May 23, 2025 • 9 mins
Arun Prabhakaran, Executive Director of the Urban Affairs Coalition, and Jeremy Williams, Producer of Philly Pride 365, preview the 2025 Philadelphia Pride March and Festival on Sunday, June 1. This year’s theme, “Philly L.U.V. – Legacy, Unity, and Visibility,” highlights expanded programming, a 600-foot progress pride flag, and inclusive spaces for all.
🌐 phillypride365.org/pride-weekend
📲 Instagram: @phillypride365 | @uacoalition
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/phillypride365 | facebook.com/urbanaffairscoalition
🌐 phillypride365.org/pride-weekend
📲 Instagram: @phillypride365 | @uacoalition
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/phillypride365 | facebook.com/urbanaffairscoalition
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, and welcome to Winsight, a show about empowering
our community. I'm Lorraine Balladmorrow. On today's show, we'll discuss
the urgent need for equity and mental health care with
a coalition of culturally competent providers. We'll share details about
the upcoming United for Safety Gun Violence Prevention event presented
by Child Guidance Resource Centers. Plus, we'll highlight a series
(00:21):
of free community baby showers hosted by the Maternity Care Coalition,
and preview the fiftieth annual Odoonde Festival, celebrating the African
diaspora in Philadelphia, but first June is Pride Month. I'm
joined today by two leaders at the heart of one
of the largest and most inclusive Pride celebrations in the country.
(00:42):
Aarun Prabakerin, Executive director of the Urban Affairs Coalition and
Jeremy William's, event producer for Philly Pride three sixty five.
I hear to talk about the twenty twenty five Philadelphia
Pride March End Festival with the theme Philly Luv a Love, Legacy,
Unity and Visibility. This this year celebration features expanded programming,
(01:03):
new partnerships, and a powerful focus on LGBTQIA plus history,
inclusion and community. So let's begin with aarun. The Urban
Affairs Coalition is now the fiscal sponsor or has been
for Pride three sixty five. Why has this partnership been
important and how does it reflect UAC's mission to serve
diverse communities across Philadelphia.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Well, thank you, Lorrain, and I'm excited to talk about
Pride today. Galay, which has long been the home for
Pride three sixty five, has been an important organization in
our community for almost twenty years. They've done groundbreaking work,
first in the Latino community around LGBTQI plus issues and
(01:46):
then now expanding its mission BIPOC folks generally. And it's
an important legacy of leaders like David o'costa, the legendary
Gloria Cassis. And now we're very excited to say that
Tyrell Brown has been selected by the mayor to become
the executive director for LGBTQI Affairs. And so this is
(02:09):
an important moment in our history. It's historic moment in
our history as a city, and Pride is at a
really apex point. Tyrell was really one of the big
driving forces behind that project and we really are grateful
to them, and ultimately, in this transition, we thought the
best way to help would be to make sure that
Pride was taking care for one year and then work
(02:30):
with the community to figure out how to resituate that
program in a way that everyone feels super comfortable with.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Yeah, well, we're very excited about twenty twenty five, Jeremy.
This year's Pride weekend has some exciting new features like
the six hundred foot wide Pride Fly, the Pride Promenade
at the Art Museum, and Pride around the city. What
are you most excited for and how do these new
events build on last year's success.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Well, thank you Agen for having us here today. It's
all really exciting, it's all really new. Every year Pride grows.
Every year the community gets more involved, and so that
means every year these events get more interesting and more involved.
I mean, we started with two hundred feet of Pride
flag a few years ago, and my goal is to
add on two hundred feet, you know, and keep going
(03:16):
and keep going until it's as big as we can
get it. So this year we have added another two
hundred feet onto the Pride Flag, and so that has
been you know, going to be visible with Pride around
the city on Friday, May thirtieth, with starting at the
Art Museum and moving to City Hall and in the
neighborhood and all around the city.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
We'll be doing that.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
That's growing, that's super exciting. The Pride promenade at the
Art Museum on Saturday night, which was sort of just
a kind of a traditional prom vibe, you know, you
didn't get to go to your prom or whatever, is
now being amplified and lifted up with the introduction of
the Love Awards that we are giving to different leaders
and different organizations in the community. That's being hosted by
(03:57):
Josh Sanders and Candice. That's going to be really amazing
performances and opening a finale. It's going to have, you know,
the award feeling that you wanted to have. And then
the festival has just continued to grow. We're building additional stages.
