by Jeremy Rodriguez
(Jeremy Rodriguez is the editor of Philadelphia Gay News. The following piece appeared in the newspaper’s February 27, 2026, e-newsletter. It appears here with permission.)

Earlier this week, we at PGN celebrated the publication’s 50th anniversary. It was a night full of celebration and announcements for new initiatives directly benefiting our community. That same day, our community cheered about the opening of the Philly Pride Visitor Center, representing how our city and our state are committed to inclusion. We belong here. And we’re not going anywhere.

These two things are both causes for happiness already, but for me, it got more personal toward the end of the night when my mom texted me a gif of a flashing sign saying “So, so proud of you!” I was surprised to learn that she watched PGN’s 50th anniversary celebration on 6ABC (which you can also watch here). The next morning, I called her and asked, “Why are you proud of ME?” After all, apart from a brief interview clip of me, I did not really take centerstage at this event — nor was I expecting to.

She responded, “I did not know until now how important your work is.”

During many of the remarks that evening, specifically from PGN publisher Mark Segal, there was talk about how PGN was at the forefront of important issues: representing allies who stood by the LGBTQ+ community before it was popular; reporting news on HIV/AIDS and other issues that went unnoticed by mainstream media; and giving voice to not only the queer community but also subsets within the queer community.

I’ve been working with PGN in varying capacities for more than a decade now and this information is sometimes ingrained in me to the point where I take it for granted. However, hearing it directly from my mom was a reminder of why we do this work. She has also been reading PGN’s 50th anniversary coverage and reporting back to me about what she has learned, from the federal government’s response to the AIDS crisis under Ronald Reagan to the fascinating stories on representation (she particularly loved Victoria A. Brownworth’s story on lesbian nuns).

I was in the presence of high-profile people the night of the gala: the governor, the mayor, and a special video from Whoopi Goldberg (whom I’ve always personally admired). I got a “congratulations” from so many people that night. And that was wonderful. But it was extra special to know that I reached my mom and she is continuing to learn about my community. I remember being scared coming out to her when I was 15 and now, 20 years later, she not only advocates for me but for my entire community. This is why we do the work we do and why we will continue to do it.

I look forward to seeing where the next 50 years will take us.

GUEST COMMENTARY
Volume 28
Issue 2