The Gay Guide to Center City Philadelphia

“A comprehensive guide to places of interest to the gay traveler.” – Text, verso

This simple, yet effective, street plan of Philadelphia was designed in 1994 by Engraphics. Over 125 different places of interest tailored for the LGBTQ community are identified throughout the image. Symbols for bars, churches, erotica, and bookstores included within the legend reflect a variety of interests. A full business directory and list of local resources are provided on the verso.

Though there are no references to sponsoring organizations, later editions of the ‘Gay Guide’ were published as a joint effort between the Philadelphia Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation. A somewhat later article in Advocate Magazine (justifiably) questions the motivations of some of the participating businesses. While this and a handful of other sources cite various versions of the map, it is unlisted in WorldCat as of July 2024.

Source: Advocate (Google Books);