This article was originally published for Devine + Partners NewsHub.
For nearly 55 years, the modern gay rights movement has been an active part of Philadelphia’s history. Before the Stonewall Riots, the Annual Reminders were the first organized gay rights protests in America. The Gayborhood also draws many to Philly to experience the city’s thriving LGBTQ culture. Last year, thousands came out for Philly Pride to celebrate more than 30 years of Pride celebrations in the city of Philadelphia.
This year, the COVID-19 pandemic and #BlackLivesMatter protests have changed the color of this year’s Pride Month in Philly. Here’s a look at how queer-centered Philly businesses are finding their own ways to celebrate Pride Month.
All Black-owned businesses are noted.
Community
The William Way LGBT Community Center has been a staple of the LGBTQ community in Philadelphia since 1974. When operating at full capacity, William Way LGBT Community Center offers something for everyone: networking and cultural events, counseling and social groups.
The center currently offers Queering the Quarantine Learning Lunches every Monday and Thursday at noon over Zoom. The William Way LGBT Community Center partners with community experts from organizations like the Rosenbach Museum and the Nomadic Archivists Project to offer this free virtual learning opportunity for the LGBTQ community and allies.
It has also recently reopened its LGBTQ Peer Counseling Services. By remodeling the program and utilizing videoconferencing, one-to-one confidential peer counseling services are now available Monday-Friday from 6-9 p.m. For more information, you can contact the William Way LGBT Community Center at their temporary phone number: 267-416-0451.
THIS IS A BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION.
MOVES is a QTPOC collective that hosts social and creative spaces centered around Black and Brown people in the LGBTQ community. MOVES typically hosts JUICE, a QTPOC-centered music festival, for Pride Month in Philadelphia.
This year, MOVES has relied on social media to connect the queer community. FADE, typically an in-person social event with live DJs has been converted to a semi-regular FADE Virtual Hangout for the queer community. MOVES and Naima Merella also host a MIND YOUR MOVES morning yoga class via Instagram Live @moves.philly.
Source: MOVES on Facebook
MOVES also provides assistance to queer youth who are struggling due to COVID-19 with its Philly QTPOC Support Thread. All QTPOC in the area who need personal or professional assistance can apply at bit.ly/SupportQTPOC or email hello@movesphilly.com. Those who are looking to help others can check the regularly updated spreadsheet at bit.ly/OfferSupport.
In 2017, the Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs debuted the #MoreColorMorePride campaign with the help of advertising agency Tierney. The flag added black and brown stripes to the iconic rainbow pride flag in response to reports of racial discrimination in the Gayborhood.
Many queer creators, like Etsy store NerdyKeppie, use the #MoreColorMorePride flag design in their work to promote racial equality in the LGBTQ community.
The Mazzoni Center has provided LGBTQ health and wellness services to the Greater Philadelphia Area for over 40 years. Even while observing COVID-19 health guidelines, Mazzoni Center is working hard to treat and support the LGBTQ community.
Starting in April, Mazzoni Center launched its “QWe’re Coping Together” self-care campaign on YouTube. The campaign features Mazzoni staff members and focuses on a different health/wellness topic each week. This virtual series comes at a time when many people, especially queer youth, are struggling with mental issues and are often unable to access or afford counseling.
Mazzoni Center also participated in the #NotOurFirstPandemic campaign on June 5 to raise awareness for HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day. The LGBTQ community in America was devastated by the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the 1980s, so Mazzoni has been focusing its pandemic efforts on HIV care services.
To further its support for those living with HIV/AIDS in Philadelphia, the Mazzoni Center offers its CLEAR Life Skills Counseling program for HIV-positive individuals and its newly-launched Mobile Testing Unit (MTU) for free HIV testing kits. If you or someone you know is seeking HIV care, contact the Mazzoni Center at 257-389-3118.
Philadelphia Family Pride is a non-profit organization that provides community and support to LGBTQ families, parents, prospective parents and children. Philadelphia Family Pride is a membership-based organization, but it is offering free events for families in honor of Pride Month.
As many families are forced to stay home due to COVID-19, Philadelphia Family Pride has offered many virtual events for parents and children on its Facebook page. Philadelphia Family Pride has partnered with Hornstein, Platt and Associates to host a Facebook Live “Ask a Therapist” session, where participants can anonymously submit questions and receive advice from a licensed therapist.
On June 12, Philadelphia Family Pride teamed up with Icon Ebony Fierce for online Drag Queen Story Time. Check out Philadelphia Family Pride on social media for more family-friendly programming all month long!
Arts & Culture
Queer Eye on Netflix
Launched on June 5, the Queer Eye reboot has taken the City of Brotherly Love by storm for its fifth season! Featuring a new cast of 10 heroes from across the Greater Philadelphia region, this feel-good show is great for all ages.
The Fab 5, Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo Brown, Bobby Berk, Tan France and Antoni Porowski, travel from Fishtown to the Jersey shore helping people and having tough conversations about self-love and social issues.
The latest season is now available to watch on Netflix, and you can get a sneak peek of the season’s trailer here.
