“History isn’t something you look back at and say it was inevitable, it happens because people make decisions that are sometimes very impulsive and of the moment, but those moments are cumulative realities.”—Marsha P. Johnson

This year’s Pride Month passed very differently than what we are used to. The pandemic forced beloved annual celebrations to go virtual or take a year off. Coupled with the recent uprisings, the current moment has caused many to confront the truth that Black and trans communities continue to fight two crises concurrently—maintaining their health in the face of disproportionate odds and state-sanctioned violence. 

With this in mind, join us as we reflect on the history that Pride reminds us of and celebrate a few of the organizations tirelessly supporting and uplifting the LGBTQ+ community throughout the entire year. 

To Read & Watch:

10 LGBTQ Films to Stream during Pride Month [Philadelphia Gay News]

An Essential Guide to LGBTQ Philadelphia [Visit Philly]

Philly’s LGBT History: A Primer on the City’s Legacy of Pride [Billy Penn]

The Power of Protest [Philadelphia Gay News]

Pride 2020: 17 Must Read Books [NBC News]

Resources for LGBTQ Philadelphians [City of Philadelphia]

10 Local Organizations Supporting Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ Community

A comprehensive list of organizations serving LGBTQ+ Philadelphians can be found here. Support their work, take advantage of their resources, share them with others, and get involved if you can! Each of them does amazing work, all year round.

The Attic Youth Center creates opportunities for LGBTQ youth (ages 13-23) to develop into healthy, independent, civic-minded adults within a safe and supportive community. Offers free counseling and groups.

Bebashi’s purpose is to empower people to enhance the quality of their health and overall well-being by providing access to culturally sensitive high-quality healthcare, HIV/AIDS services, health education, and social services including a food pantry.

Gay & Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative (GALAEI) is a queer Latin@ social justice organization. Since 1989, the organization has provided social services and referrals around HIV/AIDS and sexual health, organizing, and networking. GALAEI operates the Trans Health Information Project (TIP), a peer-led program designed by and for trans-identified and gender nonconforming people. TIP provides outreach, sexual health counseling, HIV prevention and testing, health and safety workshops, assistance with legal name change, support through transition, and other resources.

MANNA  uses nutrition to improve health for people with serious illnesses who need nourishment to heal. By providing medically tailored meals and nutrition education, they empower people to improve their health and quality of life.

Mazzoni Center provides comprehensive health and wellness services for youth and adults; services include primary medical care, mental health counseling, substance abuse services, HIV counseling and testing, support groups, case management, legal, health education, and outreach.

Morris Home supports trans and gender variant individuals as they develop the knowledge, skills and supports necessary to promote sobriety, manage emotional and behavioral difficulties, choose and maintain safe and healthy lifestyles, and develop healthy relationships.

Philadelphia FIGHT is a comprehensive health services organization providing primary care, consumer education, research, and advocacy for people living with HIV/AIDS and those at high risk.

Philadelphia Gay News is a local, independent online and print newspaper with a mission to cover the LGBT community in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. PGN serves as a platform to promote internal LGBT dialogue as well as with the broader mainstream/ally community.

Philly Aids Thrift at Giovanni’s Room is the oldest queer and feminist thrift and book store in the nation. Housed in the historic Giovanni’s Room, originally founded in 1973, Philly AIDS Thrift has donated more than $2,033,842 to 29 HIV/AIDS organizations in the five-county Philadelphia region to date.

The William Way LGBTQ Community Center seeks to encourage, support, and advocate for the wellbeing and acceptance of sexual and gender minorities through services, recreational, educational, and cultural programming.