Gay Pride Events
Philadelphia’s Outfest and Freedom Weekend
By Duane Wells

Sep 28, 2007

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) has announced a special partnership that will launch Freedom Weekend in Philadelphia, an event customized specifically for the lesbian community. Expected to bring more attention to this year's annual National Coming Out Day, the Freedom Weekend, which will be held from October 5th-7th, 2007 will bring together GPTMC, Southwest Airlines, local businesses and promoters, including Sisters Nightclub, Pure and Ladies 2000, along with West Coast promoter Mariah Hanson to make this October's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) event the most successful to date.  

The brainchild of Rob Eichberg, a founder of the personal growth workshop The Experience, and Jean O'Leary, former head of National Gay Rights Advocates, National Coming Out Day began as a response to the second march on Washington, DC for gay and lesbian equality in October 1987. Philadelphia was one of the first cities to organize around the new event on a large scale by creating a block party to showcase the many facets of the gay community. The event quickly grew into the Philadelphia region's annual OutFest celebration. According to its organizers, OutFest attracts more than 20,000 people, making it Philadelphia's second biggest LGBT annual event and the largest National Coming Out Day event in the world.  

In addition to Philadelphia's National Coming Out Day festival, OutFest, on Sunday, October 7, Freedom Weekend will feature a series of women's events. Sisters Nightclub will host the opening and closing night parties on October 6 and 7, and Pure will also throw a Saturday night bash.

A complete list of Freedom Weekend events can be found at www.gophila.com/gay, where attendees can also book a gay-friendly hotel package.