Thinking about moving to Philadelphia? The city has a lot to offer anyone, and it should come as no surprise that it’s very LGBT-welcoming. After all, the city does share its name with one of the first major mainstream movies to discuss LGBT themes. The City of Brotherly Love is a popular travel destination, but it’s also a popular place to move to. With 1.5 million people, Philadelphia is a large city and is also quite liberal.
LGBT Rights in the State
Pennsylvania is a fairly liberal state, something that is reflected in Philadelphia. Same-sex marriage has been recognized since May of 2014. Even before then, Philadelphia was one of the few cities that created “life partnerships” for those who were not married but wanted to be recognized as being in a committed relationship. The city and the state also allow adoption by single people regardless of orientation and, since 2002, has recognized same-sex second-parent adoptions.
An executive order, the first in the country, was issued in 1975 protecting LGBT people from discrimination as far as state employment goes. This order was updated in 2003 to include gender identity. The state also passed a law in 2002 adding sexual orientation and gender identity to its hate crimes law. However, information regarding agriculture was included in the bill, and the state Supreme Court was later forced to declare it void due to this addition. Unfortunately, no new hate crimes law has been passed
Despite the executive order, the state still has no laws regarding discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Several bills have been introduced to change this, but none have passed. Philadelphia, however, has had a comprehensive non-discrimination policy on the books since 1982 regarding sexual orientation and since 2002 for gender identity.
The Gayborhoods of Philadelphia
As a huge city, Philadelphia does have a few neighborhoods that are considered gay ghettos. One of the largest is Washington Square, a great neighborhood with many historic houses. A number of businesses and other destinations are within walking distance.
Another popular LGBT neighborhood is Center City. This is considered the main LGBT business district and is full of shops, restaurants, and other businesses owned by LGBT people.
Then there’s Pennsport. This diverse neighborhood is one of the perfect places to raise a family. You’ll find plenty of parks and other areas for children here. It’s close to Center City, which means you’ll never be very far from businesses and cafes, plus it’s near the river.