Before Stonewall Secret Gay History of New York City

Step beyond the well-known story of Stonewall and uncover the hidden origins of LGBTQ+ life in New York City on this fascinating walking tour through Greenwich Village. Long before the modern rights movement, the Village served as a refuge for outsiders, artists, and rebels who quietly built one of the most vibrant queer communities in the country. Travel back through centuries of overlooked history, from the colonial era to the 1960s, and discover the poets, performers, and trailblazers who shaped LGBTQ+ culture in New York. Walk the same streets where Walt Whitman wrote revolutionary poetry celebrating love and identity, hear the stories of early drag performers and gender-nonconforming New Yorkers, and learn about the secret bars and gathering places where queer culture flourished despite persecution. Along the way, your expert licensed guide will bring to life the bold, tragic, rebellious, and inspiring stories that paved the way for the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.