William Way LGBT Community Center

William Way LGBT Community Center is recognized as the official Gay Community Center of Philadelphia since 1974, and the first recognized non-profit organization since 1976. It offers classes, workshops, support groups, coffee houses, and hosts several events a year. It is named after Bill Way, who died in 1988.

The William Way LGBT Community Center has its own building. There, they offer wellness and empowerment programs. They also have programs focused on intimate partner violence, LGBT refugees and tobacco education and cessation. Additionally, they hold help group gatherings for transphobia and racism in a welcoming and safe environment. This center is the perfect place for all LGBT people to feel safe, welcome and to find support and build community. At any given time, there are classes, workshops, events, gathering and talk groups available for everyone.

The goal of the William Way LGBT Community Center is to engage and support the LGBT communities in the Philadelphia area through arts and culture, empowerment and community connections. They want all the LGBT community to feel safe, connected and empowered. Members and staff join their efforts to create a healthy environment and community for all. It provides innovative programs, social groups, networking events, and counselling and support services. They also offer cultural and artistic activities and spaces.

Art, culture, empowerment and community are the core values of the center. Volunteers are essential for the sucess of the center, and for the organization of the activities. Bill Way was one of the first high-level city officials in Philadelphia to publicly disclose his HIV-positive status. As a city planner, he was instrumental in the revitalization of teh city’s downtown.

The William Way LGBT Community Center also holds workshops about BDSM practices, rope bondage, and Shibari. They also collaborate in other events related rope bondage and BDSM.