Communities React: Midwood Investment & Development Whitewashes Gayborhood Mural to Gloria Casarez

An NYC Developer Destroys Only Public Monument to an out LGBTQ Woman in Pennsylvania

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - In a shocking reversal to months of good faith negotiations, workers for Midwood Investment & Development painted over the mural honoring the memory of LGBTQ Latinx activist Gloria Casarez in the morning hours of Wednesday, December 23rd. The mural, entitled A Tribute to Gloria Casarez, was created by artists Michelle Angela Ortiz and Briana Dawkins in collaboration with Gloria's family and friends. It was erected in 2015 at the site of the former 12th Street Gym at 204 South 12th Street in Center City Philadelphia. The mural was whitewashed with no warning to the community or Gloria's family and friends.

Midwood acquired the property in 2018 and has been in ongoing discussions with the LGBTQ community and Mural Arts Philadelphia about the future of the mural, noted as the only public monument to an out LGBTQ woman in Pennsylvania. More background on this project and the historic Henry Minton house that is also threatened by this development can be found at: stopmidwood.com.

Set on demolishing the building, representatives of Midwood, including John Usdan, Richard Young, and Jeff McClure, assured community members that notice would be given before any action was taken to destroy the mural. They also committed to exploring options to preserve parts of the mural. They lied.

Gloria's widow Tricia Dressel visited the mural site on December 23rd after it had been painted over and had this reaction.

"The white paint was so fresh that I could smell it as I looked up to try to find the outline of Gloria and my interlocked hands with our wedding bands. This white paint now covers the images of Gloria's family - who generations ago helped lay the stone for the Ben Franklin Bridge and the ground for Philadelphia's first Spanish church - La Milagrosa. This white paint now covers the images of our community members who are living out Gloria's legacy every day. This white paint covers the artistry and imagination and passion and sweat and heart that Michelle Angela Ortiz put into her work when she designed and created this mural with Briana Dawkins. But those responsible for this literal white washing of Michelle's mural - done two days before Christmas - without even letting those who loved Gloria the most know - can never ever erase Gloria, her work, her legacy, our love for her, our family, our community or the work of the artists who brought her to life for all of us on 12th street."

"Today, I learned of the whitewashing of my mural," said mural artist Michelle Angela Ortiz in a statement. "Mural Arts and I DID NOT have any prior knowledge that Midwood was going to whitewash the mural. This action is painful for all of us who feel that we are losing Gloria again with the whitewashing and demolition of her image."

"The Gloria Casarez mural is historic and has deep meaning - not only for the LGBTQ community, but for the entire city of Philadelphia," said Councilperson Helen Gym. "I am outraged to see it erased in this way. While in negotiations with the community, whitewashing the mural with no notification is an act of bad faith that upends the public trust around Midwood's stated intentions and responsibilities as a developer. I will be working closely with community members as this process unfolds, and hope Midwood will learn from this tragic mistake and build a working relationship with the people who their actions affect."

Community and family members are collaborating on next steps to honor Gloria Casarez's legacy and to hold Midwood accountable for their callous destruction and whitewashing of art and history as well as their intention to develop unaffordable housing in Center City.

The Philadelphia Inquirer has published two pieces on these breaking developments this afternoon:

New art installation in jeopardy after mural of queer activist Gloria Casarez in Philly's Gayborhood whitewashed without warning (December 24, 2020)

Whitewashing Gloria Casarez mural is a violent act against Philly's LGBTQ community | Opinion-Editorial by David Acosta (December 24, 2020)

Attached Photos: Neighbor Marisa Shaaban captured pictures of the erasure in action.

The Pennsylvania Youth Congress advances freedom and justice for young LGBTQ Pennsylvanians through advocating for responsible public policy. As a youth-led organization, PYC represents citizens working toward safer schools and thriving communities across the commonwealth. PYC is Pennsylvania's only statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization based in Harrisburg. | payouthcongress.org

The Pennsylvania Youth Congress is distributing this press release on behalf of #KeepGloriaon12th. This is not a press release by the Pennsylvania Youth Congress, but one from of a community-led campaign of which it supports.