John Fetterman blames Libs of TikTok, office staff for stripping $1 million from Philly LGBTQ center that hosts kink parties

William Way, on 13th and Spruce Streets in what's known as Philadelphia's "gayborhood," was going to be awarded $1 million in support of their renovation project under the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funds were intended to "renovate and expand the existing Community Center into an inclusive, fully accessible, and welcoming space for all individuals to gather, learn and receive support."

However, Libs of TikTok exposed them for having "an improvisational interactive theater night focusing on ontological deconstruction of the political theory concepts of Contract and Domination," which involves "fetish, as well as BDSM."

A closer look reveals that Philadelphia's "friendliest and longest running kink and fetish party," called The Aviary, is "improvisational interactive theater" involving "consensual" kink play. The description discusses the need to "get permission from a [Dungeon Monitor] to play with fire or puncture the skin." The "Rules of Play" also specify that "genitals and anuses must remain covered in non-play areas."

Another event at William Way is the monthly "Play All Day" party for "people aged 18 and up interested in BDSM, kink and fetish."

The funds were stripped from the bill at the urging of Fetterman's office. The letter to the Senate Committee on Appropriation read "After further review, I am writing to withdraw my support and request the removal of the below Fiscal Year 2024 Congressionally Directed Spending project included in the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies appropriations bill."

This removal prompted Fetterman to say, in a statement to The Advocate, that it was pulled "without his input." He "implied that a conservative social media account, which accused the center of hosting sex parties, has played a part in the decision."

In an interview, he said "I wasn't part of that decision. It wasn't my personal decision to do that."

"I’m new here," he told the outlet, "but I wasn’t aware that Democratic values and priorities are dictated by Libs of TikTok."

"The William Way LGBT Community Center has been doing critical work in Philadelphia for decades. I do not believe that we should penalize this center based on events that are entirely legal among consenting adults," he said.

"The William Way LGBT Community Center was disappointed to learn that support for federal Congressionally Directed Spending to renovate and expand our historic headquarters on 1315 Street in Philadelphia was withdrawn as a result of lies and distortions about our Center shared by political extremists," a spokesperson for the center said.

"These extremists falsely stated that sexual behavior is allowed in rental programs of the Center, which is inaccurate and against our Center’s code of conduct." In their "Rules of Play," it specifically says that "sex and/or penetration is not allowed."