PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia’s first queer women’s sports bar has officially opened in South Philly.
With a couple of chops from a massive pair of scissors, Chivonn Anderson cut the ribbon in front of Marsha’s on South Street. The crowd that had gathered outside flooded the doors for the first Friday night of many in the new bar.
“Thank you to all of you for all of your support. From the moment that we announced that we were going to be opening Marsha’s today, it has just been phenomenal, and I couldn’t imagine opening a space like this anywhere else in the world,” Anderson said.
It’s Philly’s first sports bar focused on women’s sports, but you’ll still be able to catch the Eagles on Sundays and the Phillies as they enter another Red October, along with every other Philly sports team.
That’s not South Philly-based artist Vanessa Tejada’s draw to the new bar, but she appreciates the Philly sports culture.
“I’m always like walking through, I’m like: ‘Go Birds. I love the Birds. I love my little Philly Phanatic, he nasty.’ I don’t like sports, but I respect the people who do. They love it, it’s a community. They all get together and they love each other, and it’s really nice,” said Tejada, who has supported Anderson since the early days of her opening eateries in South Philly.
Tejada said she’s ecstatic to have a much-needed safe space for queer people back on South Street.
“We need to have more gay and inclusive spaces to protect people who want to express themselves, and this is the spot.”
Councilmember Rue Landau, the city’s first openly gay councilmember, echoed that sentiment.
“For women and non-binary people, and just people who love women’s sports, and trans women. Everybody in the city who wants to have a place to call home, this is exactly what Chivonn will do to create that space.”