Organizers of the National LGBT 50th Anniversary Celebration, July 2 to 5 in Philadelphia, announced four days of events to honor 50 years of LGBT activism and progress. The National LGBT 50th Anniversary Celebration will be the first national event after the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality.
“The Annual Reminders at Independence Hall each July 4th from 1965 to 1969 were a landmark and transformative turning point for the LGBT civil-rights movement,” said Malcolm Lazin, chair of the National LGBT 50th Anniversary Celebration “It is inspiring to hold the National LGBT 50th Anniversary Ceremony at the internationally iconic location selected by the Gay Pioneers.”
For more information about specific events go to lgbt50th.org.
The organized LGBT civil-rights movement was galvanized when activists from New York, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia staged demonstrations at Independence Hall for equality each Fourth of July from 1965 to 1969. When 40 activists picketed in front of Independence Hall in 1965, it was the largest demonstration for gay equality in world history.
Organized in part by Frank Kameny and Barbara Gittings, the father and mother of the LGBT civil-rights movement, these “Annual Reminders” laid the groundwork for the Stonewall riot in 1969. After Stonewall, the gay pioneers suspended the Annual Reminders and turned their energies to help organize the 1970 march from Greenwich Village to Central Park marking the first anniversary of Stonewall.
Here is a summary of events in Philadelphia:
Thursday, July 2
Christ Church Religious Freedom Tour
Thursday, July 2, 5:15 to 6:00 p.m.
Wreath Laying at Gay Pioneers Historical Marker
2:15 to 2:45 p.m.
Independence Mall
National Legal Panel
6:30 to 7:45 p.m.
National Museum of American Jewish History
National Politics Panel
8:15 to 9:30 p.m.
Congress Hall
50th Anniversary Party
10 to 11:30 p.m.
National Museum of American Jewish History
Parties
10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
The Gayborhood
Friday, July 3
National Interfaith Service with sermon by Bishop Gene Robinson
4 to 5 p.m.
Historic Christ Church
“Gay Pioneers” Screening With Special Guests
6 to 7:30 p.m.
WHYY
Live Nation 50th Anniversary Concert
7 to 11 p.m.
Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing
Parties
10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
The Gayborhood
Saturday, July 4
50th Anniversary VIP Lunch: Honoring Edie Windsor and Judy Shepard
11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Independence Visitor Center
For tickets go to: lgbt50.org/vip-lunch.
National LGBT 50th Anniversary Ceremony with MC Wanda Sykes
2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Independence Hall
VIP Cocktail Reception: Honoring Marriage Equality Plaintiff James Obergefell
4:30 to 6 p.m.
Stratus Rooftop Lounge, Hotel Monaco
Welcome America Concert
9 to 11 p.m.
Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Parties
10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
The Gayborhood
Welcome America Fireworks
11 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Sunday, July 5
Booksigning: Barbara Gittings: Gay Pioneer
with Author Tracy Baim
Giovanni’s Room
Street Festival
Noon to 6 p.m.
The Gayborhood
Parties
Noon to 2 a.m.
The Gayborhood
All Week
Five LGBT History Exhibits
(Times Vary, please look at lgbt50th.org or on venue sites for more information)
— African American Museum
— Free Library of Philadelphia, Central Library
— Liberty Bell Center, Independence National Historical Park
— National Constitution Center
— National Museum of American Jewish History
There is no registration fee and most programs are free.
For more information, visit www.lgbt50th.org and www.gaypioneers.com.