Greenwich Village LGBTQ Rights Movement free walking tour

Greenwich Village is a neighborhood that has played a significant role in the LGBTQ rights movement in New York City. This walking tour will take you to landmarks like the Stonewall Inn, the site of the Stonewall riots that sparked the modern LGBTQ rights movement, as well as other important locations in the neighborhood. You'll also learn about the history of the movement and its ongoing impact on society. The tour will begin at the Christopher Street subway station and end at Sheridan Square, close to Pier 61.

 

1. Begin your tour at the Stonewall Inn, located at 53 Christopher Street. This historic bar is known as the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ rights movement, where patrons rioted against police harassment in 1969.
2. From there, head east on Christopher Street towards Grove Street.
3. Along the way, you'll pass the Gay Street sign, one of the few streets in the city named after the LGBTQ community.
4. Continue on Grove Street until you reach the Waverly Place Arch, an iconic landmark that has served as a gathering place for activists and protestors.
5. Turn left on Washington Square Park North and walk towards the Washington Square Arch, another famous landmark that has been the site of numerous LGBTQ rights demonstrations.
6. Just past the arch, you'll find the LGBT Community Center, a hub for social, cultural, and educational programs and services.
7. Next, head south on 5th Avenue until you reach the AIDS Memorial, located in the median of the street between West 8th Street and West 9th Street.
8. Finally, turn left on West 4th Street and walk towards 7th Avenue South, where you'll find the former location of the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop, the first LGBTQ bookstore in the United States.