Gay pride in philadelphia
A Guide to the 2025 Philadelphia Pride March and Festival
2025 Highlights
On the heels of a historic anniversary in Pennsylvania LGBTQ+ history — 50 years since Governor Milton Shapp signed the executive order protecting LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians from discrimination — the Philly Pride Rally & Festival kicks off its Lgbtq+ fest Month festivities with activism, open and inclusive celebration, and a ton of “Philly L.U.V.”
— Photo by S. Ramones for Visit Philadelphia
Pride March
An ode to the 1960s Annual Reminders, the Philly Pride March calls the LGBTQ+ society and its allies to take to the streets in the spirit of LGBTQ+ visibility and solidarity.
Kicking off at 10:30 a.m. neighboring 6th & Walnut streets, this collective march begins with speeches, music and a land acknowledgement from the Lenape Tribe, before winding from Old Town to the Identity festival Festival-grounds.
The vehicle-free procession features hundreds of LGBTQ+ community members, groups, leaders and allies marching side-by-side, with Philly Pride’s ever-expanding rainbow flag — now the largest in Philly history at an impressive 600 feet — making appearances along the way.
Participation
When it comes to celebrating Self-acceptance, the month of June is only just a beginning. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is committed to remaining an inclusive and safe space for LGBTQIA+ individuals throughout the year to further a shared mission of ongoing support and visibility. We’re eager to lift up local communities, events, collaborations, and art from our collection by members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
For Event month, we’re excited to observe the evolving nature of LGBTQIA+ identity, using the spirit of diversity as our guiding law. See below for more data about what’s happening on our campus this June.
Artist Collaborator: Katie Kaplan
Katie Kaplan is a visual artist working in Philadelphia. Her focus is on printmaking and expands into sculpture, textiles, and installation. She has shown operate nationally in solo and organization exhibitions at galleries, community spaces, and print shops.
Kaplan has completed numerous artist residencies and fellowships, including the Apprentice Coaching Program at the Fabric Workshop and Museum, the Cindi Royce Ettinger Fellowship at Second Express Press, and The Denbo Fellowship at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, Wass
Following an abrupt announcement by Galaei that the organization would no longer be a fiscal sponsor for Philly’s upcoming Pride events, the local LGBTQ+ group had one resounding question: Is Self-acceptance canceled?
Absolutely not. The Urban Affairs Commission stepped up to give Philly Self-acceptance 365 — which organizes the events — a recent home for now. And as Celebration month approaches, organizers are preparing for another action-packed and resource-filled weekend.
The protest and festival broke records in 2024, welcoming 110,000 participants — almost doubling attendees from the year before.
“Pride is getting bigger. What is that telling you about the power of our community?” Tyrell Brown, one of the event’s key organizers and now the executive director of the city’s Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs, told PGN before last year’s event.
This year, the crowd is likely to continue growing, and organizers have been intentional about making space for those newcomers.
Festivities will start on Friday, May 30, with a day of celebration throughout the capital and America’s largest Pride flag. A record-shattering 400-foot flag was unfurled during last year’s festivities.
“There’s never enough flag to go around
PHILLY PRIDE WEEKEND 2025
Philly Celebration Weekend 2025: A Citywide Celebration!
Get ready for Philly Pride Weekend 2025, a three-day celebration of LGBTQ+ pride, history, and community! From city-wide events to the iconic Pride Pride & Festival, this weekend is packed with opportunities to celebrate, connect, and show your pride.
Friday, May 30, 2025 – Parade Around the City & City Flag Raising
Pride Weekend kicks off with Pride Around the City, a powerful display of LGBTQ+ visibility and unity as we unfurl the largest Pride flag in Philadelphia’s history! This year, the flag has grown to an incredible 600 feet long, and we’ll haul it through iconic locations across the city starting at the Art Museum and Ending in the Gayborhood!
Help us hold the 600-foot Pride flag through different parts of the city!
Saturday, May 31, 2025 – Pride Promenade at the Art Museum
Celebrate in style at the Pride Promenade, a spectacular gathering at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Enjoy a night of music, performances, and community connections at this stunning cultu