Nearly 200 residents and visitors attended Cathedral City Presents The Old Gays: In Conversation at Mary Pickford Theatre is D’Place, on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. The program was sponsored by the City of Cathedral City’s Parks & Community Events Commission and the Public Arts Commission. Event photos were provided by Steven Recinos Media.
Podcaster Jason Blitman, who co-hosts the Gays Reading podcast, moderated the panel discussion, followed by a book signing upstairs in the mezzanine. The book signing was managed by The Best Bookstore in Palm Springs.
The Old Gays are a group of Cathedral City residents and LGBTQ+ activists who range in age from 67-80. The group consists of Robert Reeves, Michael “Mick” Peterson, Bill Lyons and Jessay Martin. The Old Gays are an internet sensation with more than 11 million followers on TikTok, 680,000+ followers on Instagram and 500,000+ on Facebook. They have recently published a book titled The Old Gays Guide to the Good Life, published by HarperCollins. Books will be available onsite for purchase.
The City Council of Cathedral City approved this event at their regular meeting on Oct. 25, 2023. The Parks & Community Events Commission (PACE) heard this item at their Oct. 3, 2023, meeting and approved $800 for the facility rental and refreshments from the PACE Small Events budget. The Public Arts Commission (PAC) heard this item at their Oct. 10, 2023, meeting and approved $800 that was used towards the facility rental and sound/lighting staffing. The expenditure came out of the Art in Public Places Fund.
Cathedral City is valued and respected as a community that welcomes and embraces diversity, has an abundance of high quality and affordable housing options and vibrant businesses. Our neighborhoods are attractive, well-maintained, and issues surrounding homelessness have been compassionately addressed with thoughtful, coordinated, and collaborative programs.
