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Courtesy of Raphael Renter
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The Palm Springs Public Library Foundation will host a two-day pride book festival starting Friday in collaboration with Greater Palm Springs Pride.
The Pride on the Page festival will be held on Nov. 4 and Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with five panels of LGBTQ+ affirming authors each day at the Welwood Murray Memorial Library patio, 100 South Palm Canyon Drive.
“Our goal is to bring together thought-provoking, entertaining and enriching subject matter that communicates different viewpoints and represents various genres that will attract readers/people who have never experienced queer culture, and others who have made it the focus of their lives,” said a statement from the foundation.
Attendees will get to reacquaint or discover new authors — such as Melissa Chadburn, Michael Craft, Steven Rowley, Katherine V. Forrest and Rebecca Walker — by listening to discussions led by panel moderators about their works and points of view, according to foundation officials. Each hour-long discussion will be followed by a break for book signings.
A ticketed fundraising event for the foundation will also be held in the evening with Sharon Gless discussing her autobiography with her former co-star Peter Paige from “Queer as Folk.” It will be held at the Plaza Theatre, 128 South Palm Canyon Drive.
Greater Palm Springs Pride will feature four grand marshals, recognized for their achievements and community service, at the annual pride parade on Sunday.
Benita Ramsey, Willie Rhine and Andre Carthen will serve as grand marshals for the “Say Gay-” themed parade, according to Ron deHarte, president and CEO of Greater Palm Springs Pride. The fourth grand marshal is the organization PFLAG.
“The grand marshals stand out in their professions and are among the valley’s most active advocates for equality, diversity and living their life lifting others,” deHarte said.
Ramsey is an ordained minister and pastor at Unity Fellowship Church- IE and serves as a program support manager for the Inland Empire HIV Planning Council, as well as executive director of Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance, deHarte said.
Rhine has volunteered and donated to help HIV patients at the Desert Regional Medical Center, according to deHarte. He is also co-owner of 1501 Uptown Gastro Pub and the EIGHT4NINE Restaurant and Lounge in Palm Springs, which has helped raise money for charities.
Carthen worked on Broadway, television and in film and serves on the Nutrisystem Success Chef’s Council.
PFLAG, with hundreds of chapters and over 325,000 members, is the first and largest organization that supports, educates and advocates for LGBTQ+ individuals and their families, deHarte said.
The marshals will ride in the Pride Parade, which steps off at 10 a.m. Nov. 6 at North Palm Canyon Drive and East Tachevah Drive and head toward downtown.
