Locals react to recent deaths of LGBTQ+ icons

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The deaths of a number of icons within the LGBTQ+ community have been difficult for many in Palm Springs. There have been two in the past two days: Bob Mackie and James "Gypsy" Haake.

Bob Mackie's death was announced on Monday. The iconic costume and fashion designer reportedly visited the Coachella Valley for decades before moving here in 2019. He died in Palm Springs at the age of 87 from pneumonia.

James "Gypsy" Haake was known as a larger-than-life figure in the world of drag entertainment and had strong ties to Palm Springs. His death was announced Sunday, at the age of 94.

Haake was honored on the Palm Springs Walk of the Stars. His star, located just in front of Oscar's Palm Springs, was the site of a growing memorial on Monday. Flowers, candles, and more have been placed in his honor, showing the impact he had on the local community.

The deaths of the two prominent figures within Palm Springs's gay community came after legendary singer-songwriter Dolly Parton passed just a couple of weeks ago. Parton was herself a champion for gay rights.

Back at Oscar's, owner Dan Gore could be seen tidying up the memorial early Monday evening. Gore had a special connection with Gypsy, especially since Gore said it was their dynamic partnership that ultimately led to Gypsy becoming a staple of Palm Springs.

He said he had gone looking for Gypsy just before the turn of the century, unsure if he was still around.

"At age 68 years old, I was able to bring Gypsy out of retirement," Gore remembered. He flew him from the East Coast to Lake Tahoe, where Gypsy spent 11 years, becoming a long-running drag show in the area. When that show closed, Gore moved to Palm Springs. He opened a show at Oscar's, before he took over as the owner, and of course, a familiar face was part of it.

"At that point he was 82 years old," Gore explained. "Gypsy was a hit here. And that led for me, you know, basically taking over Oscar's in 2016."

Gypsy lived with Gore for some time. Part of the memorial in front of Oscar's were some of the knick-knacks that Gore remembered Gypsy purchasing on a whim at Revivals – as he would often do each time he'd come home. It's those small moments that Gore hopes Gypsy's fans remember – as well as the connection he forged with so many as an icon for Palm Springs's LGBTQ+ community.

"He just loved every minute of it. He just loved, loved to be the center of attention, like any entertainer like that. But he was a true, true pioneer of this art form," Gore said.

"I hope they remember him for his wits, for his humor, for his improv. You know, he was ... he made people happy."

Another example of the reach these icons had lies in Dee Calmett. A local reverend and entertainer herself, she shared connections with not just Gypsy, but also Mackie and Parton.

"It comes in threes," Calmett said matter-of-factly. "First, we lost the lovely Dolly, who I met 50 years ago when I was an evangelical minister. ... then we lost Bob Mackie, whose gowns I wore about 40 years ago. And I met Gypsy along that same time."

Calmett told us of the many memories she shared with each one. From conversations with Dolly Parton seven or so years ago, to more recent run-ins with both Gypsy and Mackie, there was a common thread that she could see that grouped them together.

"Kindness was their superpower," she said. "Doesn't that make you want to be a kind person?"

She recounted the articles of clothing Bob Mackie donated to DAP Health, where Calmett works. She went on to explain how Gypsy taught her that she could do anything she set her mind to, and how Parton was a living, breathing example of kindness.

"Each one of these individuals gave financially behind the scenes, not wanting recognition. I mean kindness, true kindness."

Honoring and celebrating these kinds of people is important to Calmett. She affirmed, "I think celebrating people like this, celebrating Mackie, celebrating anybody in the transgender community, in the drag community and the fashion community and the LGBTQ [community] period. It helps people that are new in this community to understand we can be superstars."

And as memorials like the one surrounding Gypsy's star continue to grow, Dan Gore said it serves as a reminder to celebrate those we've lost – but to remember to celebrate the icons and trailblazers who still walk among us.

"it reminds us that we're not immortal. It reminds us that so many people that are here with us today are such valuable people in our lives that it's important to recognize them now when they're here living with us, then before they move on," he said. "We see so much attention to Bob Mackie and to Gypsy today, when in fact, when they were here, a lot more attention should have been brought to both of them."

A memorial service is planned for James "Gypsy" Haake in a little more than a month's time. Gore said it is planned at Oscar's on October 24th at 2:00 p.m. Stay with News Channel 3 for more details.