Philly Pride

Philadelphia is home to some of the oldest events associated with gay pride in the US. Four years before the Stonewall riots in New York, the city experienced protests deemed "the first sit-in of its kind in the history of the United States." On April 25, 1965, these protests started after over 150 people were denied service at Dewey's, a local coffee shop, for being "homosexuals," "masculine women," "feminine men," and "persons wearing non-conformist clothing.". Following a few arrests, peaceful demonstrations lasted several days until Dewey agreed to end its discriminatory policy. In 2018, a historical marker was placed on 17th Street and St. James Street to commemorate Dewey's sit-ins.

Another precursor event of Philly's Pride, the Reminders, was a series of pickets held each July 4 to remind Americans that LGBT people lacked basic civil rights protections. They started in 1965 and were some of the earliest LGBT demonstrations in the US. They were held until 1969, shortly after the Stonewall riots in New York City. In 1970, they were replaced by the Christopher Street Liberation Day demonstration to commemorate Stonewall.

Philadelphia's first Gay Pride Parade was held in Rittenhouse Square on June 11, 1972, down Chestnut Street, ending at Independence Park with over 10,000 people marching. The event continued in that format through 1976. From 1977 to 1988, there were no official gay pride parades in Philadelphia. The city resumed its gay pride parade on June 18, 1989, when 1,000 people marched from 10th and Spruce to JFK Plaza. Philly Pride Presents organized Philadelphia's annual parade for the next 32 years. In 2021, the organization abruptly dissolved, facing community accusations of mismanagement, racism, and transphobia.

In the wake, a local group of LGBTQ+ volunteers called PHL Pride Collective started reimagining LGBTQ+ Pride events in Philly as an inclusive Pride, centering the voices of Trans and Black and Brown folks. They committed to "highlight the stories of LGBTQ+ Philadelphians still fighting for equality" and honor "the origins of LGBTQ+ liberation, including the protests at Dewey's in Philadelphia, Stonewall, and the first Philadelphia Gay Pride demonstration in 1972."

In 2022, PHL Pride Collective moved the event to the first weekend of June and replaced the parade with a march to pay homage to the Stonewall riots, which was not a parade. "The first Pride event organized in Philadelphia in 1972 was a march. We want to return Pride to the activists' roots that made progress for LGBTQ+ communities." Instead of a large parade with floats and vehicles, this community march goes through Center City and departs from Independence Mall. The march is followed by the PHL Pride Festival in the Gayborhood, with live performances, a youth and family programming area, and diverse food options, including a dedicated sober space and dry bar.

The reimagined celebration aims to uplift the most marginalized members of Philadelphia's LGBTQ+ community.

For full details on Philadelphia's gay pride and all previous editions, check out the official event program. Happy Pride!