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Many people know about the Stonewall Riots in New York – a pivotal protest by members of the LGBTQ+ community over a police raid at Stonewall Inn, a bar in Greenwich Village. But before Stonewall, there was Philly.
The nation’s first annual “reminder demonstration” happened right here in the city – an opportunity for LGBTQIA+ community members and allies to demand equal rights.
“It built momentum from the core of ourselves, these were the first regularly held demonstrations for gay liberation that ever existed in the United States,” said Kristopher Lawrence, the director of the Philly Pride Visitor Center.
The demonstration happened for the first time in 1965 – with about 40 advocates showing up.
Frank Kameny was one of the organizers of the demonstration. He was fired from his government job due to his sexual orientation. It was important for him that attendees convey “normalness and employability” by marching in “business-appropriate” dress.
“These people were reminding everyone how the promises expressed in the Declaration of Independence apply to the LGBTQIA+ community, apply to allies, and apply to allies who are coming to their allyship,” Lawrence said.
The protests were held on every Fourth of July from 1965-1969. Following the Stonewall Riots in 1969, many cities began celebrating Pride.
Present-day Pride
Lawrence said the now month-long Pride celebration started in Philly in 1972 – and was a way for LGBTQIA+ allies and community members to regard their sexual orientation with celebration.
“That’s what these people felt inside of them that exploded and they can no longer hold back,” he said. “It became something that is a celebration, which I want to say had to be their goal, and we’re proud to both commemorate, keep alive, advance, and live the joy that they wanted to see.”
Artist Jenn Procacci created this weekend’s Firstival statue. She said she felt it was important to pay homage to the annual reminders, as they created momentum for the community to receive more rights.
“The color scheme of something being black and white reminded me of the feeling of the community kind of living in the shadows in that time period, and I wanted to contrast that against a really bright, colorful background to reference the Pride flag, and also just to give this feeling of joy, sort of like a sunrise and a new awakening as people were able to gain their rights in the community,” she said.
Lawrence said the celebration ties into Philly’s present-day LGBTQIA+ communities and organizations.
“What we want to do at the Philly Pride Visitor Center is invite in everybody, whether they are people who have been living with the benefit of being proud, and people who are still figuring it out – which includes people who identify as queer, who are realizing maybe they identify as queer, and people who love and accept people who identify as queer, and are coming to love and accept people who identify as queer,” he said.
He adds he is happy that this celebration is happening during Pride Month – as it gives even more attention to the LGBTQIA+ community while it is amplified.
Saturday’s Firstival will feature protest pin-button making, speakers like Mark Segal from Philly Gay News, family-friendly activities, and more.
It will take place on Saturday, June 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Philly Pride Visitor Center at 12th & Locust Streets.
And here is your full guide to all of this year’s firstivals – including where you can find this upcoming Saturday’s Firstival dates and location.
Completed
Week 1: Successful balloon flight in America (1793)
Week 2: The Mummers parade, the nation’s first folk parade (1901)
Week 3: Volunteer fire company (1736)
Week 4: Professional basketball league (1898)
Week 5: Public Girl Scout cookie sale (1932)
Week 6: African Methodist Episcopal congregation (1794)
Week 7: Abolitionist society in America (1775)
Week 8: Authentic Chinese gate built in America (1984)
Week 9: Public protest against slavery in America (1688)
Week 10: Flower Show (1829)
Week 11: Women’s medical college (1850)
Week 12: Matchbook (1892)
Week 13: Medical school (1765)
Week 14: Stadium (1895)
Week 15: Circus performance (1793)
Week 16: Botanical garden (1728)
Week 17: Postmaster (1737)
Week 18: American-made piano and sousaphone (1775 and 1893)
Week 19: Mother’s Day (1908)
Week 20: Hospital in America (1751)
Week 21: World’s Fair on American soil (1876)
Week 22: Steamboat for passengers and freight (1787)
Week 23: American flag (1777)
Week 24: U.S. Army (1775)
Upcoming
• Annual Reminder demonstration (1965)
June 20, Philly Pride Visitor Center, Lombard St. and S. 12th St.
• Paper maker in America (1690)
June 27, Rittenhouse Town, 6034 Wissahickon Ave.
• Bank of the United States (1791)
July 4, First Bank of the United States, 120 S. 3rd St.
• Organized baseball team (1831)
July 11 (location TBD)
• Ice cream soda (Oct. 1874)
July 18, Franklin Fountain, 116 Market St.
• American art school (1805)
July 25, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 118-128 N. Broad St.
• Scientific Society of Natural History (1812)
Aug. 1, at Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• Zoo in America (1874)
Aug. 8, Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Ave.
• U.S. Mint (1793)
Aug. 15 (location TBD)
• Selfie (1839)
Aug. 22, Love Park, 1501 John F Kennedy Blvd.
• Slinky (1943)
Aug. 29, Philadelphia Art Museum, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• Signing of the Constitution (1787)
Sept. 5, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St.
• Continental Congress (1774)
Sept. 12 at Carpenters’ Hall, 320 Chestnut St.
• Naming of the United States (1776)
Sept. 19, Independence Hall
• Ronald McDonald House (1974)
Sept. 26, Ronald McDonald House, 3925 Chestnut St.
• Penitentiary in America (1829)
Oct. 3, Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave.
• The First Peoples
Oct. 10, Penn Museum, 3260 South St.
• U.S. Navy and Marine Corps (1775)
Oct. 17, Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch St.
• Public showing of a motion picture (1870)
Oct. 24, Philadelphia Film Society, 1412 Chestnut St.
• Modern detective story written (1841)
Oct. 31, Edgar Allan Poe House, 532 N. 7th St.
• Thanksgiving Day parade in America (1920)
Nov. 7, Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• University in America (1740)
Nov. 14, Houston Hall, The University of Pennsylvania, 3417 Spruce St.
• Children’s hospital in America (1855)
Nov. 21, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Main Building, 3401 Civic Center Blvd.
• Pencil with an attached eraser (1858)
Nov. 28, National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St.
• Weather bureau (1870)
Dec. 5, The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St.
• Electronic computer (1945)
Dec. 12, The University of Pennsylvania, 3451 Walnut St.
• Public lending library in America (1731)
Dec. 19, The Library Company of Philadelphia, 1314 Locust St.
• Philly food firsts: Cheesesteaks (1930s), water ice (1932) and bubble gum (1928)
Dec. 26, Reading Terminal Market, 1136 Arch St.