There's entertainment zones now we're trying to make it feel
a little bit like you're maybe at Bush Gardens or
(04:18):
a theme park where you kind of go from like
Germany to Italy to here to there. So our entertainment
zones feature different vibes and have different stages with different
acts on them, and different food trucks in the area
and different vendors in the area. We really are trying
to make our community feel together but have sort of
its own identity within its own spaces.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Just to get a little more into the weeds here.
In past iterations of Pride, there's been a parade, a
parade route. Last year was really more of a festival.
Is there going to be a parade or is it
going to be that sort of beautiful festival kind of atmosphere.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
So one of the things that's really unique about Philadelphia
in terms of Pride is that since our group, Philly
Pride three sixty five has taken on the weekend, we
have made Sunday be a march, which is participatory and
not a parade, which is observatory. Right, We want people
to come and participate in a march because Pride at
(05:16):
its heart is a protest. It was born out of
a protest, and so Pride Month is about protests and
having a march is that way. Our fest that we
do in the fall is the celebration of coming out.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
It's National Coming Out Day.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
That's our Pride, that's our celebration that's our big party.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
This is still a big party too, but has.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
That sort of grounding in protests and march and civic duty.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
That's a beautiful thing. Now, last year's Pride events had
a major economic impact, nearly five million dollars invested in
LGBTQIA owned businesses. How are you working to ensure Pride
continues to uplift small businesses, nightlife venues and artists throughout
the year.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Again, Philadelphia is very unique in that, I think as
it relates to other prides across the United States. We
do focus on local vendors, we do focus on local entertainment,
we do focus on all the small businesses. We host
it in the gighborhood where you know, it is based
in our world. You know, other prides seek outside artists
(06:17):
and spend lots of money on these amazing big artists
from all over the country, and we would much rather
uplift and support local artists, give them opportunities on stages.
I would say ninety percent of the people that are
performing or have an involvement with Pride are from Philly
or based in Philly.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Jeremy, this festival truly offers something for everyone from the
Youth and Family Zone to the Saffic Way, sober vibes
and sensory friendly spaces. How are you curating this welcoming
and inclusive environment for all identities and ages.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
Well, that's a really good question.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
We as a production company and organization have been very
intentional in including community organizations and members in producing these spaces.
I am a gay man, you know, I don't have
all the ins and outs of every part of my community.
So we really invest in people like the Attic and
Philly Family Pride to help us with the Youth and
(07:14):
Family Zone. We have event producers like the Main Event
and Jason Bowman that are helping us with the Sweat
Stage creating that area. So all of our areas are
really curated and brought together by community members, by producers
in the community to help curate those spaces. We're just
merely helping them with logistics and you know, getting the
(07:34):
festival all together.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Yeah, there's a lot and there's something for everyone. I
wonder if you could tell us what you want marchers,
festivalgoers and allies to take away from Philly Pride twenty
twenty five and how can we all stay engaged beyond
this month of June.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
Just participate.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Just be there, you know, being a part of the march,
being a part of the festival, going to the prom
supporting these people who are receiving awards. Just be a
part of the community. Don't speak out in the bad way.
You don't have to speak out in a good way.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Just be there.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
We are a welcoming community. This is not Pride Festival
is for everybody. This isn't just about queer people. Allies
are all a part of that and we need all
of that throughout the entire year to make our lives
and everybody else is safer and happier.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
If people want more information about all the activities happening
for Pride Month, how do they find out more?
Speaker 3 (08:24):
You can go to our website at Phillypride three sixty
five dot org. Everything there is updating regularly. Information is
coming in fast and furious. Or you can follow us
on our social media at Philly Pride three sixty five.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Jeremy Williams, Event producer for Philly Pride three sixty five.
