The holiday season is almost here, bringing a host of festive events to celebrate — whether you’re jingling bells, reflecting on Kwanzaa principles, or polishing the menorah. A favorite tradition in the LGBTQ+ community is the Independence Business Alliance (IBA) Holiday Party, set to take place this year at the elegant Bellevue Hotel.
For those unfamiliar, the IBA is an advocacy organization “membership-based business advocacy organization dedicated to making the Philadelphia region an influential and diverse LGBTQ+ business community with an impact on economic development, equal rights and policy issues.” The group hosts a variety of workshops, networking events and programs throughout the year, providing opportunities for connection and growth.
We spoke with Maggie Morrin, the IBA’s operations coordinator, about how to get involved and what attendees can look forward to at the Dec. 17 event. Some responses have been edited for length or clarity.
So you’re originally from San Diego?
Yes I am, born and raised there. Which is kind of an enigma, because most people in San Diego aren’t from there. My family is one of the very few that are, so whenever I tell people I’m from San Diego, they’re like, “Oh, you’re really from there? Damn!”
My first thought when I hear San Diego is the zoo. Did you go there growing up?
Oh yeah, lots of field trips in school. It’s funny, when I visit other cities or friends invite me to a zoo, it’s like, sure I’ll go. But in the back of my mind, I’m always thinking, “But it probably won’t meet the San Diego Zoo standards!”
Tell me a little bit about your neighborhood in San Diego?
I grew up in North Park, a very non-populated area when I grew up. No one really went there or did much there. But now it is absolutely booming. It is the hip place to be. New bars on every corner, pop-up plant shops and coffee shops. So it’s very odd to go back home. When the friends I grew up with go back to our neighborhood, we’re like, “This looks absolutely nothing like what we remember.” But it’s nice knowing that North Park is getting the love it deserves, because it’s a really great spot to be. It’s close to downtown San Diego, but it’s also family friendly, so it’s kind of the best of both worlds.
Do your folks still live there?
They moved out of that neighborhood a little bit ago, but my family still lives in the area. I usually go back every Christmas, and sometimes in the summers as well. I love to go back to visit.
How many kids are in the family?
I have three older brothers. I’m the youngest and the only girl, so I definitely had to make my own path. I had some privilege being the only girl, but I think it also forced me to find my own voice as I got older, and to not be seen as the baby of the family.
Three older brothers! I had one older brother, and that was enough for me. What’s the worst prank they pulled on you?
Oh, gosh. I will never forget the old ABC-gum trick — ABC standing for “already been chewed” — which was pretty gross, and a lot of roughhousing, which shows up in me in other forms, like I love to be sarcastic and a little bit cheeky with people. It’s an affectionate way to show love. That was the norm with my brothers.
I’m the same. I tell people that if I’m making fun of you, that means I like you!
Exactly! The more jokes, the more sarcasm, the more I love you, absolutely.
What were you like as a kid?
I was quiet in social settings, which I feel like I can still be now, especially in newer settings. But then as soon as I get to know you, I’m the opposite, talking and singing loudly. Trying to make everyone laugh and feel comfortable. I definitely still hold those two sides of me, depending on what settings I’m in. I’ve always loved to be around people that make me feel good, that I have a strong sense of community with, but also very much enjoy my alone time which was hard to come by in a bigger family.
What were some of the things that you were into in school?
Growing up in San Diego with the sun always being out and whatnot, I loved being in the ocean. I loved being in the pool. My family’s very active, so we’re always going to baseball games or football games or softball games. I call my parents every weekend, and they’re still always doing something. They’re either at the beach or playing tennis or both.
Did you play?
Yes, I played softball and volleyball. I was always involved in some recreational sport. Otherwise, I’d be singing to myself in my room, trying to emote and feel the things that maybe I wasn’t expressing to my family or friends. I also loved to journal, to read, to listen to music. They were an escape.
What’s your favorite genre of book?
