Latest news with #PhillyPride365
Hans India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Philadelphia's vibrant colours of pride
Philadelphia is widely celebrated as one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly cities in the world. Known for its progressive values, vibrant culture, and rich history in queer activism, the city remains a beacon of inclusivity and pride. From historic protests to today's thriving community, Philadelphia offers both meaningful history and a lively present that makes it an essential destination for LGBTQ+ travellers. Pride here is more than just a month—it's a year-round celebration embedded in the city's cultural fabric. Events, Festivals & Celebrations Philadelphia's LGBTQ+ calendar is packed with high-energy events, dynamic parades, and engaging celebrations. Kicking off the year is the Philadelphia Black Pride Celebration in April, recognizing the intersectionality of race and queer identity. Pride Month in June brings Philly Pride 365, a series of events culminating in the Philadelphia Pride March and Festival, which begins with a powerful community walk to the Gayborhood. There, visitors enjoy an all-day block party with live performances, community resources, local vendors, art, jewellery, and more—including a festive beer garden and exclusive Pride-themed menus from local restaurants and clubs. But Pride isn't limited to summer. In October, the city hosts OURfest, a weekend-long event centered around National Coming Out Day. Highlights include the OURfest National Coming Out Parade, which features a massive rainbow flag, lively floats, and stage entertainment. The celebration continues with a block party in the Gayborhood, showcasing food trucks, artists, musicians, LGBTQ+ organizations, and cultural performances. Gayborhood: The Heart of LGBTQ+ Philly Philadelphia's Gayborhood, located just east of Broad Street in Center City, is the vibrant core of LGBTQ+ life in the city. Recognized by rainbow street signs first installed in 2007, and rainbow crosswalks added later, the Gayborhood reflects Philadelphia's public commitment to diversity and inclusion. It's a lively and welcoming district filled with LGBTQ+-owned cafes, shops, nightclubs, and community hubs. Visitors can explore the area's history and culture on the Philly Gayborhood and LGBTQ+ History Walking Tour, which includes murals like Pride and Progress by Ann Northrup at 1315 Spruce Street. Along the way, you'll find numerous points of interest, including LGBTQ+ bookshops and activist landmarks. LGBTQ+-Owned Businesses Philadelphia also supports a thriving LGBTQ+ business scene. Culinary entrepreneurs like Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran lead the way with restaurants such as Barbuzzo, offering Mediterranean fare, and Little Nonna's, which serves hearty Italian-American dishes. Other notable eateries include Mission Taqueria and Oyster House for Mexican cuisine and seafood, respectively. For dessert, Cake Life Bake Shop, a trans-owned bakery in Fishtown, is a must-visit, or enjoy specialty coffee at One Shot Café in Northern Liberties. On 13th Street, visitors can shop at Open House for Philadelphia-themed gifts or browse Verde for jewelry and home goods. In Northern Liberties, Trunc—a gay-, woman-, Black-, and veteran-owned boutique—offers a unique collection of sustainable gifts. Preserving LGBTQ+ History Philadelphia also holds a pivotal place in LGBTQ+ history. On July 4, 1965, activists gathered outside Independence Hall for what became the first of the Annual Reminders—pioneering demonstrations for gay civil rights. A historical marker now honours this site. Additional markers celebrate icons like Alain Locke, Gloria Casarez, and Philadelphia Gay News. For deeper insights, visit the William Way LGBT Community Center, home to literary readings, art exhibitions, and a library of over 14,000 books. It's a cornerstone of advocacy, education, and connection. Philadelphia continues to shine as a symbol of LGBTQ+ resilience, pride, and progress—a city where history, culture, and celebration meet in vibrant harmony. Philadelphia stands as a beacon of LGBTQ+ pride, culture, and activism in the United States. With a rich history and a thriving queer community, the city celebrates diversity through year-round events, inclusive neighbourhoods, and historic landmarks. From the vibrant Gayborhood to meaningful Pride celebrations, Philadelphia proudly embraces and uplifts its LGBTQ+ spirit
Axios
04-06-2025
- Business
- Axios
Target says Philly Pride 365 rejected its sponsorship
Organizers for Philadelphia's Pride Month kickoff last weekend rejected Target's offer to sponsor the event, a company spokesperson tells Axios. The big picture: Pride organizers across the U.S. are reevaluating sponsorships as corporate America pulls back from supporting LGBTQ+ events. Context: Despite boasting more than three dozen sponsors, big corporate backers were missing from Philly's big Pride weekend this year. Those included Wawa, Target, AARP and Burlington, all of which backed the festival last year. Driving the news: Target told Axios in a statement that the company offered to be an official sponsor of Philly Pride 365, but was "informed that they were not entering agreements with corporate entities this year." Philly Pride 365 declined to comment on the matter. Wawa, AARP and Burlington did not respond to Axios' requests for comment. The Urban Affairs Coalition, which recently took over managing Philly Pride 365 and is the event's new fiscal sponsor, didn't immediately return requests for comment. Context: In the past, the budget for Philly's Pride weekend has been paid for through sponsors, vendors, grants and donations, per the Inquirer. Between the lines: Target has faced backlash over its rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, as well as removing Pride merchandise from its shelves in recent years.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Philly Pride Organization Told Target Sponsors To Kick Rocks
