Pride and Progress

Pride and Progress occupies the entire west wall of the William Way LGBT Community Center in Philadelphia’s Gayborhood. The 55’ x 165′ mural depicts a gay pride festival in the midst of nearby landmarks, including the Drake Hotel. On the far left side of the mural, a man pastes up a poster depicting the historic 1965 march in Philadelphia that sparked the gay civil rights movement. This section gives an historic and political context to the piece. The rest of the mural reveals a sunny plaza with a crowd of celebrants.

Northrup says that one of the highlights of working on this mural were the people who came by daily to give their appreciation and support. Northrup was excited about the opportunity to state publicly, with this mural, the feelings about the good in people and the importance that people are accepted and that their love be accepted and celebrated. She hopes this mural is a catalyst for increased tolerance of the real diversity among people.