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And I’ve heard around town, too, that some of the more grungy bars that aren’t newer and younger aren’t necessarily a safe place if you are someone other than white and cis. We probably need that, because in some situations you really do need to be safer. I’ve never been one to be shy of it, but Jessica is really conscious of the surroundings we are in, which is good. But we got up to the door and I saw a Pride flag and I was like, alright, here we go! When we walked in, there was all these beautiful gender-nonconforming staff. So I didn’t know what we were walking into. There’s a lot of homophobia and racism in Yucca Valley in small pockets. I told Laura, “I don’t want to hold your hand we’re in Yucca Valley.” I was afraid. Jessica: Our first time that we went was opening night. Jessica: It was very easy to underage drink, or we would go out into the desert and do a bonfire because there really wasn’t much else to do, but now that’s changing. What was nightlife like growing up in Joshua Tree? Jessica (31, she/her) and Laura Myers (33, she/her) There wasn’t anything like this for her growing up. For Joshua Tree–raised Jessica Myers (and wife Laura Myers), it’s thrilling to see the community come together for such a cause. Regular Mia Torres-who works by day as a welder and carpenter-canvasses shops and restaurants throughout the area to bring the community together for a celebration of queerness, while choreographer, DJ and dance instigator Ryan Heffington is planning to spin house music into the wee hours at the Tiny Pony afterparty. The space is aflutter with preparations for Joshua Tree Pride on June 18. To get a sense of the scene on any given evening, we talked with the people who know Tiny Pony best: The Regulars. Tuesdays bring rowdy karaoke crowds for $5 tequila shots, and weekends welcome out-of-towners with a hearty brunch. Open seven days a week, Tiny Pony kicks off Mondays with “Cheeseburgers in Paradise,” featuring tropical drink specials and half-off burgers.
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Bartender Bryan Paris, who got his start barbacking at The Monster across from the Stonewall Inn in New York City, mixes drinks like the Green Juice, which-you guessed it-features fresh-pressed green juice and a spirit of your choice. The ever-evolving menu is the work of chef Sorcha Murnane, a trans man who dreams up fan favorites like the Loaded Yuca Fries, smothered in cheese and topped with crunchy bacon. The bar serves as a watering hole for all desert folk: transplants collaborating on art shows, contractors looking to shoot pool after work, and families young and old with kids and dogs in tow.