SAN FRANCISCO — Falcon/NakedSword and Mr. Man will bring the annual Mx. Pineapple Cabaret to Palm Springs, California, for the first time, introducing the fundraising event to a new community while continuing its mission to support mental health services for adult performers.
The show will be held Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. at Oscar’s Palm Springs, a local LGBTQ+ venue that regularly hosts drag, cabaret and comedy events.
Now in its fifth year, Mx. Pineapple began in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, Falcon/NakedSword was looking for a way to raise money for Pineapple Support, the nonprofit that provides free and low-cost mental health services to people working in adult entertainment. The company initially launched an online drag competition, drawing performers and creators together at a moment when many were isolated.
“We wanted to do something that not only contributed financially to the mental health and well-being of the adult community but also got everyone together to have some fun,” Falcon/NakedSword President and CEO Tim Valenti told XBIZ. “The Miss Pineapple Pageant was born. It was initially a virtual event where members of the gay porn industry did drag to compete for the coveted title.”
As in-person events returned, the pageant expanded and shifted into a live cabaret.
“Over the following three years, we produced a live event in West Hollywood,” Valenti said. “We changed the name to Mx. Pineapple to make it more inclusive and dropped the competition aspect. But you’ll still see your favorite adult industry superstars, legends of drag and powerhouse cabaret performers.”
According to Valenti, the show has raised more than $100,000 for Pineapple Support since its launch.
This year marks the fundraiser’s first staging outside of West Hollywood.
“Falcon/NakedSword’s main production studio is in Palm Springs, and the community is so welcoming and supportive of our industry in general,” Valenti marveled. “It just made sense to change it up a bit and include all the magnificent talent that Palm Springs is famous for. The Mayor and all the local LGBTQIA+ support groups have been so warm and encouraging, not to mention the talented stars who are generously giving of their time.”
The Palm Springs edition will feature a lineup that blends local entertainers with nationally recognized performers. Hosting duties will be shared by Falcon/NakedSword Creative Director Sister Roma, Palm Springs drag performer Ethylina Canne and Ana Foxxx. Boomer Banks will appear as a celebrity guest DJ.
Scheduled performers include cabaret artists Drew Sebastian and Billy L’Amour, comedian Pippi Lovestocking, 2022 Mx. Pineapple titleholder Gemini Dai (Dakota Payne), Miss Sobriety World 2025 Chanelta Couture and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alum Honey Mahogany.
Ongoing Support for Mental Health
Since its founding in 2018, Pineapple Support has become one of the adult industry’s most relied-upon resources for mental health care, offering 24/7 access to therapists, support groups, crisis resources and trauma-informed counseling.
“Pineapple Support is vital to the health and strength of our industry, as the work they do reminds us that mental health is just as important as physical health,” Valenti said. “Having a trusted resource like Pineapple Support makes certain they’re cared for, understood and never alone.”
Leya Tanit, founder and CEO of Pineapple Support, said the fundraiser has become a key part of the organization’s visibility.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Falcon/NakedSword and Mr. Man for continuing to make Mx. Pineapple an industry highlight, and to all of the sponsors for making it possible,” Tanit said in the event announcement. “There’s nothing more powerful than seeing our community come together to put on such a fun and fabulous show — raising money, raising awareness and reminding everyone why mental health matters. We’re so excited to bring this energy to the new location in Palm Springs.”
Although the event is free to attend, reserved and VIP seating contribute to the final fundraising total, which in past years has been bolstered by strong turnout and multi-tier sponsorship support.
The fundraiser arrives at a time when mental health remains one of the most urgent conversations within the adult industry, alongside performer safety, financial instability and burnout. Pineapple Support has reported rising demand for therapy, crisis counseling and long-term care, with many performers relying on the nonprofit for access to therapists who understand the unique pressures of sex work.
Valenti said seeing such a wide coalition rally around a cause tied directly to performer well-being underscores why the company continues to produce the event each year.
Asked how it feels to watch the community show up for mental health resources so directly, he offered a single-word reply: “Affirming.”
