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.
On this walking tour you’ll discover…
A historic gay village
The gayest beer parlour in town
The “kiss-ins” of Granville Street
Drag queens who made a difference
How a gay church clergy made history
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 AM
MAY – NOVEMBER
$29
Prices do not include fees and taxes. Student and senior pricing available on all walking tours. Contact us for private walking tours.
Flexible cancellation policy
If you need to cancel your booking for any reason you can request a date exchange or a full refund, provided you let us know at least 24 hours before the tour start time. You can do so by emailing us at [email protected] or calling our 24 hour call centre at 604 227 7570. If you contact us less than 24 hours before the start of your walking tour, we will give you a credit that can be applied to any of our experiences.
A TASTE OF THE TOUR
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.
Meet your guide — Glenn Tkach
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, the walking tour first visits the historic Hotel Vancouver to talk beer parlours and clandestine gay meetups. Across the street you’ll learn the strange case of Rex vs Singh at the old courthouse, now the Vancouver Art Gallery. Next you’ll cut through Robson Square 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, Patient Zero and Nelson Park, you’ll find yourself in the gaybourhood on Davie Street.
The walking tour 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-walking tour cocktail!
