Palm Springs Pride Equality Walk postponed until 2026, citing financial and logistical challenges
Athena Jreij
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — The inaugural Palm Springs Pride ‘Pride Equality Walk’ that was scheduled to kick off Saturday, October 25, has been postponed until 2026, organizers said Sunday.
According to Palm Springs Pride, the organization does not have the current resources needed to put on the event. In a statement, PS Pride said the decision was made due to “unexpected financial and logistical challenges,” including recent changes “impacting promotional relationships.”
A new date for the inaugural walk in 2026 has not yet been announced.
Volunteers for the walk received the notification Sunday, reading “We want to let you know Palm Springs Pride has decided to cancel the first-year Equality Walk scheduled for Saturday, October 25. This was a difficult call, and we truly appreciate your flexibility and continued support.”
Palm Spring Pride announced the Equality Walk in May, after DAP Health canceled their annual Health Equity Walk fundraising for HIV/AIDs care. DAP Health cited rising costs and declining participation as reasons for the cancellation.
Earlier this week, Palm Springs Pride announced they were severing promotional ties with sponsor, Silvercrest Advertising. Silvercrest CEO William ‘Billy’ Rodriguez was arrested this month on felony charges of homicide and hit and run for a deadly crash in October of 2024. Rodriguez plead not guilty to the charges last week.
In a full statement to News Channel 3, Palm Springs Pride said:
“We are writing to let all registered participants, supporters, and valued sponsors know that the inaugural Pride Equality Walk, initially scheduled for Saturday, October 25, will be postponed. This difficult decision was made to ensure we can deliver an event that fully upholds the integrity and mission of the Pride Equality Walk: a unified stand for LGBTQ+ visibility, rights, and full equality.
Due to unexpected financial and logistical challenges, including recent changes that have impacted our promotional relationships, we have determined that our current resources are not sufficient to execute the high-quality, impactful event our community deserves. We believe taking this time to restructure and fortify our foundation is the necessary step to guarantee the Walk’s ultimate success.
We are fully committed to this event and are already working toward a new launch. We will announce a new date for the inaugural Walk in 2026 soon.
Thank you for your patience and unwavering support as we navigate this transition. Your commitment means the world to us! We look forward to gathering with you in 2026 for a truly memorable and powerful inaugural event! Please know that all registrations will automatically be applied to the 2026 event. If you prefer a refund, please email your request to walk@pspride.org. Thank you again for your understanding.”
Stick with News Channel 3 as we continue to follow this developing story.