It seems like a lot of people are beginning to realize how awesome Philly is — which we’ve all known for some time, of course.
In recent months, Philadelphia has topped a slew of “Best Of” lists and in the next two years will host two large-scale, coveted events: the World Meeting of Families this fall and the Democratic National Convention in the summer of 2016. While garnering spots on top travel, shopping or culinary lists is a satisfying payoff for all the work city advocates have done, perhaps the biggest return on investment will be from the experiences themselves that millions will have of visiting Philadelphia in the next year.
Photos of Philly’s Gayborhood in articles about the most diverse travel destinations don’t do justice to the experience of walking our streets. When LGBT, or LGBT-friendly, out-of-town folks arrive in Philly for the DNC, or even for the papal visit, they’ll get to see firsthand why Philadelphia has become such a hub for LGBT travel: the rainbow street signs displayed prominently throughout the Gayborhood, the diversity of the LGBT bars and clubs, the bustling shops, restaurants for all tastes, theaters every few blocks and everything else that we ourselves are continually impressed by.
Each visitor who has a positive experience of LGBT Philadelphia will bring that back to his or her hometown. Just as it’s easier for mainstream society to understand LGBT people when a face is put to the community, outsiders will more readily acknowledge Philadelphia’s rightful place as an LGBT travel destination through their lived experience here.
So it’s up to our city and community to show them all that we have to offer, a task already in the works. As has been seen with many other events and conventions, our community is eager to pitch in and roll out the LGBT welcome mat — with partnerships forged among the city, nightlife venues, restaurants, shops and community organizations.
While those ties will be essential to courting visitors, they can also serve to strengthen the infrastructure of our city — and ensure the wins keep on coming.