Rebecca Kenton was in her 30s when she began questioning her identify and searching for her lesbian community.
She came out after being in a heterosexual marriage with two young children.
However, after years of finding that the community was more “cliquish,” making it difficult to connect, Kenton decided to build what she sought, writes Lynette Hazelton for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Kenton sought mixers that were safe, fun, and encouraged meaningful interaction with the queer community.
After getting the opportunity to take over a small Facebook group of about 100 lesbian women, she unveiled Sip City Mixer, which hosts special events throughout the area catering to LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary individuals.
“I wanted to create a space that was intentionally welcoming, not just space to go and stand around with other lesbians,” said Kenton.
Kenton describes Sip City Mixer as “a traveling queer bar” that travels all over the city to welcoming businesses to bring them revenue while affording the community a place to gather.
Sip City Mixer has grown exponentially in popularity over the years.
With a mission to ensure inclusion and diversity, Kenton has started several Sip City subgroups, such as ones for outdoor enthusiasts, introverts, and queer people of color, respectively.
Read more about the creator of Sip City Mixer and upcoming events at The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on PHILADELPHIA Today in January 2025.
