More About the Exhibition
 
With the help of over two dozen volunteers and three partner organizations, This Is (Not) A Celebration presented a robust series of programming and events that engaged with approximately 400 people. We held an Opening Reception, Artist Talk, tours with the Center’s Elder Initiative, and a group visit with the members of the lesbian feminist activist group Dyketactics! Additionally, we partnered with Giovanni’s Room at Philly AIDS Thrift for their Philly Queer Book Club, reading Marc Stein’s Bicentennial: A Revolutionary History of the 1970s, and also with the Dina Wind Art Foundation for their virtual exhibition of Scarlett DeLorme’s photography.

Opening Reception Photos by Madasyn Andrews:

 
A Closing Event 50 Years in the Making

For our closing event on July 3rd, we partnered with Philly Queer Fundy to host Fundy:Salon, a Retrospective and Cabaret. Held on the 50th anniversary of the Gay Freedom Festivities on July 3rd and 4th, 1976 at the Gay Community Center of Philadelphia, the event featured poetry readings, conversations on queer history, cabaret performances, drag, and burlesque. Proceeds from the event benefited Trans programming at the William Way LGBT Community Center and Asylum Pride House.

The event was hosted by drag queen Karen Tenderness, who goes through a journey of discovery in her realization that America’s history isn’t the story we’ve all been told ahead of America’s 250th. The evening began with Alix Olson reading the “Lesbian Feminist Declaration of 1976” by the activist group Dyketactics!. Next, we welcomed Tom Wilson Weinberg, who founded the Philadelphia Gay Coffeehouse in 1973.

The night also included a conversation between Chris Bartlett and Zane Booker reflecting on memories of Michael Hinson and Tyrone Smith, comedy by Tan Hoang, burlesque by Ashley Ciera, a musical number by Nia Amate and Julia Medina, and poetry by Michal J. Ivory, Jr. Finally, at the end of the evening, audience input throughout the night helped us write our own “Declaration of Queer Interdependence of 2026”, which was signed by attendees.

Closing Photos by Nick Raimondi:

 
Selected Media Coverage:
 

Edmund, T. (2026, June). William Way exhibition reframes the Bicentennial era through queer protest and resistance. Philadelphia Gay News.

6abc Digital Staff. (2026, June 11). Visions: June 13, 2026 | 6abc.com. 6Abc.Com.

Phaedra Trethan. (2026, June 22). A growing movement aims to fix America’s big birthday celebration. USA Today.

Josh Herren, (2026, June 30). This Is (Not) a Celebration: Philly’s queer counternarrative to America 250. Broad Street Review.

 
Additional Reading and Online Resources:
 

Reading:

Bicentennial: A Revolutionary History of the 1970s, by Marc Stein (2026) [link to buy at Giovanni’s Room]

Smash the Church, Smash the State: The Early Years of Gay Liberation, edited by Tommi Avicoli Mecca (2009) [link to buy at Giovanni’s Room]

Revolution Around the Corner: Voices from the Puerto Rican Socialist Party in the United States, by José E. Velázquez, Carmen V. Rivera, and Andrés Torres (2021) [link to buy at Taller Puertorriqueño]

Dancing with History: A Life for Peace and Justice, George Lakey (2022) [link here]

In Defense of Women: Memoirs of and Unrepentant Advocate, Nancy Gertner (2012) [link here]

Online Resources:

Speaking Out for Equality, (2015) William Way LGBT Community Center Online Exhibition [view online exhibition here]

Queering the Bicentennial: Patriots, Protestors, Pornographers, and Profiteers in the 1970s, OutHistory online exhibition by Marc Stein [view online exhibition here]

 
 
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