William Way Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center
1315 Spruce Street, 215-732-2220; www.waygay.org
Opened in 1997, William Way is the focal point of Philadelphia's GLBTQ community. Open seven days a week, the center provides meeting space for more than 70 groups and hosts a variety of events and art exhibitions throughout the year. William Way is one of the few gay community centers in the nation established with federal funds. Visit William Way for information about social events and support resources.
Barbara Gittings Gay & Lesbian Collection at the Free Library of Philadelphia
Independence Branch, 18 S. 7th Street; 215-685-1633
Named for a lifelong Philadelphia activist who fought for the inclusion of gay and lesbian materials in public libraries, this is the second-largest public library collection of GLBTQ-themed books, movies and magazines in the country.
Pride and Progress Mural
Juniper Street at Spruce Street
Dedicated in 2003, and located on the west wall of the William Way Community Center, this 7,500-square-foot, four-story mural pays tribute to gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered and queers people. Perhaps the first of its kind in the nation, the colorful mural depicts a composite of 1960's gay civil rights marches, a festival and Independence Hall. Stretching almost an entire block long, the mural is one of the largest in the city's Mural Arts Program, which has created more than 2,300 murals - the largest collection of outdoor murals in any city in the world. Visit www.muralarts.org for more information.
The Gayborhood
The center of GLBTQ businesses and nightlife can be found between 11th and Broad Streets, from Chestnut to Pine Streets, where a selection of bars, restaurants, coffee shops and retail stores (including Giovanni's Room, one of the oldest GLBTQ bookstores in the nation) line downtown streets. Just two blocks from the Pennsylvania Convention Center and one block from the Avenue of the Arts, the Gayborhood is a short walk from the city's businesses, entertainment, shopping and historical districts, and most downtown hotels.