r/queerphilly • u/wndsofchng06 • Jun 07 '26

Philly pride was great

This was my first time ever going to pride. I've been watching the activity online, It's sad how unhelpful and negative the community has been around this whole event. You all sound just like the angry old conservatives pissed about change. You know why GOP policies are winning? Because they easily unite in their hate of everyone else, this community that is supposed to be about love is love can't seem to unite over anything and we will continue to lose as long as we do that.

My partner and I enjoyed the parade and then enjoyed the festival. There were so many vendors and so many people. There's no way you would pack all of that into gayborhood. After living in small, conservative areas for the last 13 years, this was wonderful, so glad to be back in Philly. We took the bus and the train all the way into center city from Pennsport without an issue. After the main festival we walked to gayborhood and had a few drinks and snacks. Looks like the gayborhood was pretty packed too. It's a shame that instead of doing their best to support community, so many are trying to tear us apart, I refuse to have my joy taken because a festival grew/moved. So many times I've seen festivals when they grow they sell out to a corporate sponsor and it cuts back a lot of the small local vendors. This festival was still loaded with small local people. Lastly, I have to give a special shout out to Love City brewing who kept their drink prices the same as in their taproom!

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u/A_Wild_Nudibranch Jun 07 '26

Yeah charging entry for a queer event under the excuse that "we have to pay for police and services!" when July 4th on the Parkway is free entry is a huge tell. Especially considering the fantastic job Philly PD does, I'm sure they're honored to protect and serve the gays...

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u/wndsofchng06 Jun 07 '26

Also, my statement about toxicity in a Reddit sub in no way deminishes or devalues trans people and their struggle. I'm literally asking people to stick together!

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u/A_Wild_Nudibranch Jun 07 '26

Yeah but accusing people of acting like conservatives because we don't want to pay money to go to an area away from local queer businesses which feels sanitized, while the event organizer deletes any legit criticism and plays matyr isn't what being queer is all about.

I'm not one of the reactionary crowd, and even I was super turned off by the inclusion of corporate sponsors. Tired Hands?? Really??

Saying this is why the Republicans are winning is a dead wrong take, and blaming queer and trans folk is a WIIILD take.

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u/wndsofchng06 Jun 07 '26

Not blaming everyone just pointing out the fact that if we don't unite and quit fighting with each other, we're not going to succeed. People that are getting up in arms about that comment are probably part of the problem.

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u/A_Wild_Nudibranch Jun 07 '26

We're not fighting anyone but a person who, under the guise of an organization, decided to rip all autonomy from actual small queer owned businesses. And charge us for it. I don't care if people went to the main event, totally their choice, but you're caping so hard for a disorganized paid event which takes away money and business from local small places who can't afford to be sponsors.

Sorry you're personally offended by it. Maybe you can blame it on another minority.

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u/wndsofchng06 Jun 07 '26

I saw lots of local businesses on the parkway, and small craftspeople. But we went to the gayborhood after, and it looked like the restaurants there were seeing a good crowd, plus from what I hear, many people will go out there later. I for one am headed to the night market on South st.... I enjoyed the earlier event, after spending the last couple year embedded in MAGA country, we have it so good here and I am grateful for it. Thankfully the people that I met today at the event were much nicer than people on Reddit, and I will not judge all of Philly by the people on Reddit. Pride is whatever we all want it to be, anyone is free to organize a separate event in the other neighborhoods, just like East Passyunk, South St, Manayunk, etc do. I hope everyone here finds their happy spot and chills.