Care FP: What Does Visibility Mean To You?

Introducing a very special — and local — Philly partner, The William Way LGBT Community Center…

William Way, a Philadelphia city planner in the 1980s, was instrumental in the revitalization of Center City in a myriad of ways. Way was one of the first high-level city officials in Philadelphia to publicly disclose his HIV-positive status. He also created safe space for the LGBTQ+ community, and shaped the William Way center — as it’s known today — which officially found its home on Spruce Street in 1997. Today, that center has grown into an incredibly important city resource as a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit, and is dedicated to encouraging, supporting, and advocating for the well-being and acceptance of sexual and gender minorities through service, recreational, educational and cultural programming – both in-person and virtually.

Resources for the LGBTQ+ Community

William Way supports trans and gender non-conforming individuals by offering free mental health and wellness resources, peer to peer counseling, support with enrolling in health insurance, accessing food assistance programs, and completing name change and other legal documents; referrals to health care and therapy providers; career and job services. You can also join their supportive virtual communities:

• Peer to Peer Counseling: if you are part of the LGBTQ+ community and need someone to talk to, William Way Peer to Peer Counseling is a free resource. Call 267-416-0451
• The Trans Resource Center: The Trans Resource Center provides a safe and tranquil space for members of Philadelphia’s trans and gender non-conforming community. If you want to join a weekly drop-in social for trans and gender non-conforming folks, Trans Way group meets digitally every Thursday evening. Find out more on their Trans Resource page.
• Visit William Way’s calendar of events to access all of their community offerings.

What Does Visibility Mean to You?

• Do you want to share your story? William Way is asking for folks to submit photos and answer the question: “what does visibility mean to you?” They are accepting submissions until March 31^st via this email: trc@waygay.org

Lifting up LGBTQ+ Artists

Visit William Way’s virtual exhibition, highlighting the work of talented nonbinary artists. William Way partners with many LGBTQ+ creatives across artistic mediums, and through the pandemic developed their virtual exhibition. Check out their latest exhibition, Moving Pieces. You can also visit their ARCHIVES to explore past exhibits and other talented LGBTQ+ artists.

How FP Is Supporting William Way

FP supports the William Way community through advocacy, and product and art supply donations. This Spring we are donating over $50k worth of self-care products, as well as art and craft supplies for their trans Peer to Peer Counseling program, and their Creative Art Therapy community classes. As they look to reopen their center in the coming months, we will also initiate onsite community volunteering projects.