The 2025 Philadelphia Pride March and Festival kicked off Pride Month with a vibrant procession that celebrated both the LGBTQ+ community’s history and its future.
This year marks a significant milestone, as it commemorates 50 years since Pennsylvania became the first U.S. state to ban discrimination against LGBTQ+ employees.
The festivities began at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday at 6th and Walnut streets, echoing the spirit and legacy of the 1960s’ Annual Reminders.
These early demonstrations, which took place at Independence Hall every Fourth of July from 1965 to 1969, were trailblazers in the fight for gay and lesbian civil rights in America.
As much as Pride is a celebration, many participants, like Jett Steinem from West Philadelphia, took time to reflect on the past.
Steinem noted that the first Pride march was “essentially a funeral march,” honoring the courage of queer ancestors who fought for the rights enjoyed by the present-day community.
Opening remarks by José DeMarco of ACT UP reinforced this sentiment, emphasizing the enduring necessity of resistance in the face of ongoing struggles for equality.
“Silence still equals death,” DeMarco reminded attendees, highlighting that gathering as a community is itself an act of resistance and celebrating together is a confirmation of resilience.
The march this year remained true to the origins of the Annual Reminders, being entirely people-powered.
With no vehicles in sight, the procession was designed to be inclusive, catering to wheelchair users and families with strollers.
It wove through Old City to the heart of the Gayborhood, supported by enthusiastic onlookers who cheered and waved mini-flags distributed by volunteers.
A standout feature of the march was a monumental 600-foot Progress Pride flag — larger than a city block and touted as the largest in the country.
This enormous flag served as both a visual spectacle and a symbol of pride, carried by participants of all ages, backgrounds, and identities.
Its design represents a significant evolution of the traditional rainbow flag, which was originally created by late activist Gilbert Baker in 1978.
While the original flag featured eight stripes, it was later simplified to six due to fabric shortages and a need for symmetry.
The Progress Pride flag expands on this legacy by incorporating additional white, pink, and light blue stripes to honor the transgender community, alongside black and brown stripes representing LGBTQ+ people of color.
The black stripe also serves as a memorial for lives lost during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, enriching the flag with layers of meaning and remembrance.
At noon, the March transitioned into the Pride Festival, commencing at 11th and Walnut streets.
The newly expanded festival footprint filled the city blocks from Walnut to Pine streets and Juniper to Quince streets, featuring six entertainment zones categorized as Visibility, Unity, Legacy, Youth & Family, Relaxed, and Sweat.
Throughout the festival, attendees enjoyed 200 attractions, including a kid-friendly area, live performances that celebrated LGBTQ+ history, and dry bars providing sober spaces for celebration.
Local businesses got into the spirit as well, with longstanding Gayborhood favorites like Woody’s and Tavern on Camac welcoming crowds.
Pride weekend kicked off on Friday evening with a Pride Promenade at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, culminating in a vibrant festival embodying Philly L.U.V. — Legacy, Unity, and Visibility.
image source from：https://billypenn.com/2025/06/01/pride-march-festival-philadelphia-photos/
