PGN Publisher Reflects on Paper's Pioneering History

Mark Segal shares how the Philadelphia Gay News' origins in the Stonewall uprising shaped its courageous spirit.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In a personal essay, Mark Segal, the publisher of the Philadelphia Gay News (PGN), reflects on the newspaper's pioneering history and how its origins in the Stonewall uprising have shaped its courage and refusal to back down. Segal, one of the last surviving Stonewall activists, discusses the modest beginnings of PGN, the challenges it has faced, and the real, lasting change it has helped create for the LGBTQ+ community in Philadelphia and beyond.

Why it matters

The Philadelphia Gay News has been a leading voice in LGBTQ+ media for decades, providing crucial coverage and advocacy on issues impacting the community. Segal's personal account sheds light on the paper's origins in the Stonewall uprising and the decades of adversity it has overcome to remain a pioneering and influential LGBTQ+ news outlet.

The details

Segal describes how PGN was assembled at night while he handcuffed himself to the City Hall Christmas tree by day. The paper operated out of a city-gutted building with no bathroom, stringing its own electrical wiring and working beneath a leaking roof. Over the years, the paper's distribution boxes were smashed, glued shut, stolen, and trashed, and the office faced break-ins, broken windows, and death threats. But the paper never missed a deadline, a testament to the dedication of its staff.

  • PGN published its first issue in the 1970s.
  • More than 25 years ago, PGN began reporting on the violence faced by transgender people, long before others would look.
  • Pennsylvania achieved marriage equality a full year before the Supreme Court made it the law of the land, thanks in part to PGN's advocacy.

The players

Mark Segal

The publisher of the Philadelphia Gay News and one of the last surviving activists of the Stonewall uprising.

Jason

Segal's husband, who has encouraged him to be more open about his past and its connection to the newspaper.

Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center

An organization that has urged Segal to speak about his experiences at Stonewall and how they shaped the Philadelphia Gay News.

Boy Scouts of America

An institution that the Philadelphia Gay News challenged, forcing it to change long-standing policies.

William Way LGBT Community Center

An organization that received its first grant, allowing it to move into its home on Spruce Street, thanks to the Philadelphia Gay News.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

The Philadelphia Gay News has been a pioneering voice in LGBTQ+ media, driven by the courage and determination of its staff to tell stories that others would not, and to create real, lasting change for the LGBTQ+ community in Philadelphia and beyond.