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Philadelphia’s First Queer Women’s Sports Bar Will Open in Two Weeks
Published:
Remember the story about the people trying to open a women’s sports bar in Philadelphia? Well separate from that effort, this is happening:
PHILADELPHIA, PA (September 3, 2025) – Marsha’s will officially open its doors to the public on Friday, September 19, 2025, at 4 p.m. Located at 430 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147, Marsha’s is Philadelphia’s first-ever queer women’s sports bar and venue, founded by Philadelphia native Chivonn Anderson.
The public is welcome to attend the ribbon-cutting of Marsha’s at 4 p.m. on Friday, September 19, and get a first look at the vibrant community hub where the LGBTQ+ community, women, and all sports fans can come together in a welcoming, inclusive space to celebrate sports and connection.Marsha’s will welcome guests with a thoughtfully curated selection of food and drinks. The menu will feature timeless bar favorites alongside a rotating lineup of signature cocktails and mocktails.
…The bar’s name, Marsha’s, is a tribute to Marsha P. Johnson, the iconic Black transgender activist and trailblazer who was a central figure in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. By honoring her name, the bar aims to celebrate queer history and serve as a welcoming space where that spirit of courage and inclusivity lives on.
“I want to make Marsha’s an anchor for Philadelphia — for the queer community, for the sports community, and for anybody that just wants to go out and have fun and feel safe and be seen,” said Chivonn Anderson, Founder of Marsha’s.
The release goes on to say that “women’s sports will take center stage on the TVs, with all Philadelphia sports teams also featured… additional TVs will be dedicated to queer film and television, ensuring that queer stories remain visible and celebrated in the space.”
Anderson is excited to host events for big games but will keep the most of the TVs tuned into women’s sports (and Philadelphia’s local teams) even when there isn’t a major tournament to watch. She’s looking forward to building a relationship with Watch Party PHL, which hosts gatherings at venues around the city to watch women’s sports and develop community. The group’s organizers are currently raising money to launch their own women’s sports bar.
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Watch Party PHL, which is also headed up by queer women, has demonstrated that there is a massive fan base for women’s sports in the surrounding area. Coupled with the constant yearning for a lesbian bar, it’s clear that Philly needs more tangible places that center LGBTQ+ women, sapphics and people of marginalized gender experiences.
South Street feels like an ideal location for this, because it was historically a counter-culture spot for off-beat stores and bars, at least back in the day before online shopping and chain retail started to kill off a little bit of that vibe. Marsha’s is replacing Woolly Mammoth, which closed in May and sits at the Passyunk intersection between 4th and 5th streets.
Now, my Mount Rushmore of lesbian athletes:
- AMANDA NUNES
- Billie Jean King
- Martina Navratilova
- Abby Wambach
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Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com