Even though the Philly Pride Festival has been rescheduled for September, that’s no reason not to celebrate and still show your LGBTQ colors this weekend. Here are a few things you can do in lieu of the parade and Penn’s Landing festivities.
Have a picnic with friends
Philly has more green space than most big cities in the country. You could meet up with the friends you would have seen at Pride, throw a blanket or towels on the grass of one of the numerous city parks, and talk about all the things you’re thankful about. You could even dress up in the same attire you would have worn to Pride. Bring your own food and drinks (and don’t forget to use sunscreen!) or support some of the local businesses in the area.
Enjoy some gayborhood street art
We’ve got some wonderful LGBTQ art right in the heart of Center City. There’s a brand new mural of Lil Nas X at 1342 Cypress Street. Across the parking lot from Lil Nas X is the “Pride and Progress” mural alongside the William Way Community Center at Juniper and Spruce. And on the fencing in between the two murals are Pride projects by Philly Knits Yarnbombers. And a few blocks away at 12th and Pine, Giovanni’s Room has some cool art on its outdoor walls, including a poster of beloved trans activist Nizah Morris.
Go to an LGBTQ event
Despite pandemic precautions still taking place, there are plenty of different events to go to this weekend, including drag shows, a virtual film festival from PrideFLIX, virtual art exhibits, Pride Nights at the Zoo and Flower Show, a virtual “Unity for Pride” event, and drive-in events.
Reconnect with people you’ve lost touch with
Even if you can’t make it into the city and even if no virtual event strikes your fancy, perhaps you could take this Pride weekend and reconnect with people you might have lost touch with during this past tumultuous year and a half. Take the time to write a thoughtful email, have a phone call or video chat, or just send a quick text to let them know they’re in your thoughts.
Learn some LGBTQ history
Aside from PGN’s history archives, there are a lot of ways to learn about LGBTQ history. There are documentaries available on the internet, including “United in Anger: A History of ACT UP” (available to view for free on YouTube), “Hating Peter Tatchell” and “All In My Family” (Netflix), and “PRIDE” (Hulu). You could also watch a drama like “POSE.”
Remember what Pride is all about
LGBTQ Pride began as a direct result of the Stonewall Riots. It was a promise to ourselves and our community that we would not be invisible. We would fight for our basic human rights and we would call out any politician or person who spouts bigotry against us. And, most importantly, we would remember, always that we are proud of who are.