Before iconic community builder, Mariah Hanson founded one of the world’s largest lesbian/queer female events of all time, The Dinah (aka Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend aka the epic pool party that The L Word highlighted way back in season two), she threw parties in college and worked the bar scene in San Francisco. Coming out during a time when lesbians weren’t being catered or marketed to, Hanson implemented her knack for production and party throwing towards creating a world where they would be.
As a self-proclaimed trend setter with a vision forg a space that would be safe, inclusive, and celebratory, Mariah paved a path towards lesbian empowerment one dyke-filled pool party/music festival at a time. Today, The Dinah attracts more than 15,000 attendees, and showcases artists like Lady Gaga, Fletcher, Katy Perry, and Tegan and Sarah, to name a few.
This year’s event will be held in Palm Springs, California, as is tradition, at the Margaritaville Resort (1600 N Indian Canyon Dr) from September 25 to September 30.
Mariah shares some insight with Tagg Magazine about the unique culture of The Dinah, how the team sets a precedent for queer joy, and who is welcome at the event.
Laurel Holloman, Leisha Hailey, Kate Monnig at The Dinah in 2014. Photo: ILDK Media
For those who have never attended The Dinah, what should they expect to experience there?
The Dinah is an event/music festival, so you’ll be in the middle of the event, and then suddenly, you’ll be thrown into the music festival aspect of it. We’ve combined the music festival where people just stand around watching music, and turned it into an event where people are interactive, meeting each other, and creating a sense of community. It’s novel.
We play icebreaker games, but they’re often unnecessary because The Dinah is so friendly. It’s the most welcoming and loving event, and defies any expectations that you might have of it.
Hanson stands on stage at one The Dinah’s many pool parties. Photo: ILDK Media
My partner and I often find it hard to make new friends when we go out to queer events. What makes The Dinah such a great community to make meaningful connections?
The Dinah team understands that our event is so much more than just a party–it’s an experience. Our staff is excessively welcoming, so when people get to the event, they’re experiencing a sense of community from the start.
We realize that there’s so many different reasons why people come to The Dinah, and a lot of them are a need for community. They may need to feel like they’re a part of something. Their family may have just told them that they don’t want anything to do with them because they’re gay. There’s so many heartbreaking reasons to search for a community, and The Dinah team embraces those reasons just as much as we embrace those who simply want to come out and have fun. This accepting atmosphere tends to transform people’s attitudes as they enter into The Dinah world where everything is celebrated.
There’s a saying that’s been embraced by The Dinah that really helps create this inclusive ambiance. When people walk through the hallways and the pool parties they say “Happy Dinah” in the same way that people say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Valentine’s Day.” It’s a welcoming phrase that acts as an icebreaker. “Happy Dinah.” This one little phrase makes you feel like you’re at home, or with family and close friends.
One of the things we hear from people at The Dinah is that they met their best friend or their partner here. People meet friends here from all over the world, and they come back every year to reunite. We really cultivate those kinds of connections.
Two attendees embrace one another at a pool party. Photo: ILDK Media
Who is welcome at The Dinah?
We welcome all people, and we take pride in leading change. We understand how the world is changing, and we embrace it because it’s changing in really beautiful ways. Self expression is critical to a life well-lived, and it’s never been an issue for us where someone was identifying as male or female. If they’re at The Dinah, they understand that this is a celebration of all things female identified. If someone is uncomfortable with the way that someone else is expressing themselves in their own positive way, we would probably want that person who is having a problem not to come.
We’ve always been very supportive of the trans and non-binary community, and of both men and women presenting in any way that they feel like. We all need to be seen, felt, and heard, and that’s what happens at The Dinah–you’re seen. You’re heard. You’re not invisible here, and you’re beautiful just as you are.
