The 2026 edition of the Desperado LGBTQ+ Film Festival at Paradise Valley Community College has been canceled because of executive orders issued by Donald Trump that affect diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The festival organizers expressed deep regret over this decision. They are obligated to comply with these orders as a publicly funded institution, which could otherwise risk federal financial support vital to jobs and student aid. While the festival will not take place, organizers express hope for a future reintroduction of the event when circumstances change.
This decision comes in direct response to recent presidential executive orders impacting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts at public institutions, including our community college district.
As a publicly funded institution, we must comply with these orders. Failure to do so would jeopardize the district's federal funding, including student financial aid and grants that support over 300 positions across our campuses.
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.
Several lawsuits have been brought over Trump's anti-DEI orders. In one, a federal judge in Maryland issued a nationwide injunction blocking key provisions of the orders in February, but an appeals court lifted that injunction in March.
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