PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Thousands flocked to Philadelphia’s Gayborhood on Sunday for its annual OurFest, in observance of National Coming Out Day. It’s a time to recognize the occasion, but also get to know Philly’s wider LGBTQ+ community and all it offers.
As a classically trained musician, Maya Kociba noticed there weren’t a lot of friendly spaces in their industry for transgender or gender-nonbinary folks. So after years as a chorus teacher in Cherry Hill, Kociba founded the Transcendent Choir of Philadelphia.
“I wanted to create a safe space where people can meet and socialize with other transgender people — and also, just have fun singing. I love singing with other people, and so this is my way of making it happen,” Kociba said.
The choir’s first show is on Nov. 16, location to be announced — but first, a table at OurFest to get the word out.
“I love OurFest in October almost a little bit more than what Philly does in June, because it feels so much more authentic, and so much more grassroots. There’s a larger, more tight-knit sense of community.”
Joshua McPhatter is on the board of Stonewall Sports’ Philly Chapter, said the diversity on display at the festival is its best part.
“When we think about Pride and we think about LGBT community, it’s not just a monolith, it’s people from all over who make our community strong,” McPhatter said.
Netanya DeRouchie with the Philly Falcons, an inclusive soccer club, said OurFest was their first Pride experience back when they first came out.
“Coming out is a constant thing,” DeRouchie said. “You come out to yourself and your loved ones, but then you continually do it for the rest of your life, whether you get a new job, you’re meeting new people. you’re constantly coming out — or, as I like to think about it, letting people in.”
DeRouchie has also been able to live their truth as part of the Falcons with teammates like E.J. Sanders and Gabby Stacy.
“It’s like a family that you have, of people from all different walks of life, with a shared love of soccer,” said Sanders.
“We’re literally just that silly, fun, able-to-be-yourself family, that you come out to hang out with, and you play a fun sport in the same time,” said Stacy.
Just as the Falcons create a family and community on the soccer pitch, so does OurFest on the streets of the Gayborhood every year.
“It’s just about establishing community and connection, and I think that’s really important as you come out into this new identity,” said DeRouchie.
CORRECTION: Netanya DeRouchie's pronouns are they/them. The article has been edited to reflect this.