Entered by Visit Philadelphia

LGBTQ+ inclusion has long been part of Philadelphia’s identity, tracing back to the historic 1965 Dewey’s Restaurant sit-in and the annual Reminder Day demonstrations outside Independence Hall. And for decades, the city’s welcoming legacy has been placed front and centre through groundbreaking LGBTQ+ tourism marketing initiatives.

As the United States’ 250th birthday celebrations in 2026 approached, Philadelphia saw an opportunity to turn that history and “welcoming” brand promise into something more tangible: a permanent place where visitors and residents could feel welcomed, discover the city’s history and connect with the LGBTQ+ community.