Members of the LGBT community and allies will kick off Pride weekend with brunch festivities to raise funds for the William Way LGBT Community Center.
The center will host its annual Homecoming event, featuring a silent auction and awards ceremony, June 16.
The organization coordinated a Homecoming brunch last year in lieu of the usual afternoon garden party. Due to the event’s success, the center’s leadership decided to bring that format back.
“It really freed people to enjoy their evening on Pride weekend and we found that people found it more relaxing to have a brunch and kick off their weekend by coming to Homecoming,” said Executive Director Chris Bartlett.
Bartlett noted that Homecoming’s theme this year is “Rise.”
“It pictures the community rising up to meet all of the challenges it faces and to continue the decades of great work we’ve done to build LGBT communities in Philadelphia,” he said. “The event is meant to celebrate the energy and passion of our community leaders and community participants.”
Drag performer Icon Ebony Fierce will host the event, which will also honor two lesbian activists, Ada Bello and Connie Lyford, for their work.
Bello founded Philadelphia’s Homophile Action League and participated in the 1969 Annual Reminder Day march. Meanwhile, Lyford was the co-coordinator of Philadelphia Policy Council for the Gay Community Center.
“They were involved in the gay-liberation movement in the ’60s and ’70s and they continue to be leaders in our movement and support new generations of community leaders,” Bartlett said. “We want to celebrate over 50 years of community activism by both of them.”
The annual event will include live entertainment and auction items from organizations including Fante’s Kitchen Shop, Interact Theatre Company, Tattooed Mom’s, Wilma Theater, The Gables Bed and Breakfast, CBS-3, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Bridge Music, VIX Emporium, Philadelphia Magic Gardens and Montage Mountain Resorts.
“This is a terrific opportunity for community members to come into our center, see what we’re up to, celebrate with us and kick off their Pride weekend in an energetic way,” Bartlett said.
Homecoming 2017: Rise! will take place 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. June 17 at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. Visit http://bit.ly/2sKzyNL to purchase tickets.