The Really Gay History Tour
THE REALLY GAY HISTORY
WALKING TOUR
It’s time for Vancouver’s secrets to come out of the closet. From drag kings and two spirit warriors, to queer church ministers and transgender crime fighters, this walking tour is a celebration of the unsung heroes who forever changed the social fabric of our city. Every Sunday plus extra dates during Vancouver PRIDE week.
small groups | social distancing | 100% outdoors
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On this walking tour you’ll discover…
A historic gay village
The gayest beer parlour in town
Drag queens who made a difference
How a gay church clergy made history
The famous “kiss-in” of Granville Street
The site of an infamous bookstore bombing
The bravest pioneers of the LGBTQ2+ community
How a community defied police brutality….and won
Seriously funny gay humour – and its political bent
And more!
Sunday – 10 a.m.
$29
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Flexible cancellation policy
You can cancel your experience for a full refund up to 24 hours before your tour start time. Less than 24 hours before the start of your tour, you can receive a full credit for future use. No questions asked! Prices do not include fees and taxes. Student and senior pricing available on all tours. Contact us to arrange a private tour.
TESTIMONIALS FROM TRIP ADVISOR
OUR AWARDS
WINNER TRIP ADVISOR CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE 2012 – 2021
WINNER LONELY PLANET “TOP CHOICE” 2021
WINNER CITY OF VANCOUVER HERITAGE MEDAL OF HONOUR 2019
WINNER MUST DO CANADA FEATURED EXPERIENCES 2021
MEET YOUR GUIDE GLENN TKACH
AS FEATURED ON
TOUR DESCRIPTION
Discover unsung heroes
Vancouver is home to Davie Street, one of North America’s most vibrant gay villages. Our city’s annual PRIDE parade draws crowds in the tens of thousands. Our city has openly gay politicians and monuments to gay activists. But it wasn’t always this way…
Meet the unsung heroes of Vancouver’s LGBTQ2+ community who forever changed the social fabric of our country. From the steps of the courthouse where an infamous drag queen fought for federal decriminalization to the chapel where the United Church of Canada ordained their first openly gay minister, Vancouver has played a larger-than-life role in the queer liberation movement.
Researched, designed, and guided by Forbidden Vancouver storyteller Glenn Tkach, the Really Gay History Tour weaves a colourful history of people and events that set the stage for the inclusive society we all now enjoy. For members of the LGBTQ2+ community and allies alike this is a must-do experience. So join Glenn as you laugh, cry, celebrate and feel true PRIDE on the Really Gay History Tour.
The walking tour
Meeting outside Vancouver City Centre Skytrain Station, you’ll soon head to Granville Street, once home to the city’s very first gay bars. Weaving a path through Imperial Court coronations, drag kings at the Quadra, gay struggle at the United Church, busting the myth of Patient Zero, and discovering the history of the city’s very first PRIDE parade at Nelson Park, you’ll find yourself in the gaybourhood on Davie Street.
The walking tour then strolls the historic West End as you discover protests, bookstore bombings, Jim Deva Plaza, a transgender campaigner who blew the whistle on the biggest crime in Vancouver history, Vancouver’s secret gay village, and the remarkable story of two-spirited warrior Gone to the Spirits. You’ll finish in the heart of the historic Davie Street village with its wonderful array of bars and restaurants. The perfect place to enjoy a post-tour cocktail!
