Flag unfurled at historic bell tower as Palm Springs kicks off Pride Week

City officials and Desert Regional Medical Center leaders marked the start of Pride Week on Wednesday with the 10th annual Pride flag unfurling ceremony at the hospital’s historic bell tower.

What began a decade ago as a small gathering of hospital staff tossing a flag from the tower has since grown into a community tradition. Created by hospital staff member Linda Stevens, the event now draws city leaders, hospital employees, and local organizations eager to celebrate inclusion.

This year, nurse and house supervisor Carl Taussig-Eilman and his husband Jim Eilman unfurled the rainbow banner from atop the Jerry Stergios Building, home to the 68-foot-tall Spanish revival tower originally built as part of the El Mirador Hotel.

Mayor Ron deHarte presented a proclamation recognizing the unfurling as the ceremonial launch of Pride Week. He noted that this year’s theme, “Be Heard,” encourages the community to move beyond visibility and ensure stories, struggles, and voices are acknowledged.

“Under the theme of ‘Be Heard,’ this week’s Pride celebration, whatever it means to each one of you, is really a great opportunity for our residents and business community to show the world what Palm Springs is all about — welcoming, accepting, a diverse community, and we stand for equality for all people,” deHarte said.

DeHarte, who also serves as president and CEO of Palm Springs Pride, framed the ceremony as an expression of leadership during challenging political times.

“In this political climate, when certain members of our community are being silenced or erased, Palm Springs stands proud to recognize everybody in our community,” he said.

Hospital leaders emphasized that the bell tower, built in 1929, offers a fitting backdrop for the flag. Mike Ditoro, CEO of Desert Regional, said the hospital has been part of the community for more than 75 years and has earned recognition from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for its work in healthcare equality.

“I am so proud of our team here at Desert Regional who made that recognition possible,” Ditoro said.

Taussig-Eilman’s role in the ceremony also reflects personal progress: he began his career at the hospital as a monitor technician before rising through nursing positions to house supervisor.

As the ceremony concluded, Rich Ramhoff, group director of marketing for Desert Care Network Hospitals, noted the tradition’s upward trajectory. Each year, he said, attendance grows a little more — along with the city’s enthusiasm for the celebration it represents.

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