Tonight, Wednesday May 4, the Palm Springs City Council will vote on a resolution to formally support same-sex marriage. While the resolution would not have any legal impact, it could still lead to regional and possibly even state-wide change for marriage equality.If passed, the resolution would make Palm Springs one of only a handful of California cities to address the issue of gay marriage. Equality California, a statewide advocacy group on behalf of LGBT rights, stated that Palm Springs has a prominent gay population – estimated at about 40 percent – and critical gay representation in the city council.
But even these facts aren’t necessarily enough to clinch a symbolic victory for same-sex marriage at tonight’s meeting. While many support the measure, there are others within the Palm Springs community who are growing increasingly uneasy with the city’s reputation as a liberal hotbed of agenda-driven gay and lesbian movers and shakers. Tommy Kappmeyer explained, “I hate to see Palm Springs go the way it is. I grew up here and I just don’t like the way the city is going.” Kappmeyer went on to decry the city’s classification as a “gay mecca” of the west coast.
Ultimately, tonight’s vote will reveal whether or not Palm Springs residents are predominantly united in support of gay marriage, and where the push for equality will go from here.
