WILLIAM WAY LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER TO RELAUNCH TRANSWAY GROUP THIS FALL WITH RENEWED FOCUS ON INCLUSION, ACCESSIBILITY, AND COMMUNITY CARE
PHILADELPHIA, PA (July 9, 2025) — For more than a decade, the William Way LGBT Community Center’s (1315 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA) TransWay group has served as a vital gathering space for trans and gender-diverse individuals across Philadelphia and beyond. This weekly drop-in group (virtual since Covid) has been a source of connection, affirmation, and care, particularly during times when safe, supportive community spaces have been most needed.
As we mark the current organizational transformation, the Center is also embracing a moment of evolution for TransWay. Following its final summer session on July 7, the group will pause and relaunch in early September 2025 with a renewed structure shaped by community feedback. During this interim, we invite our trans and gender-diverse community members to share feedback and insights on how they envision the group’s future here: https://tinyurl.com/4wzhv578. Feedback is being sought, particularly from those whose voices have too often been left out of the conversation, including Black and Brown trans people, disabled community members, and others pushed to the margins of traditional support spaces.
“TransWay holds a special place in the heart of William Way, and in mine,” said Dr. Darius McLean, Acting Executive Director of the William Way LGBT Community Center. “As the first Black and openly trans person to serve in this role, I recognize the power and responsibility of this moment. We are not pausing to take something away; we are pausing to build something better. Our goal is to reimagine TransWay as a space that is more welcoming, more inclusive, and more responsive to the full richness and complexity of our trans community. We invite and encourage the public, especially our trans community, to help us shape that future together.”
The Center will also host a renaming contest to reflect the spirit and future of the group more adequately. Names for the group may be submitted until August 15th and can be shared at https://forms.gle/Pdxni9saCbFS2Uv16
When TransWay returns in September, it will do so with added staff support from the William Way team. It will offer deeper integration with the Arcila-Adams Trans Resource Center and expanded access to wellness, cultural, and advocacy resources. The goal is not only to preserve what has made TransWay meaningful but also to ensure it continues to grow as a sustainable, affirming space for all who need it.
“This is a moment for reflection and recommitment, a chance to listen with care and act with integrity,” said McLean. “We thank our community for its trust, feedback, and continued engagement as we move forward, together.”
The William Way LGBT Community Center extends gratitude to Elizabeth Coffey Williams and Martha Madrigal, who have volunteered their time to help facilitate TransWay in recent years. Although they have shared that they will not continue in their roles, the Center thanks them for their role in holding space and supporting the community during their tenure.
During the transitionary period, the trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse community members and allies are invited to join us inside for the Summer Vibes Block Party at the William Way Community Center on Saturday, July 19, from 4 to 7 p.m.
The Summer Vibes Block Party is a celebration of Trans Joy. It will feature live performances from local LGBTQ+ artists, food vendors, and community resource tables, interactive art activities and workshops, and opportunities to gather, celebrate, and connect with community members.