Every community has a history. Every generation has people who were willing to stand up, speak out, take risks, and create something better for those who would come after them.
Philadelphia’s LGBTQIA+ rights movement has deep local roots—including the pre-Stonewall Annual Reminder demonstrations at Independence Hall.
This year at Philly Leather Pride, we’re bringing that history to the tables.
As part of our theme, “Chosen Family: Honoring Our Legacy. Building Our Future,” each table centerpiece will feature a photograph and short biography of an incredible person connected to Philadelphia who helped pave the way for the LGBTQIA+ and leather communities we know today.
These are people who demanded visibility, challenged injustice, preserved our history, built community, shared knowledge, and refused to accept that the world couldn’t be better.
Among the pioneers we will be honoring:
🕯️ Barbara Gittings — Demanded visibility.
🕯️ Kay Tobin Lahusen — Documented our history.
🕯️ John E. Fryer, M.D. — Challenged the system.
🕯️ Kiyoshi Kuromiya — Shared knowledge.
🕯️ Joseph Beam — Told our stories.
🕯️ Edie Windsor — Demanded equality.
🕯️ Ron Lord — Built community.
And this is only the beginning.
There are so many more shoulders we stand on.
Come to Philly Leather Pride 2026 and take a walk through our history. Meet the people whose courage helped create the community we enjoy today—and perhaps discover a few names and stories you didn’t know before.
Because we don’t just inherit a community.
We inherit a responsibility to carry it forward.
🖤 Philly Leather Pride 2026
📅 Sunday, November 1, 2026
⏰ 3:00–7:00 PM
📍 Philadelphia (location provided with ticket purchase)
- ✨ Live & Silent Auctions
- ✨ Keynote Speaker: Akasha Eden, International Ms. Leather
- ✨ Emcees: Mr. NJ Leather 2026 Cortez Onyx & Ms NJ Leather 2026 Lady Victoria Courtez
- ✨ Live Entertainment
- ✨ Complimentary Light Buffet & Non-Alcoholic Beverages
- ✨ And so much more!
Individual — $45
Table for 4 — $160
Table for 8 — $300
Join us. Learn their stories. Honor their legacy.
And become one of the shoulders someone else will stand on someday.