Built to belong, expanding to thrive — welcome to Queer Run’s nonprofit era

The Monday before the 2022 Broad Street Run, 11 runners gathered for an evening run with a shared purpose: Bringing together LGBTQIA+ runners and our allies to elevate inclusion and access in Philadelphia running spaces.

Four years and 80+ members later, Queer Run is proud to share a special announcement: we are officially a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

After years of growth, community building, and advocacy and even hosting our first 5K, we’re excited for this new era, where Queer Run will empower LGBTQ+ runners to show up authentically, connect in community, and thrive in the sport of running — from pavement, to trail, to starting lines.

This milestone doesn’t change what Queer Run is. It allows us to do more.

Through funding streams like tax-deductible donations, corporate partnerships, and grants, we’ll expand our impact by

• Launching programs that reduce financial barriers for queer, trans, and nonbinary runners
• Setting up a grant/scholarship fund to get more queer runners to more starting lines
• And so much more to help the queer and trans running community grow and thrive

Our weekly runs aren’t going anywhere. This community remains the heart of everything we do.

In a time when queer and trans people face increasing hostility, this step strengthens our ability to build and protect spaces where queer and trans runners feel safe, welcomed, supported, and celebrated.

We’re still getting organized, but we’re excited to begin this new chapter.

We can’t wait to show you what comes next — in the meantime, we’d welcome your support!

• Sign the open letter to advocate for nonbinary equity in the Philadelphia Marathon
• Purchase our merch at our regular weekly runs
• Or simply join us for one of our weekly regular runs through Philadelphia, a true city of firsts!

In love and solidarity,

The Inaugural Queer Run Board

‐ Josh Fernandez (they/them), President
‐ Sharon Tejada (she/her), Treasurer
‐ Ben Coppola (he/him), Secretary