Gay and Hispanic - Changing Faces of Desert Hot Springs

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. - April 6, 2013 - PRLog -- DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA – The city has become less white and more gay. The US census shows a nearly 10 point decrease in Caucasians over the last ten years. Yet it takes an astute “gaydar” to recognize the increase in the gay population, since they are not specifically counted in the census.

Possibly for the first time, these two groups will play a significant role in the city’s November election for three city council positions. The gay population is generally more inclined to vote and recruitment of first-time Hispanic voters is already underway.

In the last decade economic development has been challenged to keep pace with the city’s growing Hispanic population. Typically the parking lot of El Rancho Market on Palm Drive is jam packed. That store did not exist a decade ago. Retailers are paying attention. Hispanic dollars are motivating the city’s K-Mart to divide the building in half in order to construct a second Hispanic supermarket to meet demand.

One local watering hole is capitalizing on the uptick of gay residents. Starting last year Playoffs Sports Bar (http://www.playoffssportsbar.net/) located downtown began sporting Rainbow Night on Wednesdays on a monthly schedule and is packing ‘em in.