Walking through Philadelphia on Labor Day

As a first-time visitor to Philadelphia, I envisioned the Gayborhood as a vibrant community dedicated to the celebration of LGBTQ+ individuals. Yet, the neighborhood, also known as Midtown Village, was surprisingly quiet on Labor Day. Even as I walked across the rainbow crosswalk at the intersection of 13th and Locust Streets, there were only a few scattered individuals strolling through the area. The relatively sparse crowds could have been a side effect of the scorching weather, with temperatures above 90 degrees and stifling humidity.

My first stop was Giovanni’s Room, the oldest operating LGBTQ+ bookstore in the United States. It not only offers an extensive collection of books but also houses the Philly AIDS Thrift, a second hand clothing, magazine and movie store.

As I perused its shelves, I couldn’t help notice that the books represented not only my LGBTQ+ identity but also resonated with my Latino heritage. This intersectionality, which is often overlooked, was prominently displayed throughout the store, making it a true haven for diverse voices and experiences.

Walking through the Gayborhood I got to discover tributes to LGBTQ+ culture scattered along the streets. Notable among these was a mural on the side of Writer Bloc Rehab bar. It pictures Lil Nas X, a prominent LGBTQ+ musical artist, and was painted by Ash Ryan, a local street artist and muralist. 

I also came across a historical marker commemorating the founding of the Philly Gay News. The weekly newspaper was established in 1976 and has earned multiple awards over the years, including the 2023 recipient of the NLGJA’s Legacy Award for LGBTQ+ coverage and 10 individual awards from Local Media Association in 2012. The city’s tribute recognizes the paper’s ongoing contributions to covering the LGBTQ+ community’s resilience and Philadelphia’s cultural landscape.

Even with relatively low foot traffic on Labor Day, the LGBTQ+ community’s spirit of inclusion permeated the Gayborhood, and I felt at home in a way I don’t in other parts of other cities.

William Way Community Center 

The following day (Tuesday after Labor Day), I visited the William Way LGBT Community Center, a hub that offers resources and hosts diverse events catering to the LGBTQ+ community. While exploring the center, I stumbled upon the John J. Wilcox, Jr. Library. Established in 1976, it  is the oldest LGBTQ+ lending library in the nation. The library houses an extensive collection of LGBTQ+ books and films, all focused on LGBTQ+ lives, experiences, identities, and representations.

The staff at the center recommended that I return in the evening. That’s when their LGBTQ+ peer counseling groups convene and a variety of other events take place.

My exploration continued with a visit to the LGBT center at the University of Pennsylvania.  One educational program that stood out to me was their LGBTQ+ Basics workshop, which covers an overview of LGBTQ+ history, terms, and current issues. 

Later in the evening, I returned to William Way and had the pleasure of witnessing a rehearsal by the Philadelphia Voices of Pride. This talented group is an LGBTQ+ choir, uniting singers of all skill levels in a harmonious and artistically enriching ensemble. 

Nightlife 

During the first half of the week, the nightlife scene in the area was subdued. It wasn’t until Thursday night that things really started picking up, particularly with large crowds, predominantly made up of gay men, converging on bars in the neighborhood.

On the Thursday of my visit, around 9 p.m., I came across Tabu Lounge and Sports Bar. Although it seemed relatively empty at first I found dozens of gay men engrossed in a lively game pool. They were playing billiards with Stonewall Sports and had divided themselves into different teams, distinguished by the colors of their T-shirts. The players were passionately cheering for their respective sides. They were genuinely thrilled to be photographed, and even after finishing their game, they eagerly agreed to engage in another round, allowing me to capture the moment.

Around 10 p.m., my next stop was U Bar, where I encountered a bustling scene with dozens of gay men of varying ages filling the venue. The place was so packed that navigating through the crowd was a bit challenging, but I managed to snap a few spontaneous photos before calling it a night.