The Desperado LGBTQ+ Film Festival, an anticipated annual gathering celebrating the queer community through cinema, has been abruptly canceled following new executive orders from President Donald Trump targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. According to Phoenix New Times, the orders, which were signed at the start of Trump’s second term in January, have forced institutions like Paradise Valley Community College, which hosts the festival, to roll back DEI-related programs or face the loss of federal funding.
In a statement obtained by Phoenix New Times, festival organizers expressed their dismay, stating, "As a publicly funded institution, we must comply with these orders." The adherence to these new mandates has resulted in the cancellation of the Desperado Film Festival, organized by the Desperado Film Club, a student group whose mission has been to feature quality films that spotlight LGBTQ+ experiences.
The Maricopa County Community College District, where the college is a member, has seen similar actions, disbanding staff-led DEI efforts including Equality Maricopa. An email sent by Chancellor Steven Gonzalez outlined new protocols, including removal of pronouns, altering bathroom signage, and the cessation of all staff-led groups focused on diversity and equity, as recounted by Phoenix New Times.
While the festival was not a significant revenue generator, typically earning less than $10,000 annually, its value extended beyond monetary gains, impacting cultural representation and community dialogue. Faculty member and festival co-coordinator Dale Heuser shared with Phoenix New Times, "We are especially saddened by the impact this decision will have on the community." Offering an insight into the festival's significance, the festival's programmer, Alan East told Phoenix New Times, "The festival has long been a space for celebration and visibility for students at Paradise Valley Community College and for the Phoenix LGBTQ+ film and arts family."
Meanwhile, the festival's own cancellation notice echoes the sense of loss, while holding out hope for the future: "While we are heartbroken to pause this year’s event, we hope this is not a farewell but a momentary pause. We look forward to the possibility of resuming the festival when conditions allow." It is a pause, perhaps, that speaks to a larger national moment of reckoning with cultural inclusivity and the spaces that maintain and celebrate it.
