Photo: Jan van der Wolf / Pexels

Philadelphia’s Pride Visitor Center, one of the few LGBTQ+ visitor centers in the country, is looking for long-term funding after drawing thousands of visitors to Locust Street in the Gayborhood over the past six months.

The center has only received funding for one year. Councilmember Rue Landau and the center’s operators say they are optimistic about finding money to keep the doors open into the fall, the new year and beyond.

Vow renewals on Locust Street

The center held a “Romance Revival” event last weekend as part of its “Out and About on Friday” series, offering a vow renewal ceremony to mark National Romance Awareness Day.

Landau, the city’s first openly LGBTQ+ councilmember, gave opening remarks. “It is really a reminder for us what it means to play a part in queer history, even a small part,” Landau said. She noted how rare it is for a city to have a resource where people can feel safe and celebrate. “This is unique, traveling from other places it is not always safe to just be in our relationships.”

Dave Jack and Arturo Lara were among the couples who renewed their vows. The pair met in Philadelphia on Camac Street in 1996, have lived in the city together since 2001 and have been married for 11 years. “It is important to show people we are just two people in love,” Lara said. Jack added: “We couldn’t have chosen a finer city to be in.”

Local businesses Knock Restaurant and Bar and Cake Life provided treats for the celebration.

Building partnerships across the city

Laura Burkhardt, the center’s partnership consultant, has been connecting the center with organizations ranging from student groups to gay-straight alliances within Philadelphia businesses. “I’m confident people will be excited and want us to be here,” Burkhardt said.

Those partnerships have helped the center gain exposure and deepen ties across the community.

A ‘midpoint’ for Philly’s queer community

The center doubles as a small history lesson. Its walls display information about Philadelphia’s role in the fight for gender equality, including the nation’s first LGBTQ+ sit-in in 1963 and the 1965 “Annual Reminder” protest in front of Independence Hall.

Kristopher Lawrence, the center’s supervisor, called the space an important midpoint for Philadelphia’s queer community, allies and visitors. “We create history every day in Philadelphia. I am going to say it is a part of the city’s fabric and blood at this point,” Lawrence told Billy Penn.

Lawrence said he is focused on creating opportunities for people to come together, build community and expand the center’s mission. “People are really appreciative of something where they know they are welcome. Not everyone is comfortable putting themselves out there,” he said. “But they know when they see the words ‘visitor center’ that this is a place they’re welcome at throughout all stages of their journey.”

No timeline has been announced for a funding decision.