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.

Buy Tickets

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!

RETURNS APRIL 2022
SUN 10 AM

$32

Buy Tickets

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

RGHT #6Shauna B, Vancouver, BC – via Trip Advisor
Glenn is a lovely human and storyteller! My partner and I booked this tour as part of our 2020 Pride festivities and learned so much about queer history in Vancouver. The tour is an absolute must for locals or tourists seeking a deeper understanding in a unique setting. I’m already putting another group together to venture out with Glenn again. I would recommend The Really Gay History Tour 1000%.
RGHT #5David B, Vancouver, BC – via Trip Advisor
Informative and fun! Glenn was amazing. Really enjoyed learning about Vancouver’s important part in shaping so much of what we now acknowledge as part of our history
RGHT #4334steph, Vancouver, BC – via Trip Advisor
Loved this tour! Glenn was so awesome! Knowledgeable and fun! Do not miss this opportunity to learn about the LGBTQ history in Vancouver! Definitely worth the admission price !
RGHT #3Kira K, Vancouver, BC – via Trip Advisor
This is was my 5th tour with this group. Once again they do not disappoint. Glenn, was our guide and he was FABULOUS. Being a local I knew some of the information, but as is standard with this company, they always manage to have lots of information which I had never heard before. They really do their research!
RGHT #2Leana B, Vancouver, BC – via Trip Advisor
Glenn is an amazing storyteller and drew us in with his enthusiasm, humour and interesting, colorful stories. He also shared insights and historical facts that I wasn’t aware of and that opened my eyes. It was a an interesting and inspirational tour. Also, everything was done safely in consideration of Covid times. Thanks Glenn.
RGHT #1Tasha L, Vancouver, BC – via Trip Advisor
Tours like this and people like Glenn provide a crucial service, which is to discover, record, and share the fundamental pieces of our history that make us who we are today. Thank you for this tour and I can't wait to go on another one!

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!

MEETING PLACE

Tours start outside the entrance to Vancouver City Centre Skytrain station, downtown Vancouver
Tours end at the corner of Davie and Bute Streets

The Really Gay History Tour