I love non-fiction, especially memoirs. I just love hearing other people’s stories and how they’re unique to the person, but also so universal that you can easily relate to them. I like to get lost in the story, and to think about myself and the ways that I am different as a person. All those little quirks that make me who I am.
Is there a favorite bio that comes to mind?
Gosh, there are so many. I think the story of Chanel Miller. Her memoir is “Know My Name”. She was the survivor of a sexual assault on the Stanford campus in California by a student athlete. During the case, she was just referred to as Emily Doe, but she wrote the book because she wanted everyone to know the person behind the case. She didn’t want to hide who she was. It was really, really powerfully written. It was tragic, but also so beautifully stated. That one always sticks with me.
Did you go on to higher learning?
I went to the University of Portland in Oregon. I just went back for the first time since graduation. I think I really started to grow into myself when I had to live on my own, create a new community. I also had to deal with the rain and the darkness, which was very different from what I was used to in California. But I loved my time at the University of Portland.
Did you get a lot of snow there?
Not a lot. Though my freshman year there was some snow, my senior year we got slammed with snow. It was really eye-opening to experience living in snow. I eventually made my way east, so it became a little bit more familiar to me. But yeah, that first snowfall was something I’ll never forget.
It is pretty magical. I’ve lived here my entire life, and I still get that childlike excitement when it snows.
Oh yeah, I just want to be out in it before it gets dirty and I get sad about it.
What did you study at U of Portland?
Elementary education, but I wasn’t ready to go into teaching right away, so after graduation I joined a program in Massachusetts where you take a year off and work in a different field. You live in community with other people that are also working. I was there for a year right on the border of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, which was also a culture shock. But I’ve always had that instinct in me to go, literally, to go and find myself. To hear different voices and meet people with different experiences to find out who I am without the influence of friends and family. It was a pretty pivotal moment in my life, to prove to myself that I could be very far away from home and from what I’m familiar with and make it.
What was a culture shock about being in northern Massachusetts?
Ha! Everything. I think that was my first encounter with the difference between the east and west coast. This is just my personal experience, but it seems the California vibe is people are nice to your face, but they’re not super kind. They’re always trying to go forward to their next point of action or figure out what you can do for them. On the east coast, especially in Massachusetts, people weren’t always nice to your face. They could be a little bit gritty, even a little bit rude, but the second you need something, they’re dropping everything and helping you out. They show up for each other. I feel a similar kind of thing living in Philadelphia now for the past six or so years. I liked that change. It gave me a different perspective that I didn’t have before.
What was your coming-out journey?
So I was highly integrated into the Catholic faith growing up. I went to a Catholic elementary school, went to an all-girls Catholic High School, and went to a Catholic College, did a Catholic volunteering program, and later worked for them. I think that inner sense of self was always trying to chase something and get to the root of it. I just couldn’t articulate my experience of always feeling a little bit different from my peers.
Even in high school and college, it took me a bit to understand it. I’ll never forget one day, my colleague at the post-grad service program — now a very close friend and also gay — and I were just joking one day in the office, and she said, “Do you think everyone’s a little gay?” It sent a shockwave through me, and I mumbled, “Uh, yeah, probably.” But in my head, it was immediate gay panic. I stewed on it for the whole weekend and had a mental breakdown internally.
Finally, on Monday, I had a conversation with her, and I was like, “Do you remember when you asked me that question?” She was like, not really. And I responded, “Well, um, I think I’m part of that. Like, I think I’m gay.” I didn’t know what it meant or how to process it, but honestly, ever since that conversation, which was about six years ago, there was an immediate knowing, like, this makes complete sense. Everything just fit into place. Pretty quickly, I started coming out to people in my life. Having grown up in a very religious setting, I was hesitant as to what the reactions would be. I lost a few people, but largely I’ve had an incredible support system in my family and friends.
That’s great.
