Showing Face
Dean and Kolodner developed this series soon after the construction of the John C. Anderson Apartments, Philadelphia's first housing development for LGBTQ seniors. This project developed side by side with Attic Youth Center, a program devoted to LGBTQ teenagers. This project involved a series of workshops and dialogues, fusing together the old and new generations of LGBTQ Philadelphians and fostering conversations about intersectionality and progress.
LGBTQ culture flourishes in Philadelphia. Its roots can be traced back to the '30s and '40s where new housing developments and a changing city center provided the anonymity and community to foster an underground LGBTQ movement. The '50s brought with them an influx of jazz and espresso around Rittenhouse Square, a hub for LGBTQ community. The first ever article written to acknowledge a city's LGBTQ culture appeared in Greater Philadelphia entitled "The Furtive Fraternity."
In addition, Washington Square West is affectionately termed "The Gayborhood" with its roots in bars that served gay and lesbian patrons, paying off authorities to look the other way. However, the neighborhood soon devolved into crime and prostitution, causing raids in the '80s. The resulting protesting at Independence Hall brought an underground movement to collaboration and unified LGBTQ Philadelphians. Today, this area of the city is still a proud LGBTQ hub, featuring may gay bars and clubs as well as rainbow detailing on the street signs.
