The Dinah’s Final Bow: Celebrating 34 Years of Sapphic Joy and Community

Palm Springs, California, will soon host the final chapter of a festival that has shaped the landscape for queer women, nonbinary, and transgender people for more than three decades: The Dinah, officially known as Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend. What began in 1991 as a single night party organized by Mariah Hanson during the Dinah Shore LPGA golf tournament has blossomed into a five-day celebration that has consistently drawn thousands of LGBTQ+ attendees from across the globe, seeking joy, liberation, and connection in the desert sun .

The festival’s roots stretch back even further. Lesbian party promoters Sandy Sachs and Dr. Robin Gans, through their iconic Girl Bar, helped build the early spring break experience for queer women, with the Dinah Shore golf tournament as its nucleus. Through their efforts, and later Hanson’s vision, the event evolved from informal gatherings into an organized, safe space for lesbians and queer women to connect during a time when visibility was fraught with danger .

The significance of The Dinah transcends the parties and poolside revelry. From its inception, Hanson’s mission was to provide a platform where LGBTQ+ women could “live out loud,” resisting racism, sexism, and other forms of marginalization . In Hanson’s words: “I felt it was important to create a space and a platform for our community to live out loud, all while setting the stage for us to transcend isms,” she explained, referencing how The Dinah has been deliberately expansive, welcoming transgender and nonbinary people, and even the occasional cisgender man as guests of queer women.

The event’s commitment to inclusivity has deepened over time. In its earlier years, The Dinah was a sanctuary for lesbians during the AIDS crisis and before marriage equality—a crucial era for the LGBTQ+ movement in the United States. As the community evolved, so did the festival’s approach, with intentional outreach and programming for transgender and nonbinary attendees. Hanson and her team made it clear: “We are collectively stronger than any assailant of our rights. When you see all those women, nonbinary and trans folks and their friends come together to celebrate life in Dinah fashion, you are filled with a level of inspiration and acceptance that carries you through the weekend with a sense of liberation and community,” Hanson wrote for Out Magazine on the 30th anniversary of The Dinah .

The Dinah’s influence on queer culture is immense. The festival has launched and supported LGBTQ+ musicians, comedians, and entertainers, providing a rare stage for sapphic talent. Notably, the television series The L Word set an episode at The Dinah in 2003, amplifying its visibility and doubling attendance to 2,500 for its Saturday night event the following year .

This year’s program underscores the event’s continued relevance and star power. From September 24-28, the Riviera Resort & Spa will host pool parties, nightclub events, and a special ball. L Word stars Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey will be present to sign their book, So Gay for You, and participate in various panels and performances .

Beyond entertainment, The Dinah has been a bellwether for broader cultural shifts. Its openness to gender diversity and intersectionality mirrors the changing face of LGBTQ+ communities. The event has also contributed to activism, with its early years featuring benefits for organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and the AIDS Service Foundation .

As the 2025 edition approaches, attendees and organizers alike are preparing for an emotional sendoff. Hanson, who started the event in 1991, announced that this will be her final year leading The Dinah. She reflected: “This last edition isn’t just an event—it’s the culmination of 34 spectacular years of joy, liberation, visibility, and love. Whether you’re returning to relive the magic or experiencing it for the first time, this is your moment to be part of herstory,” Hanson said in a statement. “Come raise a glass, dance under the sun, and help write this last, extraordinary chapter with me—a tribute to a journey that changed lives, built community and sparked decades of culture-shifting moments, bold firsts, and unforgettable memories. While I may be taking my final bow, the legacy we’ve built together will live on in every life it’s touched” .

For many, the end of The Dinah as led by Hanson marks both the close of a chapter and the opening of new possibilities for queer women’s spaces. The festival’s model of intentional inclusivity, its focus on joy and visibility, and its commitment to building community have set a standard that future events will strive to uphold.

While The Dinah’s future is uncertain, its influence remains. Similar events have emerged, inspired by the festival’s legacy but adapting to changing needs and demographics. The hope among attendees and organizers is that queer women, nonbinary, and transgender people will continue to find spaces for celebration and connection—whether in Palm Springs or elsewhere.

“Herstory” is not just a slogan, but an ongoing narrative. As thousands prepare to gather one last time, The Dinah’s story offers a template for queer joy, resilience, and community—one that reverberates far beyond the desert.