Yes, I think as soon as I came out, it was very clear to the people around me that I was happier. I was more myself. So I’m always incredibly grateful for that random question on that lunch break.
How did you get involved with the IBA?
I’d been working for the Catholic Church. Being gay, I wanted to be out in my workplace. It was really important for me in that transition time.
I was looking for the nonprofit space, and stumbled upon the job of operations coordinator. I was really, really pumped to work for such an inclusive organization, something I wasn’t used to. It felt like a very intense switch of the pendulum, to go from feeling not comfortable at all, to coming out and then to be working in a very, very queer-centric job!
It was a struggle at the beginning, but I’ve learned so much in this job about the city and about business, and the grit of small-business owners, particularly in the queer community. It’s given me a lot of joy and perspective that I’m very grateful for.
What was the struggle?
I think it was easy to hide in my previous job. There were some immediate colleagues I was out to, but in the larger organization, it was not safe to be out. So being at a workplace that is centered around queerness at most times was a little bit jarring at first, right?
I’d guess hearing people use open language could be a little culture shock.
Exactly. It took getting used to things like talking about my partner. I literally just got off a call where the staff talked about our astrology signs. That was not a part of the Catholic work culture! It just took some getting used to, a place where everyone is comfortable in their skin, where you can be open, and not have to shy away from certain subjects. It was refreshing, but also a little bit intimidating when you haven’t been used to it.
Let’s talk about the IBA’s holiday party coming up on Dec. 17.
Yes, our most anticipated event — the IBA Holiday Party — is back and this year, we’ll be celebrating in the Grand Belle at The Bellevue Hotel! It’s the one time a year we tell people that they won’t learn anything at our event. It’s just to have fun, to enjoy everyone’s company and our community. Especially heading into the holiday season, which can be tough for a lot of people. We really want it to be a welcoming and fun environment to just let loose a little bit. There will be merriment, networking, a three-hour open bar, and a Cescaphe assortment for dinner. The dress code is cocktail fabulous!
It’s one of my favorite holiday events! OK, a few more questions. Tell me something about your partner?
My partner Sandra also works in the nonprofit space, so we always joke that we’re a nonprofit powerhouse, even though we’re not. She’s just brought so much life and light into my life. And I’m very grateful for her never-ending support of me and all the things that I want to do. We met on Instagram. We both followed a queer content creator who was trying to get people to be friends with each other. I DM’ed her, and we’ve been talking literally every day since for almost two-and-a-half years.
Nice! If you had your own talk show, who would you want as your first two guests?
The first person that comes to mind is Maggie Rogers. Musically, I think she’s really cool. Second, I’m gonna go with my other favorite artist, Brandi Carlile. Get some very queer energy in there. I’ve always looked up to her.
If you could own your own shop, what would you sell?
This is a great question that I’ve thought a lot about given my role within a chamber of commerce and meeting so many small-business owners. My quick answer is always sleek furniture and home decor that makes everyone create the coziest spaces they can call home.
What’s the most exotic thing you’ve ever eaten?
Oh god, vegans, skip this question. As a little kid, I notoriously would order cow tongue at a local deli. It started as a dare from my uncle but I somehow ended up liking it. I can’t say I’ve had it since though.
The first piece of music you bought?
Absolute trifecta: Avril Lavigne, No Doubt and Hilary Duff.
A favorite or disastrous Thanksgiving moment?
My immediate thought is the fact that my grandma’s birthday was always around Thanksgiving so we always celebrated her birthday with cake alongside other classic desserts. One year, my aunt orchestrated a bagpiper to appear at dessert. She was the only one in on the surprise, and I think it scared and confused everyone more than anything. But I think my grandma enjoyed it! So that feels like a favorite and yet disastrous moment.
In another life, I probably was a…
A Broadway star! I don’t sing or dance well (at all) but I can belt it out!
For more information on Independence Business Alliance and IBA Holiday Party 2024, visit thinkiba.com/iba-events/.