Ep. 5: Pride 365

On the final episode, we’re going to Philly Pride. After the dramatic downfall of the organization that ran the event for decades, we’ll see what the new group managed to accomplish. Did Pride feel revolutionary, or did it still feel corporate? Did police stay out of the festival? And did the community truly feel safe celebrating in the Gayborhood? We’ll hear whether this new group reached their goal to create a Pride that works for everyone — with little resources and just a year to do it. And we’ll explore what this all means for the future of the Pride movement

What does it take to rebuild a community in real time? On this episode, we’re going to zoom into the process. You’ll meet the diverse group of organizers that’s trying to reclaim Pride and create a new event. You’ll hear about their struggles and their triumphs — and ultimately, their plans for Pride. An LGBTQ organizer from another city weighs in. And then, we hear about yet another violent incident in Philadelphia’s Gayborhood, which made the group rethink everything.

It’s time to answer one of the most important questions in this story: Who is Franny Price? The LGBTQ community is polarized on this one. Some people say the former head of Philly Pride Presents hoarded control, and left the city hanging without a Pride festival instead of responding to their calls for change. But others say that for decades, she worked hard to make a humble celebration into an empire. On this episode, we’ll try to get to the truth of Franny. We’ll unpack her history in Philadelphia’s Gayborhood, and her vision for Pride. You’ll hear from some of her closest friends and allies — and figure out what to make of the woman who ran Philly Pride for decades.

The organization that ran Philly Pride for decades fell apart over a few offensive Facebook posts, of all things. But this was really just the final straw. On this episode, we’ll explain the dramatic fall of Philly Pride Presents. And we’ll unpack how their collapse was informed by decades of racism in Philadelphia’s Gayborhood. You’ll meet people who’ve been experiencing discrimination in the city’s LGBTQ community for decades, from the ‘80s to the 2016 protests over racist dress codes at bars. And learn why some people have never felt welcome at Pride. Content warning: This episode contains descriptions of sexual assault and police violence, as well as a racial slur.

Philly Pride collapsed last year amid accusations of racism, transphobia, and power hoarding. To really grasp the fallout, you’ll hear about the lesbian elder at the helm, and how she had a tight grip on these annual LGBTQ events for 30 years. But Pride wasn’t always a one-woman show. On this episode, we’ll go back to the origins of Philly Pride. We’ll hear how it struggled to gain its footing through the HIV/AIDS epidemic. How an unlikely group of grassroots organizers revived it in the ‘80s. And what happened when they passed the torch to the woman who many say is responsible for Pride’s downfall today.

After accusations of racism and transphobia ripped apart the group that ran Philadelphia’s biggest LGBTQ celebration, a scrappy group of activists is trying to pick up the pieces. Similar reckonings are taking place at Pride organizations across the nation. What happens next in Philly is unclear. Can a group with little experience and lofty goals create a new Pride festival that’s equitable and lasting? Can the movement be revived — and finally get it right?