The Philadelphia Gay News

Earlier this year, I received a call asking if I would ride on an LGBTQ+ Pride float in the Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade — Philadelphia’s official Independence Day parade — on July 3. We talked about what the float should represent, and we quickly agreed that there was no more recognizable symbol of LGBTQ+ Pride than Stonewall.

Summertime Prides Rehoboth Beach Pride will once again provide another excuse to spend a weekend down the shore. The five-day event, taking place July 15-19 — will include workshops, book signings, meet-ups, music shows, family gatherings, an interfaith Pride service and more. Events take place at various locations in town with a Saturday festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. Visit sussexpride.org/rehobothbeach to learn more. Lehigh Valley Pride will take place on Aug.

In May, Philadelphia voters overwhelmingly supported legislation that will establish the Philadelphia Retirement Savings Program, also known as PhillySaves — which helps people who are employed in Philadelphia access retirement savings plans by automatically enrolling them in Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). The program will be launched in 2027.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been enjoying this summer! Despite what’s going on in the world, Philadelphia has been an oasis of international unity and joy. Just walking down the street, seeing people in brightly colored jerseys and hearing different languages being spoken makes me smile. The person responsible for much of what’s happening is a friend who always greets you with a smile: Philadelphia’s Director of 2026, Michael Newmuis.

Pride Month may be over, but queer and trans Philadelphians and their allies still have plenty to look forward to this summer as they try to beat the heat. Among the events that LGBTQ+ audiences can get excited about is the five-day comedy festival “Variety Pack,” taking place July 9-13 at the Drake. Returning for the third time, “Variety Pack,” co-produced by writer, performer and producer Chaz T. Martin and bestselling author and television writer R.

The U.S. Supreme Court on June 30 upheld state laws that ban transgender athletes from school sports teams that correspond with their gender identity. The justices in January heard oral arguments in two cases — Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J. — that challenged laws in Idaho and West Virginia respectively.

DirectorLouise Bagnall’s enchanting 2D animated feature, “Julián,” just had its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France. Based on Jessica Love’s children’s book, “Julián is a Mermaid,” this feature film, co-written by queer storyteller juliany taveras, depicts the eventful summer that the young Julián (voiced by Knyght Darius Jack) spends with his Dominican grandmother/abuela, Carmela (Micania Diaz-Rojas), in Brooklyn.

Dear Reader, In an effort to thwart the rise of AI, I am choosing not to use a computer to write this week’s column. I am, instead, writing it by hand using both manmade and natural materials. You will notice various shades of green and a certain American Flag Blue throughout. That’s right. I am writing on peeled scraps I’ve salvaged from the bottom of the Reflecting Pool in D.C. as well as whatever algae I could scrape from the surface of the water.

Mural Arts Philadelphia, the city’s public art program, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a mural on June 26 to honor five local LGBTQ+ leaders. Entitled “In Pride, In Power, In Memory” and located at Voyeur Nightclub on 1221 Saint James St., the 1200 square foot mural depicts each leader — Gloria Casarez, Michael S. Hinson Jr., Nizah Morris, Dawn Munro and Tyrone Smith — alongside a flower symbolizing their impact and legacy.

For Pride month, PGN partnered with WHYY’s John Weber to produce Philly Phun Phact. Each week, Weber produces a one-minute segment on Philadelphia’s history for WHYY 90.9 FM. The Philly Phun Phact segments typically run at 9:39 a.m. on Saturday and 8:39 a.m. on Sunday. Weber and PGN collaborated to produce four segments, running every weekend this month. Check out WHYY’s segment on Rue Landau, Philadelphia’s first openly LGBTQ+ city councilmember.