This Is (Not) a Celebration: Queer Resistance, 1976/2026
Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ history comes alive in This Is (Not) a Celebration: Queer Resistance, 1976/2026, a powerful new art exhibition from the William Way LGBT Community Center exploring queer activism, protest, and resilience during America’s Bicentennial and beyond. Running June 11 through July 3, 2026 at Huddle, this immersive exhibition blends rare archival materials from the John J. Wilcox, Jr. Archives with bold contemporary works from acclaimed Philadelphia artists Scarlett DeLorme, Justin Jain, and Amy Cousins.
More than an art show, This Is (Not) a Celebration is a moving journey through Philadelphia LGBTQ+ history, highlighting decades of queer resistance, community organizing, and cultural defiance. Through wet plate photography, ceramics, printmaking, sculpture, and fiber installations, the exhibition challenges traditional patriotic narratives and reframes America’s 250th anniversary through the lens of LGBTQ+ survival, solidarity, and activism.
Visitors can experience opening night festivities, artist talks, gallery events, and special community programming connected to Philadelphia’s thriving queer arts scene. Whether you’re passionate about LGBTQ+ history, contemporary queer art, social justice, or Philadelphia culture, this groundbreaking exhibition offers an unforgettable and deeply relevant experience during the city’s Semiquincentennial celebrations.
Presented as part of Radical Americana, a citywide arts initiative featuring 25 Philadelphia cultural institutions, this exhibition is a must-see event for anyone interested in queer history, activism, and the power of art to inspire change.
