Philly is the birthplace of America (and Stonewall's first indoor volleyball offering!) and has a rich LGBTQIA+ history.
As a matter of fact, in 1965, four years prior to the Stonewall Riots in New York, a group of Philadelphia protesters began an annual July 4 pride march in front of Independence Hall. What started in Center City Philadelphia has spread throughout the city and has since evolved into a worldwide civil rights movement. Philadelphia has long been a seat of progress and activism for the LGBTQIA+ community, and is proudly one of the country's most LGBTQIA+-friendly cities and the home of pride.
Today, Philly's LGBTQIA+ community is an important part of the city. There are many clubs, bars, lounges, bookstores, boutiques, restaurants and shops in the city's Gayborhood!
The city also offers diverse food and beverage offerings (Philly is ranked #8 in the World's Most Exciting Restaurant Cities); a multitude of arts, adventure, and sightseeing attractions; rich historical landmarks; and top-tier entertainment and shopping, among many other exciting things that are uniquely 'Philly' (we're looking at you ~Wit Wiz~ folx). We hate to boast, but we also have the Birds.
Stonewall Philadelphia was the third city to join the league in 2014 and offers 8 sports and 3 wellness or leisure activities:
- Billiards
- Bocce ball
- Bowling
- Dodgeball
- Kickball
- Indoor volleyball
- Sand volleyball
- Running club
- Trivia
- Yoga
Philadelphia is easily accessible by air, rail or car, and once in the city it's incredibly easy to get around. Thanks to founder William Penn's smart and simple grid street design, the heart of the city is easy to navigate on foot, bike, or car.
Stonewall Sports would like to acknowledge the land where the city sits. The 9th Annual Stonewall Sports National Tournament & Summit will be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia and the greater Delaware Valley region are located on the Indigenous territory known as Lenapehoking, the ancestral and traditional homelands of the Lenape people past, present, and future. Stonewall Sports honors and respects the land and peoples of this region. We also acknowledge the many sacrifices that were made as a result of forced removal and settler colonialism. We offer our deepest gratitude for this space and encourage attendees to engage in the history of the Lenni-Lenape and all Indigenous peoples. More resources can be found here.