Spring Into Pride
By David Ethridge
The economy has taken its toll on businesses both large and small, as well as individuals from all walks of life. One group that has been hit particularly hard by these rough financial times is non-profit organizations. Many of our LGBT and HIV/AIDS groups have seen donations – both corporate and personal – dry up as their regular benefactors face financial difficulties.
Several AIDS-related organizations have really begun to capitalize on something that big non-profits like Goodwill and the Salvation Army have been doing for years: thrift stores. Having a thrift or consignment shop where sales of donated items provide much needed funds for service programs is nothing new. Indeed the Out of the Closet Thrift Stores, now with locations in 21 cities, has been raising dollars for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation for almost 20 years.
We take time this issue to profile three of the great thrift stores that serve the HIV/AIDS communities in Orange County, Long Beach and Palm Springs. In addition to Out of the Closet, we explore the AIDS Assistance Thrift Store in Long Beach, located next to the Gay and Lesbian Center, as well as Revivals thrift store in Palm Springs. We also take a trip down memory lane as we remember a wonderful OC thrift store from the past: Dorothy’s on Broadway.
March is also the first month of spring and two of the largest parties of the year are about to happen in Palm Springs. We interview Mariah Hanson, founder of Club Skirts Presents The Dinah, and talk about how a desert golf tournament has evolved into the largest women’s party in the world. Be sure to pick up the next issue also, when we’ll have news about the men’s equivalent to The Dinah – the Palm Springs White Party.
Finally, be sure to read our Orange County news section to hear about some courageous LGBTs who recently marched in the Westminster Tet Parade, despite the vocal opposition from churches, commmunity leaders and more. With support from The Center, PFLAG and others, the men and women marched with pride.