Philadelphia Deepens Its LGBTQ+ Roots With New Pride Visitor Center
Set to open in early 2026, the Philly Pride Visitor Center will be one of the nation’s first spaces dedicated to welcoming LGBTQ+ travelers.
Philadelphia is preparing to welcome visitors in a new way, with a destination designed specifically for LGBTQ+ travelers. Early next year, the city will open the Philly Pride Visitor Center, one of the first centers of its kind in the United States, offering both practical travel services and a celebration of queer history.
The center will open in January 2026 at 12th and Locust Streets in the heart of the Midtown Village gayborhood. Operated by the Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation and Visit Philadelphia, with support from Visit PA and Philadelphia Gay News, the project aims to provide an inclusive starting point for exploring the city.
“We don’t just welcome diversity — we celebrate it,” said Kathryn Ott Lovell, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation. “Philadelphia is a city that shows up for everyone.”
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The launch coincides with a major year for Philadelphia tourism. The city will host celebrations for the nation’s 250th anniversary along with major global events like the FIFA World Cup and the MLB All-Star Game.
“The Philly Pride Visitor Center reflects our commitment to inclusive tourism and to making sure every traveler feels seen, welcomed and celebrated,” said Angela Val, president and CEO of Visit Philadelphia. “This new center gives visitors and residents a place to connect with Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ history, discover affirming businesses and see how this city helped shape a national movement. It is both a resource hub and a testament to Philadelphia’s role in advancing LGBTQ+ rights.”
The center will offer itinerary planning, attraction ticketing, and travel guidance highlighting LGBTQ+-affirming businesses and cultural sites. A retail section will feature products from LGBTQ+-owned artists and companies, and historical exhibits curated by Philadelphia Gay News founder Mark Segal will highlight the city’s central place in LGBTQ+ activism.
“Philadelphia has always been a trailblazer in LGBTQ+ history, from the first Reminder Day marches in 1965 (four years before Stonewall) to the Dewey’s sit-in, where LGBTQ+ youth stood up to a restaurant’s refusal to serve them,” Segal said. “Our city helped launch the fight for representation in media, shaped national policy, and created safe, visible spaces for our community. Now, with the opening of the Philly Pride Visitor Center, Philadelphia proudly honors that legacy and reaffirms its commitment to those who call this community home.”
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The location sits near historic sites tied to early queer activism. Independence Hall hosted some of the country’s first gay rights demonstrations in the late ’60s, and Dewey’s restaurant became the scene of the country’s first LGBTQ+ sit-in in 1965.
Anne Ryan, deputy secretary of tourism for the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, said the center sends a message beyond city limits. “Pennsylvania has always been a place where people come to write the next chapter of their story, and that includes our LGBTQ+ community,” Ryan said. “By opening the new LGBTQ+ Visitor Center, we are making it clear: you belong here. This space will showcase destinations across our commonwealth where LGBTQ+ travelers will find community, pride, and a warm Pennsylvania welcome.”
Lovell said the vision is to make the Pride Center a cornerstone of acceptance. “We’re building a starting point for tourists, a dedicated space for this community, and a true reflection of what our city stands for,” she said. “Our hope is that the Philly Pride Visitor Center becomes a place where LGBTQ+ visitors feel like they belong from the moment they arrive.”
