Councilmember Gilmore Richardson Announces Resolution to Rename Philadelphia the “City of Sisterly Love”

Distributed by the Office of Councilwoman Katherine Gilmore Richardson on 1/31/2020

Yesterday, Councilmember Gilmore Richardson ushered through a resolution to tweak the city’s motto to celebrate the strong contributions women have made to Philadelphia’s rich history. 

Gilmore Richardson—the youngest woman ever to win a city-wide Council seat—introduced a resolution to officially change the city’s name from “City of Brotherly Love” to “the City of Sisterly Love” for 2020 in tribute to the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, recognizing women’s right to vote. The resolution also acknowledges that black women and women of color were not fully enfranchised until the 1965 Voting Rights Act. All seven women on Philadelphia City Council backed the measure.

The re-nicknaming is a collaboration between the City of Philadelphia and VISIT PHILADELPHIA^®, who earlier this week announced the “City of Sisterly Love” as a 2020 marketing focus and unveiled a Times Square billboard touting the city’s new moniker.

“This is not about erasing men. It’s about lifting up women during this monumental year. Because we don’t have to put someone down to lift someone up,” said Gilmore Richardson.

A year full of events and programming around art, food, fitness, wine, music and history, including many celebrations of 19th Amendment centennial, invites all women—sisters, cousins, girlfriends and any other group of women—and #GirlDads, brothers and husbands to choose Philadelphia as their getaway destination.

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