LGBT History Month is celebrated every October to remember and celebrate the legacy of the LGBT+ community.

Our history is often purposefully left out of school curricula, distorted by the media, or just plain forgotten over time. This makes LGBT History Month all the more important.

Our communities are diverse, vibrant, and resilient in face of marginalization. We have always been here, and we take this opportunity recognize the contributions of those who came before us.

Philadelphia is often called a city of firsts, and it has a rich history of LGBT activism. This includes one of the first civil rights protests against homophobic discrimination in 1965: The Dewey’s Lunch Counter sit-in occurred even before the historic Stonewall Riots, helping to spark a movement for LGBT rights that still continues today!

So whether you’re a member of the LGBT+ community or an ally looking to support friends and loved ones, you can get involved this October in Philadelphia with one (or all) of these events!


AIDS Library of Philadelphia Historic Marker Dedication
Tuesday, October 3 | 12:15 p.m.
Philadelphia FIGHT, 1233 Locust Street
The library, started in part to combat stigma and misinformation at the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis in America, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.

John Fryer Historic Marker Dedication
Tuesday, October 3 | 1:00 p.m.
13th and Locust Street
Dr. John Fryer, a gay psychiatrist and Temple University professor, is best known for urging the American Psychiatric Association to stop considering homosexuality a mental illness.

8th Annual LGBT History Month Celebration & Flag Raising
Friday, October 6 | 4:00 p.m.
City Hall, North Apron
Join us at City Hall to see the #MoreColorMorePride flag raised at this annual recognition of October’s LGBT History Month! The event will feature amazing performances by the Philly Gay Men’s Chorus and the Relationship Gospel Choir and remarks from Philly community members and City officials.

Mayor Kenney speaks in between an LGBTQ pride flag, with additional black and brown stripes representing people of color, and a trans pride flag at City Hall.
Mayor Jim Kenney speaks at a ceremony raising the trans pride flag at City Hall in 2017. (Photo by Samantha Madera.)

7th Annual Philly Trans March
Saturday, October 7 | 3:00 p.m.
Kahn Park, 11th and Pine Street
The Philly Trans March is equal parts protest and celebration. Starting at Kahn Park at 11th and Pine streets, the march includes speakers from Philly’s trans and gender non-conforming communities. Join the rally to speak out against transphobia and learn more about issues affecting the trans community today.

Philadelphia Family Pride Family Matters Conference
Saturday, October 7 | 9:00 a.m. — 3:00 p.m.
University of the Sciences, McNeil Science and Technology Center, 43rd Street and Woodland Avenue
Philadelphia Family Pride hosts their annual Family Matters Conference for LGBTQ parents, prospective parents, and kids of all ages. This year’s keynote speaker is author and professor Heath Fogg Davis, who will give a talk titled, “Parenting through the Bureaucracy of Gender.” All are welcome and registration is pay-what-you-wish. You can find more information, including how to register, online from Philly Family Pride.

Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus Fall Ball
Saturday, October 7 | 7:00 p.m. (VIP Reception), 8:00 p.m. (Main Event)
Loews Hotel, 1200 Market Street
The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus holds their signature annual fundraiser this year at the iconic Loews Hotel this year in Center City. 2017’s theme is “American Bandstand! 65 years of legendary music television and American pop culture meets 35 years of Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ music entertainment.” Visit the PGMC’s website for more information including tickets and pricing.

Outfest
Sunday, October 8 | 12:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m.
Philadelphia’s Gayborhood (Main Stage at 13th and Locust)
Outfest is Philly’s biggest LGBTQ event of the year — and the largest celebration of National coming Out Day in the world! The annual street festival is free and open to all and includes music, specials at local bars and restaurants, vendors, and more. You can learn more about the event’s history and plans for this year from Philly Pride Presents.

Out & Equal Workplace Summit 
Monday, October 9 — Wednesday, October 11
Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street
This three-day global conference features hundreds of educational opportunities including workshops, expert panels, networking mixers, and plenaries with keynotes from prominent LGBT leaders and allies. If you or your company is interested in registering, please contact Out & Equal online.

A truck drives in front of Independence Hall with a large LGBTQ flag with brown and black stripes on it representing LGBTQ people of color.
Marchers celebrate during 2017’s LGBT Pride Parade in Philadelphia. (Photo by Samantha Madera.)

National Coming Out Day LGBT Career Fair
Wednesday, October 11 | 9:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Broad and Cherry Street
This year on National Coming Out Day, the Out & Equal Workplace Summit holds a free LGBT career fair open to all. Be sure to bring copies of your resume or CV, dress business casual, and be ready to make some connections! While the event is free and open to the public, registrations are kindly requested ahead of time online.

UPenn’s LGBT Center Turns 35!
Saturday, October 14 | 1:30 p.m. — 4:30 p.m.
Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce Street
This year marks 35 years of the University of Pennsylvania’s LGBT center, so Penn’s LGBTQ community, along with community members and leaders from across the city, are joining together for a celebration at Houston Hall. Please note that this celebration is held in historic Houston Hall (3417 Spruce Street). Tickets are $10 for students, $35 for adults. 

William Way LGBT Community Center Indigo Ball
Saturday, October 14 | 5:30 p.m. — 11:00 p.m.
Hotel Sofitel Philadelphia, 120 South 17th Street
This black tie optional gala benefits Philadelphia’s William Way LGBT Community Center and features a cocktail hour, three-course dinner, live entertainment, and awards. This year’s theme: Sparkle! For tickets and more information, please visit the fundraiser’s event page online.

Annual AIDS Walk/Philly 5K
Sunday, October 15 | 6:30 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.
Philadelphia Museum of Art (Start at the Art Museum Steps)
This annual event benefits the AIDS Fund, which works to increase public awareness about HIV/AIDS, raise money for organizations providing services to people living with HIV in the greater Philadelphia area, and runs an emergency fund for HIV-positive people experiencing financial crisis. This event welcomes both runners and walkers, singles and teams. For more information, including how to register, please visit the AIDS Walk’s website.

Spirit Day
Thursday, October 19
Organized by GLAAD, this advocacy day raises awareness about anti-LGBT bullying and signals support for LGBTQ youth. Participants are encouraged to post on social media and wear purple on Spirit Day, honoring the purple stripe on the bottom of Gilbert Baker’s original pride flag from 1978, which represents spirit. You can also change your social media profile pictures to show support and find more information from GLAAD’s Spirit Day toolkit online.

LGBT Community Mixer
Wednesday, October 25 | 5:30 p.m.
John Anderson Apartments, 251 South 13th Street
If you’re looking for a space to mingle and network with others in Philly’s LGBT community, join the William Way LGBT Community Center, AARP Pennsylvania, and the Office of LGBT Affairs for this fun mixer!

LGBTQ Community Conversation
Thursday, October 26 | 6:00 p.m. — 8:0o p.m.
Gershman Y, 401 South Broad Street
The Office of LGBT Affairs hosts its third community conversation at the Gershman Y this month. All community members are welcome and encouraged to attend; this conversation’s topic surrounds race relations within Philadelphia’s LGBTQ community.


Follow the Office of LGBT Affairs on Twitter for the latest about LGBTQ events and news in Philly!