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Honoring and congratulating Philadelphia Gay News on the distinguished occasion of its 50th anniversary in Philadelphia, serving as Philadelphia’s longest-running LGBTQ+ publication, and serving as a vital independent voice that advances equality, visibility, and community.
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WHEREAS, In 1976, Philadelphia Gay News (PGN) was founded by Mark Segal, emerging at a time when LGBTQ+ voices were largely excluded from mainstream media. PGN was established to provide an independent and reliable news source focused on the lives, achievements of the LGBTQ+ community, and struggles; and
WHEREAS, Mark Segal is a pioneering figure in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. He was an active leader of the Stonewall Riots, a pioneering journalist, and a community organizer in Philadelphia for over five decades. He co-founded the Gay Liberation Front, helped plan the first Pride march, founded PGN, and established influential LGBTQ+ media organizations; and
WHEREAS, PGN operated with limited resources but outsized impact, becoming a trusted source of information when media outlets misrepresented LGBTQ+ communications. The publication chronicled the growth of Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ organizations, and political power, preserving stories that would be lost otherwise; and
WHEREAS, PGN played a crucial role in reporting the HIV/AIDS crisis, honoring those lost, and amplifying the voices of activists, healthcare providers, and people living with HIV/AIDS. PGN took the first step of providing coverage before other media outlets took the crisis seriously; and
WHEREAS, Beyond journalism, PGN has served as a community institution, amplifying marginalized voices, supporting local organizations and businesses, and holding public officials accountable on issues affecting LGBTQ+ residents. As LGBTQ+ rights movements gained momentum, PGN expanded its coverage of national and local politics, anti-discrimination legislation, marriage equality, military service, and evolving cultural visibility; and
WHEREAS, As PGN celebrates its 50th Anniversary, the City of Philadelphia proudly recognizes the newspaper’s historical record of LGBTQ+ life in Philadelphia, a platform for storytelling and advocacy, and a symbol of visibility, resilience, and journalistic integrity; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby honors and congratulates Philadelphia Gay News on the distinguished occasion of its 50th anniversary in Philadelphia, serving as Philadelphia’s longest-running LGBTQ+ publication, and serving as a vital independent voice that advances equality, visibility, and community.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Philadelphia Gay News as evidence of the admiration and respect of this legislative body.
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