Philly Pride 365 declined to work with the nationally boycotted retailer, Target. According to Axios, the Philadelphia organization turned down the mega-corporation's sponsorship for its Pride Month Kickoff. Target confirmed the organization rejected its offer, stating 'that they were not entering agreements with corporate entities this year.' Philly Pride 365 has secured multiple sponsors, many of which are local. The organization is working with NRG, Penn Medicine, and the Philadelphia Union. Deciding against working with the brand comes as no surprise to many. Target has been the target of a national boycott since doing away with its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in 2025. While Target hopes to lure patronage with the gesture, other companies are stepping back. Nationwide, 39% of corporations are scaling back external Pride Month engagements this year, according to Gravity Research data. Dangling dollars during Pride may appear supportive, yet the continued elimination of DEI initiatives is even more so. As the company sends a message that inclusion is not a priority, Black, POC, and LGBTQIA organizations have decided to fall back. The company has seen a 7% decrease in sales over the course of the first quarter of 2025. This Pride season, the company has decided not to feature Pride merchandise as it has done in previous years. Similarly, the company has removed many of its Black-owned merchandise from shelves. While many Black businesses have fully supported the boycott, brand influencer Tabitha Brown has received backlash for her seemingly continued support of Target. The author and actress was caught in a firestorm of backlash after encouraging her fans to continue shopping at the retailer. While Brown's message emphasized supporting the remaining Black brands at Target, many took offense at the suggestion. Not to be deterred, the Donna's Recipe founder posted a video doubling down on her statements. Ironically, she believes her support of the conglomerate is a byproduct of uplifting Black people. 'To all the people in the comments and my DMS with your uneducated hate messages…There is no amount of hate and ignorance that is going to stop me from using my platform and my voice to support and uplift small businesses, Black-owned businesses, Black content creators, and Black authors,' Brown said. As many companies drop their commitment to uplifting marginalized communities, those communities are dropping their allegiance to these companies. Not all money is good money, and organizations like Philly Pride 365 are making that abundantly clear. RELATED CONTENT: Tabitha Brown Claps Back At Haters: 'No Amount Of Hate Will Stop Me From Uplifting Black Creators' As Target Boycott Impacts Authors
CBS News
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
2025 Philly Pride March and Festival takes over city streets: "I see nothing but love"
Thousands of people came together to fill city streets to show off their pride at the 2025 Philadelphia Pride March and Festival. "I see nothing but love, it's crazy out here, but we're all having a great time," Daron Summiel said. "It feels like equality, it feels like it's what life should be," Dennis Cannady said. The day started with the Pride March up Walnut Street as participants carried a 600-foot rainbow flag. "It's really emotional to see everyone come together because sometimes we feel so divided," Angelique Kopacz said. The streets around 11th and Locust then swelled for the Pride Festival featuring food, music, merchandise and more. David Weisburg is the chief development officer for the Mazzoni Center, a nonprofit serving the LGBTQ+ community. He said showing up now is more important than ever before. "After so much progress that's been made over so long, it's scary to think that there are rights that are being threatened," Weisberg said. Gabrielle Caplan-Mayer came to support her son. "I think, like many parents of trans kids, we want them just to have the acceptance and dignity of any young person, of any human being," she said. This year's Pride fest is even bigger than ever, expanding all the way down to Walnut Street, and with picture-perfect skies, organizers are expecting this to be a record turnout. "I think we have over 200 vendors, over 45 food trucks, 6 or 7, 8 stages, I don't even know anymore, there's so many things going on," Philly Pride 365 producer Jeremy Williams said. For Williams, these crowds prove pride is here to stay in a very big way. "Everybody just wants us to be proud. We're all here together to be proud, and the community is growing, it's not shrinking," Williams said.
