By Tequila Mockingbird
Palm Springs, CA (The Hollywood Times) 11/5/25 – There’s something poetic about Palm Springs Pride honoring a woman who has spent her life shining a light on others. This year, the radiant Valerie Milano — Publisher and Senior Editor of The Hollywood Times — is receiving the Spirit of Stonewall Arts & Culture Award, a recognition that feels as inevitable as the desert sunrise.
The celebration takes place October 16 at the Hilton Palm Springs, where the Coachella Valley’s creative pulse beats hardest during Pride season. But for those of us who’ve known Valerie for years, this award isn’t just about her journalism — it’s about her journey.
I’ve known Valerie since she was very young. Even then, she carried an energy that could fill a room — that rare mix of enthusiasm, beauty, experience, and pure perseverance. She’s the kind of person who walks into a scene and lifts it higher, who believes in art and people with the same unflinching heart.
Through The Hollywood Times, she’s bridged entertainment and activism, giving visibility to LGBTQ+ voices, filmmakers, and artists who might otherwise be overlooked. From Cinema Diverse to The Dinah, from Hollywood premieres to Palm Springs afterparties, Valerie’s lens has always been focused on humanity — and hope.
Her work reminds us that storytelling is resistance, and celebration is survival. And now, the community she’s championed is giving that love right back.
So, here’s to Valerie Milano — journalist, advocate, dreamer, and my dear friend — for keeping the fire bright and the stories honest. Pride couldn’t have chosen a better heart to honor.
