WHEREAS, the Pride Visitors Center opened on February 26, 2026 and is located at 12th and Locust St. It was created through a partnership between Visit Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Visitor Center, Visit PA and Philly Gay News; and
WHEREAS, Visitors to the Center can discover LGBTQ-friendly experiences, businesses, and cultural institutions, can learn about Philly’s pioneering role in the fight for equal rights, and can access comprehensive visitor services; and
WHEREAS, the Philly Pride Visitor Center is one of the first in the country devoted to LGBTQ+ travelers. At a time when LGBTQ+ people feel increasingly targeted and villainized, the Pride Visitors Center is a reminder that LGBTQ+ people belong in Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia has been at the forefront of advancing LGBTQ+ rights. The city hosted the nation’s first LGBTQ+ sit-in at Dewey’s restaurant in 1965, and Independence Hall was home to the Annual Reminders, some of the earliest public demonstrations for gay rights in the United States; and
WHEREAS, in advance of the nation’s 250th anniversary, when Philadelphia will welcome record tourism to our city, the Pride Visitors Center is a necessary institution that will remind all visitors to our city that LGBTQ+ people not only belong in Philadelphia, but that their presence is valued and celebrated, now, therefore be it,
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby honors and recognizes the Pride Visitors Center on its opening, for being a welcoming and visionary hub that will make all LGBTQ+ Philadelphians and visitors feel seen and safe when they come to this City.
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