The mission of PrideFest America is to host the nation's preeminent annual GLBT symposium and festival. Our goals are to state a high visibility forum that focuses on regional, national and international organizations and their issues; decrease external homophobia by generating understanding about our breadth, commonality, diversity and impact of homophobia on our lives; and diminish internal homophobia by addressing its causes and presenting individual and community role models. The Board of Directors believes that our civil rights movement needs an annual forum where individually and collectively we gather to consider where we've been, where we are now and what direction to set. We belive that PrideFest America is that forum and as such serves an important role in our emancipation.

PrideFest America began in 1993 as PrideFest Philadelphia, a non- profit organization hosting 15 regional organizations presenting substantive programs. By 1995, PrideFest Philadelphia grew to 45 regional organizations presenting programming annually over a 3 day weekend.

In 1996, the Board of Directors determined to give PrideFest a national direction and created the National Gay and Lesbian Leaders Symposium in collaboration with NPR and the Tom Stoddard National Role Model Award. In 1997, PrideFest expanded to five days and added the National Building Championship, SundayOUT, plus programs presented by national organizations.

In 1998, the National Religious Colloguy, National Workplace Symposium, National Authors Panel, Jim Wheeler National Youth Panel and National History Project were added. PrideFest received a 501 (3) designation from the IRS. Starting an annual tradition, 15 rainbow flags were hung from lampposts in Center City.

In 1999, PrideFest changed its name to PrideFest America and expanded to seven days. New program additions included the International Arts Award, National Media Panel and Local/State/Federal Political Action Panel. For PrideFest America 2000, the National Family Value Panel, BBQ and Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Believe became part of the staple of popular events.

PrideFest America 2001 introduced an international component with the International GLBT Human Rights Panel in collaboration with Amesty International and the International GLBT Human Rights Commissional. New programs included Race Relations in the GLBT Community, Best of Philly Cabaret, Gender in the New Millennium, Computers and the GLBT Community and Artistic Alternatives, an exhibit with approximately 50 works by Robert Rauschenberg, Keith Haring, Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol and David Hockney. In collaboration with WHYY, fourteen major programs were archived for a national and international audience via the World Wide Web.

PrideFest America 2002, for the first time, awards the Tom Stoddard National Role Model Award to a corporation -- MTV, a cable television network which has contributed to social change through its positive inclusion of GBLT issues in its programming. PrideFest America will also be hosting the first retrospective of the works of photographer Tseng Kwong Chi. The display of rainbow flags has grown every year -- this year, 150 pride banners will be hanging along the streets of Center City.