For Philadelphia Magazine: Between Betsy and the Bell

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We had the honor of being asked by our hometown magazine to participate in a collection of essays by *ahem* some of the city’s best writers, examining what they learned or experienced during the pandemic. We talked about what it was like to live in the literal birthplace of the country, between the Betsy Ross house and the Liberty Bell, in a year when the country stayed home and protests filled the streets:

This doesn’t describe the majority of visitors, many of whom aren’t even American, of course. But we came to see the masses of mostly white, overwhelmingly heterosexual, traditionally dressed Americans who came here — the families in coordinated red, white and blue outfits, the church groups in their flag sweatshirts, the retirees in their Spirit of ’76 visor caps — as visitors from an America we didn’t tend to visit ourselves. We had this suspicion reaffirmed every time a group of them stopped us to ask for directions or restaurant recommendations. We’d see the sudden uncomfortable realization on their faces when we opened our big gay mouths and pointed them toward Penn’s Landing or the best cheesesteak place.

You can read the whole thing here.

[Photo Credit: Drew Dennis for Philadelphia Magazine]

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