1315 Spruce Street is home to the William Way LGBTQ Community Center, a nonprofit organization that serves the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender population of Philadelphia. The center notably houses the John J. Wilcox, Jr. Archives, Philadelphia’s most extensive collection of LGBTQ documents open to the public.
The William Way Center serves as a safe haven for the community, offering many different services such as Sober & Gay Alcoholics Anonymous groups throughout the day and night, peer counseling for LGBTQ youth, and monthly discussion groups for people impacted by HIV.
On Friday evening, the center held a free, family-friendly and sober celebration for Transgender Day of Visibility, an international event held on March 31 to honor the achievements, joy, and resilience of transgender and nonbinary people.
The William Way Center had an incredible lineup of local trans creators, artists and creatives at their indoor market. Vendors lined the lobby of the center with homemade jewelry, shirts, rugs, candles, soap and queer books for sale. Some of these vendors included Eunoamia Art, Moss & Bug, Triton Soap, and We Live in Truth Candles. The market ran from 4p.m. to 6p.m.
After the vendor market, a one-of-a-kind fashion show featuring trans designers and models kicked off on the second floor of the center. Pink, blue, and white – the colors of the transgender pride flag – were seen throughout the ballroom through various party decorations. The teams ran the runway in two different looks based on the theme “Transition Threads: From Resilience to Radiance.” Each look was styled using items from Philly AIDS Thrift, a nonprofit thrift store in South Philly whose mission is to support local communities affected by HIV and AIDS.
The event also provided food from Paynter’s Platters, a Black and LGBTQ owned catering company that services the Philadelphia and New Jersey area.
Each attendee received a goodie bag that included a transgender pride flag, stickers, pins, lip balm and Foy by Dr. Collins, a vulva treatment oil meant to replenish the skin and awaken the divine feminine. Each bag also held a ticket for a raffle where two lucky individuals won a basket filled with even more goodies. A chef from Paynter’s Platter won one of the baskets, resulting in applause from the group.
There was no mention of the current condition of the United States’ political climate, just simple celebration through fashion. It was beautiful.
The event came to life thanks to the sponsors Philly AIDS Thrift and Free People. If you missed it this year, be sure to pop out next year for Transgender Day of Visibility at the William Way Center.
