Philadelphia officially opened the doors to the new Philly Pride Visitor Center on Tuesday, marking what city and state leaders called a visible, permanent investment in LGBTQ+ inclusion ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.
Located at 1130 Locust Street in the heart of the Gayborhood, the new center is a partnership between the Philadelphia Visitor Center, Visit Philadelphia, Visit PA, and Philadelphia Gay News. Leaders say it is designed to serve as both a welcome hub for LGBTQ+ travelers and a gateway to the community’s history, in a city where much of that history began.
“The Philadelphia Visitor Center team is the city’s welcoming committee,” said Kathryn Ott Lovell, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Visitor Center. “We want to ensure every visitor feels an authentic sense of belonging from the moment they arrive.”
Lovell described the center as a “dedicated starting point” for LGBTQ+ visitors, a place to access itinerary planning, ticketing, travel information and curated resources highlighting LGBTQ+-affirming destinations and businesses across the region and Commonwealth.
The opening comes as Philadelphia prepares for record visitation in 2026, when the city will host events tied to the U.S. semiquincentennial, the FIFA World Cup, MLB All-Star Game, PGA Championship, and a slate of cultural programming.
For Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, the center represents more than tourism infrastructure.
“At a time when other states are walking away from their LGBTQ+ community, we are walking toward it,” Shapiro said. “Pennsylvania is a place that is warm and welcoming for all.”
Drawing a line from William Penn’s founding vision to the present day, Shapiro said the Commonwealth has a responsibility to demonstrate inclusion in tangible ways.
“We have a responsibility to open these doors and set forth a place that is welcoming to our LGBTQ+ community,” he said. “We do so with big hearts and open arms.”
Anne Ryan, Deputy Secretary of Tourism for the Commonwealth, called the center “a declaration that belonging is not seasonal, not subtle, and not hidden — it is intentional.”
“This becomes the physical front door to that invitation,” Ryan said. “You don’t have to shrink here. You don’t have to edit yourself. You are invited because of who you are.”
Ryan emphasized that the center connects visitors not only to the Gayborhood but to LGBTQ+-affirming destinations across Pennsylvania, from New Hope to Pittsburgh.
The new center also serves as an educational entry point into Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ legacy, curated with input from community leaders including PGN founder Mark Segal.
“Philadelphia has always been a trailblazer in LGBTQ+ history,” Segal said, referencing the 1965 Reminder Day demonstrations at Independence Hall and the Dewey’s sit-in, both of which predated the 1969 Stonewall uprising.
Segal reflected on his early activism including confronting national media outlets for their coverage of LGBTQ+ issues and said he never imagined seeing a dedicated LGBTQ+ visitor center in Philadelphia when he was a teenager organizing protests.
Lee también:¿Cómo los inquilinos pueden convertirse en clientes del servicio de agua?
“To open a visitor center like this, it says something about how far we’ve come,” Segal said.
City Councilmember Rue Landau, Philadelphia’s first openly LGBTQ+ councilmember, became emotional as she described walking through the center for the first time.
“This isn’t just a visitor center that tells you which coffee shop to go to,” Landau said. “It tells our history. It tells the story of who we are and reminds us that we are still making history every single day.”
Landau said the center sends a crucial message amid rising anti-LGBTQ rhetoric nationally.
“At a time when there is federal rhetoric showing hatred and fear, Philadelphia is saying: You are welcome here. You are safe here.”
Councilmember Mark Squilla, whose district includes the Gayborhood, called the project a Commonwealth-wide celebration tied to the 250th anniversary. “Philadelphia is standing up and saying: We see you. We welcome you.”
According to Community Marketing & Insights, LGBTQ+ travelers represent $1.4 trillion in annual purchasing power, and 63% already view Philadelphia as a welcoming destination.
Tyrell Brown, executive director of Philly Pride 365, said the center positions the city for global visibility.
“The opening of the visitor center is really like a welcome mat for LGBTQ people around the globe,” Brown said. “It’s also about economic impact, about our small businesses and the ingenuity of LGBTQ people being put on display at a global scale in 2026.”
The center features a curated gift shop with work from LGBTQ+ creators including Symone Salib, Nile Livingston, Laser Philly and Kah Yangni, alongside merchandise from other LGBTQ+-owned businesses.
Laura Burkhardt, a partnership consultant for the Philly Pride Visitor Center, said the project is about reciprocity and community.
“When I first moved to Philadelphia, I was embraced by the LGBTQ community and made to feel part of the city,” Burkhardt said. “This is an opportunity to give back and to welcome all kinds of people to Philadelphia.”
For Neil Frauenglass, chief marketing officer at Visit Philadelphia, the center turns messaging into something tangible.
“It tells visitors they’re not just welcome, they’re wanted,” he said.
Open Thursday through Monday from noon to 6 p.m., the Philly Pride Visitor Center stands as both a resource for travelers and a visible affirmation of Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ community, a city that helped launch the modern gay rights movement and now positions itself as a national leader in inclusive tourism.
As Segal put it: “Philadelphia proudly honors that legacy and reaffirms its commitment to those who call this community home.”
By: Martin Alfaro
Noticias Newswire