Located on South Street, this LGBT-owned pop-up-turned-retail-store features works from more than 60 artists and creators in the Philly area. With their brick and mortar store closed for COVID-19, co-owners/curators @TapedOffTV and @NightOwlDesigns are still selling products from independent artists at their online store.
In support of Pride Month and #BlackLivesMatter protests, South Street Art Mart is featuring a Proceeds Donated to Charity collection for the month of June. The collection features an array of independent artists represented by South Street Art Mart, and a portion of all proceeds from these collections will be donated to organizations that help the Black and LGBTQ communities.
Proceeds from the collection support the Black Trans Protesters Emergency Fund, Philly Community Bail Fund, Black Visions Collective, YAS Project Philly and National Domestic Workers Alliance.
Philly AIDS Thrift is a non-profit business that has been supporting the LGBT community and fighting against HIV/AIDS for many years. Located off of South Street, this thrift store gives all of its proceeds and donations to the AIDS Fund. Philly AIDS Thrift also supports other local organizations through grants and special projects.
Source: Billy Penn
Founded in 1973, Giovanni’s Room is the nation’s oldest LGBTQ bookstore. In 2014, Giovanni’s Room was forced to close, but Philly AIDS Thrift purchased the building and business from the owner and started Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni’s Room, continuing its legacy in Philadelphia for years to come.
Source: Philadelphia Magazine
Giovanni’s Room features a collection of new, used and rare LGBT and feminist books, including new and upcoming releases. Its store features books for all ages, like juvenile and youth adult fiction and nonfiction, as well as family and relationship reads. Giovanni’s is still delivering books from its online store, so order a book today to support local business and celebrate Pride Month.
THIS IS A BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION.
Two Minds Press is a small printing business founded and run by QWOC owner, Felicica. The Two Minds store is currently based on Instagram, but Felicia just announced that Two Minds will become a web store in the near future for easier ordering. She is currently accepting commissions at twomindspress@gmail.com.
With the COVID-19 pandemic putting many in the Philadelphia area out of work, Two Minds Press is running a print campaign to support Senator Bernie Sanders and his COVID-19 relief efforts.
Food & Drink
Located in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood, Oyster House is a popular LGBT-owned seafood restaurant. Oyster House has continued to operate under Philly social distancing guidelines, serving take-out, delivery and make-your-own clambake kits to its loyal customers.
For Pride Month, Oyster House has partnered with The Attic Youth Center to help support LGBTQ youth living in the Philly area. From June 9 to 13, Oyster House will be matching every donation made to The Attic Youth Center.
Source: Philadelphia Assembled
Oyster House will also serve as a drop-off point for donations to The Attic Youth Center’s list of immediate needs: toiletries, feminine hygiene products, face masks, and dry and canned goods. Donations can be made during Oyster House’s hours of operation.
This LGBT-owned Center City taqueria is fueling change in the community one meal at a time. In response to growing protests against police brutality in Philadelphia, Mission Taqueria has been handing out burritos to protesters in coordination with its new Mission Meal Program. Organizations that need meal support at this time can apply on Mission Taqueria’s website.
You can also get involved with the Mission Meal Program by making a “pay it forward” donation to fund meal support for organizations that need it. All proceeds from “pay it forward” donations will go directly to Black Lives Matter Philly and Vamos Juntos.
THIS IS A BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION.
Amalgam’s storefront remains closed to customers to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But the team at Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse is continuing to find ways to spread the nerdiness around Philly during the pandemic. Between contactless shipping and virtual movie reviews, there are many ways to stay nerdy and support this Black- and queer-owned business during Pride Month.
Source: Philadelphia Magazine
Ariell Johnson, founder and self-described “Head Nerd in Charge,” works to make Amalgam one of the first comic stores to focus on diversity and inclusion in the geek space. Amalgam’s Book Club Picks offer an amazing selection of comics and graphic novels that feature BIPOC, LGBTQ and women characters and issues.
You can still support Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse and social distance by ordering books and merch on their online store or contacting the team at comics.amalgamphilly@gmail.com.
Tabu Lounge & Sports Bar, the largest LGBTQ bar in Philadelphia, is located in the Gayborhood and will be participating in Pride events all month long. After closing due to social distancing guidelines, Tabu announced its Tabu To Go menu in late May and has been serving up curbside alcoholic drinks for the 21+ crowd.
In response to #BlackLivesMatter protests in Philly, Tabu has teamed up with local LGBTQ-centered sports organizations, Stonewall Sports Philadelphia, Philadelphia Falcons, Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League and City of Brotherly Love Softball League.
A portion of all proceeds from Tabu Cocktails To Go will be donated to Center for Black Equity, a global organization that supports and advocates for the Black LGBTQ community around the world.
VinChelle, a regular Tabu drag performer, is hosting a Facebook Live series, “The Black Diaries,” every Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Philly drag star interviews entertainers from RuPaul’s Drag Race and Dragula as well as some local queens about their experiences as Black performers in the drag scene.
With COVID-19 disproportionately affecting Black and LGBTQ Americans, Philly Pride 2020 should be an opportunity for Philadelphians to come together and support our hardest hit communities.
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of Philly Pride celebrations, and you can find more virtual celebrations online at Philly Magazine and other outlets. Please share any other events or campaigns that we’ve missed!
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