Sign of the Times? Palm Springs White Party Put On Pause For 2025

Jeffrey Sanker is rolling in his grave.

Sanker founded White Party Palm Springs 36 years ago (in 1989) but he died in 2021 of liver cancer. But, his legendary party continued…at least until now. After months of speculation and the rumor mills in high tizzy over the lack of announcements about White Party PS plans for 2025 and then the website being taken down, current producers of the popular circuit party event largely for gay men who love to party, announced last week that the event would not be held this year. In an interview with the HomoCulture website, current White Party executive producer Chris Diamond revealed that White Party Palm Springs was “on hold” for now.

His statement:

He went to state that the White Party team is excited about what the future will hold for the party production group and the possibility of it returning for 2026.

That doesn’t sound very promising…but, it’s also not that surprising. Hasn’t the White Party culture peaked? It was created by a Baby Boomer, determined to put on a party that a community ravaged by the ongoing AIDS crisis, could still enjoy. It was also largely an event populated by mostly affluent, fit, gay, white (though no exclusively…fit, hot men of color were there, too!) men who could afford to take time off every spring for a week of debauchery in the sun. And, to be blunt, it was a culture that was steeped in excesses of all kinds…booze, drugs and sex. Certainly it could be fun but at what cost? Still…it was a huge part of the celebration of Gay Culture and Sexual Liberation. It’s also rather telling that it’s an event that has seemingly been laid to rest as we enter The Age of Trumpism Part II. For gay people, it’s unlikely to be a time for a lot of celebration.

OH! Here’s an old interview that Teriyaki Temple did with Jeffrey Sanker, a thousand years ago!