — lambda, triangle, rainbow
- Structure: 720 stainless-steel modules in bold rainbow colors
- Purpose: To honor LGBTQ+ history, courage, and creativity
Editor’s Note:
Valerie Milano filed this story remotely from Athens, Greece, while on assignment and (finally!) taking a well-deserved vacation. Reporting support provided by The Hollywood Times team on the ground in Palm Springs.
