Back in the day, when homosexuality was still a public taboo, this unassuming desert town 170km east of LA became known as a “safe zone” where LGBTIQ people and allies could unwind without scrutiny.
Well-heeled architects, designers and Hollywood types were the first to put Palm Springs on the map. In the ’50s, gay celebrities began frequenting the city as a way to escape prying eyes. Closeted actors like Rock Hudson and his lover George Nader could live without fear of being outed.