As we unofficially kick off summer this weekend, it’s about time for some good news.
What with the never-ending presidential election and hate-mongering in the South, we’ve just about had our fill of debates. So let’s focus on some positive developments. It seems that what we’ve all known for quite some time is finally making it to the masses: Philly is a pretty awesome place.
Our fair city has been making national headlines at a rapid pace, both in mainstream and LGBT circles — narrowing the gap between the two.
From the papal visit last year to the Democratic National Convention this year, large-scale operations are seeing the value in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection. LGBTs made their presence known during Pope Francis’ trip, and this DNC is expected to have the strongest LGBT focus of any before. The Gayborhood is expected to see an influx in tourism the week of the DNC, as delegates, LGBT and not, enjoy all that Center City has to offer. From the rainbow street signs to the plethora of gay bars, visitors will get to see firsthand just why Philly was named by the Human Rights Campaign as one of the most LGBT-friendly cities in the nation — a message they will all take back to their respective hometowns.
Non-LGBT audiences will also get a glimpse of the city’s support for its LGBT communities with a new LGBT float in the Fourth of July parade. The city’s rich LGBT history will be honored on the float, itself a history-maker.
LGBT visitors will also flood the city next year for the Creating Change and Out & Equal conferences; the first is the nation’s largest annual gathering of LGBT activists and the latter a summit on LGBT-workplace inclusion. Together, both will introduce thousands of LGBT people to our city, an incredible opportunity to build national partners for LGBT-equality efforts and heighten our city’s visibility as not only a tourist destination but a viable homebase for LGBT residents.
Philly often gets lost in the middle ground between the metropolises of New York City and Washington, D.C., but, if the influx of large-scale operations bringing their business to Philly is any indication, that phenomenon is changing. It’s going to be an exciting year for LGBT Philly — and hopefully one that will serve as a building block for years to come.