The next time friends ask each other to meet in the Gayborhood, they just might make the request with a Philly Emoji.
Visit Philadelphia, the city’s nonprofit tourism organization, this week launched a series of emojis in a free Philadelphia Keyboard app. People can now punctuate their text messages with everything from the Rocky statue and pretzels to Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross.
In-house designers created the emojis and highlighted a rainbow sign for 13th Street and a rainbow XOXO from the “With Love, Philadelphia” campaign. They also partnered with businesses like Insomnia Cookies, which has a location in the Gayborhood.
The designers considered creating an emoji of the rainbow crosswalks, but ultimately decided the rainbow street signs were more distinctive and recognizable, according to Visit Philadelphia.
“The Gayborhood is such a vibrant part of the city for both LGBT and non-LGBT visitors and residents,” said Arturo Varela, media relations manager with the organization.
People are encouraged to connect with Visit Philadelphia on social media to suggest other LGBT emojis they would like to see.
“We plan to roll out new designs all year long,” said Chelsea Calhoun, media specialist with the group.
The emojis work in Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Kik, Tango and other messaging apps. They do not yet work on Twitter or Instagram.
It’s not the first time Philadelphia has had a set of signature emojis.
When Pope Francis visited Philadelphia, a New York City-based mobile branding firm launched a line of “Popemojis” with things like the pontiff eating a cheesesteak and giving a thumbs-up next to the Liberty Bell.
To get the free Philadelphia Keyboard, search “PhillyEmoji” wherever apps are sold on Android or Apple devices.