Notable Firsts

Philly Pride Presents has taken many first steps in the advancement of Philadelphia’s LGBT Community and have achieved many notable accomplishments:

1990 – Outfest
Philadelphia is the 1st City to have an annual National Coming Out Day event
June 1995 – “Friend of Pride” Grand Marshal
Philly Pride becomes the first LGBT pride group to publicly acknowledge a straight friend of the gay community
October 1995 – “The Gayborhood”
Philly Pride Presents is the first organization to use the term “The Gayborhood.” On 18 April 2007, the city of Philadelphia officially recognized the area by adding 36 gay pride rainbow flag symbols to street signs bordering the Gayborhood area. 32 additional signs were added in June 2010
June 1996 – “I am What I am”
The Philly Pride Parade and Festival is the first Gay Pride event to have the tradition of singing the unofficial gay anthem
October 1996 – Rita Odessa Way
Philadelphia permitted the official renaming of a street for the day
June 1996 – Youth Grand Marshal
Philly Pride is the first gay pride parade in the U.S. to have youth grand marshals
October 1996 – P.C.H.A. now Mazzoni
Philly Pride is the 1st gay pride group to have anonymous HIV testing
1997 – TV Commercial
Philly Pride has first commercial on cable TV in the Philadelphia area
1997 – Gay Postmark
Philadelphia has the first gay pride postmark issued by the post office
June 1997 – Rainbow Flag Over City Hall
The rainbow flag flies over Philadelohia City Hall for the first time
October 1997 – Safeguards Demonstration
Philly Pride is the first LGBT event to have live safe sex demonstration
June 2000 – PECO Crown Lights
Philly Pride gets PECO to use the word “GAY” for the first time on its crown lights
October 2000 – Outfest Ferris Wheel
For the first time in history a Ferris Wheel is used on a center city Philadelphia Street
October 2001 – Pet Adoptions
Philly Pride is the first gay pride group to offer pet adoptions
June 2002 – Rainbow Circle — Linda Creed
Philly Pride is first pride event to offer free mammogram testing
October 2003 – Mechanical Bull
A mechanical bull is used on a Philadelphia center city street for the first time
October 2003 – Giant Rainbow Flag
The largest rainbow flag ever is displayed in Philadelphia
June 2006 – Gay Pride Postage Stamp
First gay pride postage stamp printed in the United States
June 2011 – Benjamin Franklin Bridge
The Benjamin Franklin Bridge is illuminated in rainbow lights
December 2014 – Withdrawal from InterPride
Philly Pride becomes the first pride group to withhold yearly dues from InterPride because of the anti-trans provisions in its bylaws
June 2015 – Trans Community Honors
Philly Pride becomes the first pride group to honor the trans community by exclusively awarding its awards and honors to those working in or with the trans community.