Arun prabakerin executive director of the Urban Affairs Coalition, which
is a huge supporter of this event. Talking about the
twenty twenty five Philadelphia Pride March and Festival. The theme
is Philly Love, Legacy, Unity and Visibility and it is
going to be a fantastic party. I've been to just
(08:57):
about every Pride weekend over the last years, and it's
always so much fun and so much joy, and we
we really look forward to it. Thank you all for
joining us today.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
We'll have more insight after these messages.
Good morning, and welcome to Winsight, a show about empowering
our community. I'm Lorraine Balladmorrow. On today's show, we'll discuss
the urgent need for equity and mental health care with
a coalition of culturally competent providers. We'll share details about
the upcoming United for Safety Gun Violence Prevention event presented
by Child Guidance Resource Centers. Plus, we'll highlight a series
(00:21):
of free community baby showers hosted by the Maternity Care Coalition,
and preview the fiftieth annual Odoonde Festival, celebrating the African
diaspora in Philadelphia, but first June is Pride Month. I'm
joined today by two leaders at the heart of one
of the largest and most inclusive Pride celebrations in the country.
(00:42):
Aarun Prabakerin, Executive director of the Urban Affairs Coalition and
Jeremy William's, event producer for Philly Pride three sixty five.
I hear to talk about the twenty twenty five Philadelphia
Pride March End Festival with the theme Philly Luv a Love, Legacy,
Unity and Visibility. This this year celebration features expanded programming,
(01:03):
new partnerships, and a powerful focus on LGBTQIA plus history,
inclusion and community. So let's begin with aarun. The Urban
Affairs Coalition is now the fiscal sponsor or has been
for Pride three sixty five. Why has this partnership been
important and how does it reflect UAC's mission to serve
diverse communities across Philadelphia.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Well, thank you, Lorrain, and I'm excited to talk about
Pride today. Galay, which has long been the home for
Pride three sixty five, has been an important organization in
our community for almost twenty years. They've done groundbreaking work,
first in the Latino community around LGBTQI plus issues and
(01:46):
then now expanding its mission BIPOC folks generally. And it's
an important legacy of leaders like David o'costa, the legendary
Gloria Cassis. And now we're very excited to say that
Tyrell Brown has been selected by the mayor to become
the executive director for LGBTQI Affairs. And so this is
(02:09):
an important moment in our history. It's historic moment in
our history as a city, and Pride is at a
really apex point. Tyrell was really one of the big
driving forces behind that project and we really are grateful
to them, and ultimately, in this transition, we thought the
best way to help would be to make sure that
Pride was taking care for one year and then work
(02:30):
with the community to figure out how to resituate that
program in a way that everyone feels super comfortable with.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Yeah, well, we're very excited about twenty twenty five, Jeremy.
This year's Pride weekend has some exciting new features like
the six hundred foot wide Pride Fly, the Pride Promenade
at the Art Museum, and Pride around the city. What
are you most excited for and how do these new
events build on last year's success.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Well, thank you Agen for having us here today. It's
all really exciting, it's all really new. Every year Pride grows.
Every year the community gets more involved, and so that
means every year these events get more interesting and more involved.
I mean, we started with two hundred feet of Pride
flag a few years ago, and my goal is to
add on two hundred feet, you know, and keep going
(03:16):
and keep going until it's as big as we can
get it. So this year we have added another two
hundred feet onto the Pride Flag, and so that has
been you know, going to be visible with Pride around
the city on Friday, May thirtieth, with starting at the
Art Museum and moving to City Hall and in the
neighborhood and all around the city.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
We'll be doing that.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
That's growing, that's super exciting. The Pride promenade at the
Art Museum on Saturday night, which was sort of just
a kind of a traditional prom vibe, you know, you
didn't get to go to your prom or whatever, is
now being amplified and lifted up with the introduction of
the Love Awards that we are giving to different leaders
and different organizations in the community. That's being hosted by
(03:57):
Josh Sanders and Candice. That's going to be really amazing
performances and opening a finale. It's going to have, you know,
the award feeling that you wanted to have. And then
the festival has just continued to grow. We're building additional stages.
