Pride Monument Dedication Ceremony

At a community celebration today, the Pride Monument was formally donated to the City of Palm Springs' permanent public art collection by the Palm Springs Pride organization, which provided 88% of the project's funding. The City of Palm Springs Public Arts fund provided 12% toward the installation costs. 

The installation is a landmark sculpture commemorating the LGBTQ+ community's contributions to Palm Springs and the Greater Coachella Valley. The sculpture is in Frances Stevens Park, at the corner of Alejo and Indian Canyon in Palm Springs, CA.

Community members gathered to witness the dedication of the Palm Springs Pride Monument, a powerful testament to the profound contributions of the LGBTQ+ community in the desert. The dedication celebrates the 40th Anniversary of Pride in Palm Springs.

Pride Monument artist Jim Isermann at the dedication event on October 17, 2025, in Palm Springs, CA.

A Monument to Love, Activism, and Community

The Palm Springs Pride Monument stands as more than just a sculpture—it's a celebration of the countless individuals who've shaped Palm Springs into the welcoming, vibrant community we know today.

"This monument is more than just an incredible piece of art; it is a permanent and visible symbol of our community’s history, courage, and unwavering spirit. I feel immense pride knowing that this installation will serve as a powerful symbol of unity, a source of inspiration for future generations, and a lasting tribute to the vital contributions of the LGBTQ+ community to Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley." – Ron deHarte, Mayor of the City of Palm Springs.

About the Monument

Created by renowned artist Jim Isermann and commissioned by Palm Springs Pride, this striking installation weaves together three iconic symbols of LGBTQ+ solidarity: the lambda, the triangle, and the rainbow.

Monument Specifications:

• Eight feet tall, 14 feet at its widest point

• 720 stainless steel modules painted in different colors that form a single structure

• Triangular design inspired by the pink triangle used during the Holocaust and later reclaimed as a symbol of gay liberation in 1972

• Footprint forms a lambda, one of the first coded symbols for gay liberation after the Stonewall riots, adopted by the Gay Activist Alliance in the early 1970s

• Color scheme incorporates the original eight colors from Gilbert Baker's 1978 rainbow flag (including aqua and hot pink), plus black and brown

The monument underwent an extensive approval process, receiving endorsements from the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Public Arts Commission, the Historic Site Preservation Board, the Community Leadership Council, and the City Council.

A Gathering Place for Generations

According to deHarte, the monument will serve as a gathering place and educational tool highlighting the contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals to the region. "Through the decades, the community has gathered in the park for many events. Today, we are letting youth know that this is their gathering place to assemble, be recognized, and be proud, and that our history will forever live on," deHarte said.

Project Credits:

• Artist: Jim Isermann

• Project Management: Metalab

• Commissioned by: Palm Springs Pride