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Author: Alfredo Casuso

Sylvester

Happy Birthday Sylvester, Rainbow Honor Walk honoree

Today on the anniversary of his birth, we celebrate the life and legacy of Rainbow Honor Walk honoree Sylvester James (September 6, 1947 – December 16, 1988).

Known simply as Sylvester, the groundbreaking singer and performer became one of the defining voices of disco and an enduring LGBTQ+ cultural icon. With his extraordinary falsetto, flamboyant style and unapologetic stage presence, he rose to international fame with hits including “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” and “Dance (Disco Heat).” A beloved figure in San Francisco’s queer community, Sylvester challenged conventions of gender and sexuality through both his music and public persona. He died of AIDS-related complications in 1988 at the age of 41.

Read historian Bill Lipsky’s tribute in the SF Bay Times at the link below:

www.RainbowHonorWalk.org

Janeadams plaque 1 color

Remembering Jane Addams Rainbow Honor Walk Honoree

Today on the anniversary of her birth, we celebrate the life and legacy of Rainbow Honor Walk honoree Jane Addams (September 6, 1860 – May 21, 1935).

A pioneering social reformer, activist and author, Jane Addams co-founded Hull House in Chicago, one of the most influential settlement houses in the United States, providing education, childcare, health services and support to immigrants and working-class families. A leading advocate for women’s suffrage, labor reform and peace, she became the first American woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931. Addams shared her life for decades with Mary Rozet Smith, a relationship widely recognized by historians as a committed same-sex partnership.

Read historian Bill Lipsky’s tribute in the SF Bay Times at the link below:

www.RainbowHonorWalk.org

FreddieMercury Plaque Color

Remembering Freddie Mercury, Rainbow Honor Walk honoree

Today on the anniversary of his birth, we celebrate the life and legacy of Rainbow Honor Walk honoree Freddie Mercury (September 5, 1946 – November 24, 1991).

Born Farrokh Bulsara in Zanzibar, Freddie Mercury became one of the most iconic and electrifying performers in rock history as the lead vocalist and principal songwriter of Queen. Renowned for his extraordinary four-octave vocal range, flamboyant stage presence and unforgettable compositions including “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Somebody to Love” and “We Are the Champions,” Mercury helped redefine popular music and live performance. His openness about his sexuality and his death from AIDS-related complications in 1991 made him an enduring symbol of LGBTQ+ visibility, artistic freedom and the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic.

www.RainbowHonorWalk.org

#FreddieMercury #RainbowHonorWalk #LGBTQHistory #Queen #LGBTQHeroes

Image

Boo2Bullying Brings Fourth Annual “Kick Bullying to the Curb” Wellness Festival to Palm Springs October 10

David Perry & Associates, Inc.
David Perry / (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

Boo2Bullying Brings Fourth Annual “Kick Bullying to the Curb”
Wellness Festival to Palm Springs October 10

Free family event combines youth wellness resources, live entertainment and a celebrity kickball game at Palm Springs Power Stadium

Festival: 4–8 p.m.  |  Celebrity Kickball Game: 6 p.m.  |  Admission: Free

4 September 2026 — Palm Springs, CA: On October 10, a baseball stadium will become a field of kindness as Boo2Bullying brings its fourth annual “Kick Bullying to the Curb” Wellness Festival and Celebrity Kickball Game to Palm Springs Power Stadium. The free, family-friendly gathering will connect young people and their families with practical wellness resources while celebrating teamwork, inclusion and the simple but powerful truth that every child deserves to feel safe, valued and heard.

The festival takes place Saturday, October 10 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Palm Springs Power Stadium, 1901 E. Baristo Road. The celebrity kickball game begins at 6 p.m. and will feature celebrity guests, community leaders, first responders, businesses and local youth organizations in a spirited, family-friendly competition designed to promote kindness, teamwork and community connection.

“A young person who knows they matter is better equipped to speak up, ask for help and stand up for someone else,” said Dimitri Halkidis, founder of Boo2Bullying. “This festival takes that message beyond the classroom and puts it into action across the entire community. We want every child who walks through the gates to leave feeling stronger, more connected and absolutely certain that they are not alone.”

Throughout the afternoon, the festival’s Wellness Village will bring together organizations serving youth and families in mental health, education, healthcare, nutrition, fitness, youth development, digital wellness and community services. The program will also include live entertainment and music, interactive youth activities, vendors and opportunities to meet local schools, nonprofits, healthcare organizations, government agencies and community leaders.

The day’s scheduled highlights include the festival opening at 4 p.m.; the Wellness Village beginning at 4:15 p.m.; live entertainment at 4:45 p.m.; interactive youth activities at 5:15 p.m.; the celebrity kickball game at 6 p.m.; and a community celebration at 7 p.m.

Since the festival began in 2022, Boo2Bullying reports more than 10,000 attendees, 300 volunteers, 150 community partners and representation from more than 50 schools, along with over $250,000 in in-kind support and resources. The organization has empowered more than 25,000 young people through school assemblies, youth leadership programs, educator and parent workshops, community events and family outreach.

Voices from the Community

“This festival is amazing! So many resources for our family and so much fun for the kids!” — Parent

“I love the energy, the people, and the message. Can’t wait for next year!” — Student

“Our organization connects with so many families. It’s the highlight of our outreach year.” — Community Partner

Boo2Bullying’s current community champions and event partners include the City of Palm Springs, the Irene W. & Guy L. Anderson Children’s Foundation, Bighorn Cares, Palm Springs Unified School District, Desert Care Network and News Channel 3 KESQ. Sponsorship, exhibitor and volunteer opportunities remain available. Admission is free. For event details and free registration, visit boo2bullying.org/kick-bullying-to-the-curb.

Presenting Sponsors, City of Palm Springs and Bighorn Cares, Community Partners, Walter Clark Legal Group, Contour Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery Center, The Bianco Group, Kimpton The Rowan Palm Springs, Youth & Community OrganizationsBoys & Girls Club Palm Springs, First tee Coachella Valley, Palm Springs High School Cheer Squad,  The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert, Transgender Health & Wellness Center, Media Partners El InformadorDel Valle, Coachella Valley Independent, David Perry & Associates, Valley Voice Media.

About Boo2Bullying

Boo2Bullying is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth, building kindness and creating safer schools. Founded in 2011, the organization provides evidence-informed school assemblies, social-emotional learning workshops, youth leadership programs, educator training, parent workshops, community events and family outreach. Boo2Bullying helps young people choose kindness, strengthen emotional resilience, build healthy relationships and become leaders who positively impact their schools and communities. For information about scheduling a program, contact Dimitri Halkidis at (310) 435-8528 or dimitrihalkidis@boo2bullying.org. For more information, visit www.boo2bullying.org.

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Boo2Bullying — Kick Bullying to the Curb — October 10, 2026

RogerCasement Placa

Rainbow Honor Walk Honoree Roger Casement

Today on the anniversary of his birth, we celebrate the life and legacy of Rainbow Honor Walk honoree Roger Casement (September 1, 1864 – August 3, 1916). An Irish diplomat, humanitarian, and nationalist, Casement became internationally renowned for exposing brutal abuses of Indigenous peoples in the Congo Free State and the Amazon’s Putumayo region. Later a passionate advocate for Irish independence, he was convicted of treason and executed by the British government in 1916. A gay man whose sexuality was used against him during his trial and appeals for clemency, Casement remains an enduring figure in the histories of human rights, Irish independence, and LGBTQ+ identity.

www.RainbowHonorWalk.org

#RainbowHonorWalk #RogerCasement #LGBTQHistory #IrishHistory #HumanRights #Pride