There's entertainment zones now we're trying to make it feel
a little bit like you're maybe at Bush Gardens or
(04:18):
a theme park where you kind of go from like
Germany to Italy to here to there. So our entertainment
zones feature different vibes and have different stages with different
acts on them, and different food trucks in the area
and different vendors in the area. We really are trying
to make our community feel together but have sort of
its own identity within its own spaces.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Just to get a little more into the weeds here.
In past iterations of Pride, there's been a parade, a
parade route. Last year was really more of a festival.
Is there going to be a parade or is it
going to be that sort of beautiful festival kind of atmosphere.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
So one of the things that's really unique about Philadelphia
in terms of Pride is that since our group, Philly
Pride three sixty five has taken on the weekend, we
have made Sunday be a march, which is participatory and
not a parade, which is observatory. Right, We want people
to come and participate in a march because Pride at
(05:16):
its heart is a protest. It was born out of
a protest, and so Pride Month is about protests and
having a march is that way. Our fest that we
do in the fall is the celebration of coming out.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
It's National Coming Out Day.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
That's our Pride, that's our celebration that's our big party.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
This is still a big party too, but has.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
That sort of grounding in protests and march and civic duty.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
That's a beautiful thing. Now, last year's Pride events had
a major economic impact, nearly five million dollars invested in
LGBTQIA owned businesses. How are you working to ensure Pride
continues to uplift small businesses, nightlife venues and artists throughout
the year.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Again, Philadelphia is very unique in that, I think as
it relates to other prides across the United States. We
do focus on local vendors, we do focus on local entertainment,
we do focus on all the small businesses. We host
it in the gighborhood where you know, it is based
in our world. You know, other prides seek outside artists
(06:17):
and spend lots of money on these amazing big artists
from all over the country, and we would much rather
uplift and support local artists, give them opportunities on stages.
I would say ninety percent of the people that are
performing or have an involvement with Pride are from Philly
or based in Philly.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Jeremy, this festival truly offers something for everyone from the
Youth and Family Zone to the Saffic Way, sober vibes
and sensory friendly spaces. How are you curating this welcoming
and inclusive environment for all identities and ages.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
Well, that's a really good question.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
We as a production company and organization have been very
intentional in including community organizations and members in producing these spaces.
I am a gay man, you know, I don't have
all the ins and outs of every part of my community.
So we really invest in people like the Attic and
Philly Family Pride to help us with the Youth and
(07:14):
Family Zone. We have event producers like the Main Event
and Jason Bowman that are helping us with the Sweat
Stage creating that area. So all of our areas are
really curated and brought together by community members, by producers
in the community to help curate those spaces. We're just
merely helping them with logistics and you know, getting the
(07:34):
festival all together.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Yeah, there's a lot and there's something for everyone. I
wonder if you could tell us what you want marchers,
festivalgoers and allies to take away from Philly Pride twenty
twenty five and how can we all stay engaged beyond
this month of June.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
Just participate.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Just be there, you know, being a part of the march,
being a part of the festival, going to the prom
supporting these people who are receiving awards. Just be a
part of the community. Don't speak out in the bad way.
You don't have to speak out in a good way.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Just be there.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
We are a welcoming community. This is not Pride Festival
is for everybody. This isn't just about queer people. Allies
are all a part of that and we need all
of that throughout the entire year to make our lives
and everybody else is safer and happier.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
If people want more information about all the activities happening
for Pride Month, how do they find out more?
Speaker 3 (08:24):
You can go to our website at Phillypride three sixty
five dot org. Everything there is updating regularly. Information is
coming in fast and furious. Or you can follow us
on our social media at Philly Pride three sixty five.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Jeremy Williams, Event producer for Philly Pride three sixty five.
Arun prabakerin executive director of the Urban Affairs Coalition, which
is a huge supporter of this event. Talking about the
twenty twenty five Philadelphia Pride March and Festival. The theme
is Philly Love, Legacy, Unity and Visibility and it is
going to be a fantastic party. I've been to just
(08:57):
about every Pride weekend over the last years, and it's
always so much fun and so much joy, and we
we really look forward to it. Thank you all for
joining us today.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
We'll have more insight after these messages.
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