Back in Lesbian Paradise, at Long Last
The New York Times
The Dinah Shore Weekend, an annual festival for queer women, returned to Palm Springs last weekend after a two-year hiatus, this time with even more energy than usual.
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — In late September, when thousands of people descended on the Hilton Palm Springs for a marathon weekend of pool parties, concerts and club nights, it had been close to 19 months since Covid-19 put life as we knew it on pause — not to mention, more than two years since this desert city had been transformed into a lively lesbian oasis.
The Dinah Shore Weekend, also known as the Dinah or lesbian spring break, has been taking over Palm Springs for 30 years now to put on what is called “the largest girl party in the world.” This time around, there were delays — the event was rescheduled twice — as well as safety precautions, including proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test result before each event. But there was still boundless energy.
At Saturday’s twerking contest, for instance, one contestant managed to keep a surgical mask affixed to her face as she thrust her lower half back and forth. Cara Delevingne, the model and actress, egged on the contestants, as go-go performers in rainbow swimsuits gyrated on platforms surrounding the hotel’s pool, Dinah attendees sliding cash tips into their skintight get-ups. (For those less inclined to touch, Venmo was also an option.)
