Hello Friend,

As Pride Month comes to a close, I'm filled with gratitude for Philly’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community and our allies who continue to show up year after year to support us. 

At a time when LGBTQ+ people are under attack across the country, our city’s LGBTQ+ community once again chose love, visibility, and solidarity.

This month was a powerful reminder that Pride is more than a celebration. It's a commitment to one another, a recognition of our history, and a declaration that everyone - from our youth to our elders - deserves to live openly, safely, and authentically.

Here are just a few of the moments that made this Pride Month so special.

Pride Kick-off Event

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our third annual Pride Kick-off Fundraiser. Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ community, allies, and advocates came together for an evening that was a powerful reminder of why our work matters.

Pride has always been rooted in community, courage, and strength. Seeing so many familiar faces gathered together was a celebration of both. I am deeply grateful to everyone who attended, volunteered, and helped make the evening such a success.

Celebrating Pride Across Philadelphia

This month, I was honored to join Philadelphia's annual Pride flag-raising ceremony and stand alongside advocates, organizers, and queer City employees as we kicked off a month dedicated to celebrating our community and the progress we've made together.

I also had the privilege of presenting a citation at one of my favorite annual events, the Philly Dyke March, and had a chance to speak at Philadelphia FIGHT’s HIV Education summit. Here in Philadelphia, we know that our queer community cannot and will not be erased.

Celebrating Community and Belonging at City Council As Philadelphia’s first openly LGBTQ+ Councilmember, it was my privilege to use my position in City Hall to recognize organizations and the people behind them that create safe, joyful, and affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ Philadelphians. This Pride Month, I was proud to honor

William Way Community Center, Philly Queer Fundy, Pride Visitors Center, and Pride House PHL for the extraordinary work they do to create spaces where LGBTQ+ Philadelphians can find community, support, joy, and belonging. From providing essential services and preserving our history to building networks of mutual aid, welcoming LGBTQ+ visitors, and creating opportunities for people to connect over a shared love of sports, each of these organizations reminds us that community is built every day through care, compassion, and connection.

I believe our city is strongest when everyone has a place where they can show up as their authentic selves. While I will always fight for policies that protect LGBTQ+ rights, I also know that organizations like these are what bring those values to life.

Honoring the Trailblazers Who Shaped Our City

It was an honor to join Mural Arts, community leaders, and neighbors for the unveiling of the new In Pride, In Power, In Memory mural in Philadelphia’s Gayborhood. Beautifully designed by Santiago Galeas, this vibrant public artwork celebrates the lives and legacies of LGBTQ+ trailblazers whose courage, leadership, and advocacy helped shape our city and expand opportunity for future generations.

Philadelphia’s history is richer because of the change makers on the mural like Gloria, Michael, Tyrone, Dawn, Nizah, and so many others whose contributions continue to inspire us. I am grateful to everyone who made this meaningful tribute possible and proud to celebrate a community whose stories are an essential part of Philadelphia’s story.  

The Work Continues

While Pride Month may be coming to a close, our commitment to equity, safety, and opportunity for LGBTQ+ Philadelphians continues every day of the year.

Pride should be a safe space for every single member of our community. That’s why I introduced a resolution authorizing a City Council hearing to examine what happened with the excessive police response in the Gayborhood during this year’s Pride celebration and what the City is doing to ensure it never happens again. 

Our LGBTQ+ community deserves transparency, accountability, and the confidence that everyone can celebrate safely in Philadelphia. I remain committed to doing everything I can to make that a reality.

Thank you for being part of this community and for helping make Philadelphia a place where Pride is not just celebrated in June, but reflected in our city’s values all year long.

With gratitude, 

Rue Landau

Councilmember At-Large