Greater Palm Springs Pride announces 2025 honors award recipients

Greater Palm Springs Pride will honor six individuals and organizations for their contributions to the LGBTQ+ community at the 2025 Palm Springs Pride Honors Awards reception on Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Palm Springs Hilton.

The awards recognize leadership and activism within the community during what organizers describe as a challenging political period for LGBTQ+ rights.

“In today’s political climate, where the rights and protections of LGBTQ+ people are facing unprecedented challenges, the act of publicly recognizing community members is more vital than ever,” said Ron deHarte, president and CEO of Palm Springs Pride. “As administrations attempt to roll back protections and create a sense of fear and uncertainty, events like the Greater Palm Springs Pride Honors Awards serve as a powerful counter-narrative.”

Entrepreneur and drag performer Honey Davenport will receive the Spirit of Stonewall Business of Pride Award. Davenport, who appeared on RuPaul’s Drag Race, founded Honey’s Hose, an inclusive hosiery line for drag performers, and uses her platform to advocate for marginalized communities.

The Rev. Jane Voigts, pastor of the United Methodist Church of Palm Springs, will receive the Spirit of Stonewall Friend of Pride Award for her advocacy work since arriving in 2018. Voigts organized events including the Stonewall 50th Anniversary Observance and the Interfaith PRIDE Shabbat.

Loren Ostrow, CEO and president of Living Out, will be honored with the Spirit of Pride Award. Ostrow leads the first luxury active adult community designed for LGBTQ+ people and their allies, providing housing where older adults can live authentically.

Valerie Milano, publisher and senior editor of The Hollywood Times, will receive the Spirit of Stonewall Arts and Culture Award for her journalism and coverage of LGBTQ+ cultural events, including the Palm Springs LGBTQ+ Film Festival and Cinema Diverse.

Courageous Resistance Indivisible of the Desert, a grassroots activist group with more than 1,740 members, will be named Organization of the Year. The group has organized rallies drawing more than 5,000 people and focuses on voter education and advocacy.

Ben and Bob Kincaid, owners of Roadrunner Print and Ship, will receive the Spirit of Stonewall Community Service Award for their support of local festivals and nonprofits through their business.

“These awards do more than simply acknowledge individual achievements,” deHarte said. “They send a clear and resounding message that the LGBTQ+ community and its allies are strong, visible, and united.”

Jasmine Sullivan-Waits, executive director of Palm Springs Pride, said the recognition serves as resistance against political rhetoric targeting LGBTQ+ people.

“Events that shine a spotlight on community leaders and their accomplishments are an act of resistance,” Sullivan-Waits said. “They affirm the worth and dignity of a community under threat, and they inspire the next generation of advocates to continue the fight for equality and justice for all.”

---

Details: More information about the awards ceremony, including how you can purchase tickets, is available here.

---