News18
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
From Gayborhood to Glory: Why Philadelphia Is a Must-Visit LGBTQ+ Destination
Last Updated: Philadelphia preserves many historically and culturally important sites related to the LGBTQ+ community while building a strong social voice through various local businesses. Philadelphia is known as one of the most LGBTQ+- friendly destinations in the world with a rich history in queer pride, activism, and a thriving community which is integral to the city's cultural fabric. Along with numerous events and celebrations, Philadelphia preserves many historically and culturally important sites related to the LGBTQ+ community while building a strong social voice through various local businesses. Each year, Philadelphia's LGBTQ+ community comes together for a series of celebrations, parades, and demonstrations including the Philadelphia Black Pride Celebration in April and Philly Pride 365 events throughout the year. The Philadelphia Pride March and Festival in June is an annual festival featuring live musical performances and a Pride Walk. The event starts with a march to Philadelphia's Gayborhood, where festivities await. Various vendors are stationed throughout, selling art, jewellery, and gifts. The all-day block party also features live performances, LGBTQ+ community resources, and a beer garden. Look out for special events, menus, and more from restaurants, bars, clubs, and attractions around Philadelphia during Pride Month. Pride celebrations in Philadelphia are not limited to June. OURfest – dedicated and inspired by National Coming Out Day – takes place during the first weekend in October. The weekend-long celebration includes the OURfest National Coming Out Parade, which features a giant rainbow flag, floats, displays, and live entertainment. Following the parade, the OURfest National Coming Out Block Party and Festival takes over Philadelphia's Gayborhood. The event includes hundreds of vendors, artists, restaurants, food trucks, and community organizations. This section of Center City is home to numerous LGBTQ+-owned shops, restaurants, bars, and clubs. Along with a charming community feel and those rainbow street signs, you will find rainbow crosswalks throughout the Gayborhood. A great way to learn more about the neighbourhood and Philadelphia's history is to take a Philly Gayborhood and LGBTQ+ History Walking Tour. Along the way, snap a photo of one of the city's LGBTQ+ murals, including Mural Arts Philadelphia's Pride and Progress by Ann Northrup, located at 1315 Spruce Street. LGBTQ+ Businesses When visiting the Gayborhood, make dinner reservations at one of the eateries operated by restaurateurs Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran. The married duo is the heart and soul behind restaurants like Barbuzzo, a Mediterranean spot offering wood-fired pizza and house-made pasta. Philadelphia is also home to many other LGBTQ+-owned restaurants such as Mission Taqueria with a Mexican-inspired menu and the neighbouring Oyster House serving some of the best seafood in Philadelphia. Indulge your sweet tooth with a pastry from Cake Life Bake Shop, a trans-owned bakery in the heart of Fishtown or grab a coffee from One Shot Cafe, known for serving artfully crafted caffeinated drinks in Northern Liberties. Philadelphia also boasts an impressive array of LGBTQ+-owned storefronts, boutiques, and other businesses. Along 13th Street in the Gayborhood, shop for quirky Philadelphia-themed gifts at Open House or head across the street to browse home goods, apparel, and jewellery at Verde. In Northern Liberties, stop by Trunc, a gay-owned, female-owned, Black-owned, and Veteran-owned boutique and gift shop. The Gayborhood is home to numerous culturally significant sites, including Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni's Room, the country's first LGBT-focused bookstore. Philly AIDS Thrift, which now owns Giovanni's Room, has another location that sells used clothing and home goods, with proceeds benefiting local HIV/AIDS organizations. Philadelphia's LGBTQ+ History Before the historic Stonewall Riots energized the modern gay rights movement worldwide, a significant event unfolded in Philadelphia. On July 4, 1965, a group of protesters initiated a pride march in front of Independence Hall. This demonstration was the beginning of a series of protests known as the 'Annual Reminders," which raised awareness that the LGBTQ+ community still did not have basic civil rights. This is often considered the flashpoint of the modern gay civil rights movement. Today, this early display of LGBTQ+ activism is commemorated with a historical marker at the corner of 5th and Chestnut Streets. Other LGBTQ+ historical markers can be found in the city. There is one for Alain Locke, known as the 'Father of the Harlem Renaissance" for promoting African American artists, writers, and musicians. Another one is for Gloria Casarez, Latina lesbian civil rights leader and Philadelphia's first director of LGBT Affairs. And one for Philadelphia Gay News (PGN), one of the most awarded weekly newspapers in the U.S. Learn more about Philadelphia's LGBTQ+ community and its history at the William Way LGBT Community Center, which was created to support and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Today, they offer literary programs, art exhibitions, and over 14,000 books in the centre's library. The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health, fashion, travel, food, and culture — with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: May 22, 2025, 15:05 IST
