Palm Springs is known for having a thriving LGBTQ community, but it’s not the only desert locale for queer pioneers to plant roots — the high desert region surrounding Joshua Tree is also home to a growing gay community.
John Halbach and Kit Williamson traded in their Silver Lake apartment for a home on the range. They told host Lisa McRee about the move on "LA Times Today."
Halbach and Williamson first started visiting the desert a decade ago and fell in love with the area. Williamson, a screenwriter and actor, said the proximity to Los Angeles is very important.
“We’re just 2 hours from our old place at Silver Lake. And now so much of the work that I do as a writer is on Zoom. We were actually able to bring a little bit of Hollywood here because we used our homestead and our five acres as the shooting location for my new series, ‘The Unconventional,’ which is premiering at Outfest,” Williamson said.
Finding a house during the pandemic in a very competitive market was a challenge. After the couple found their home, renovating it brought its own sets of obstacles.
“The real challenge out here was definitely finding a contractor because there’s so much new construction going on. So, a lot of the people that we would be able to do those kinds of jobs are busy, which is great for the region and great for them. But we also had supply chain issues and lumber got really expensive in the middle of it. So being patient and being inventive was super important,” Williamson said.
Halbach spoke about their friends and the LGBTQ community in Joshua Tree. Although the residents of the region span the political spectrum, Halbach said they’ve had a great experience.
“I love to see all the new businesses with all Pride flags in their windows... I will say the community is definitely mixed. There is a smattering of ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ flags out there that we drive past and we’re like, ‘All right, that’s how you feel.’ I will say having all these new businesses pop up and particularly places like Tiny Hollywood that you get to see the members of the community that are definitely like-minded and accepting,” Halbach said.
Both Halbach and Williamson said the best way to start a life in the desert is to just start looking for a place and get out there.
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