Explore DC’s LGBTQ history on a walking tour. Discover iconic sites, hear untold stories, and see where courage shaped today’s inclusive city.
- Lafayette Square - Discover the history of LGBTQ persecution from the 1940s to the 1960s and visit the site of the first LGBTQ rights protest in the United States.
- White House - Learn about the first openly gay woman to serve in a presidential administration.
- Dupont Circle - Explore the story of Washington DC’s first gay bookstore and its impact on the community, including the inception of the Capital Pride parade.
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- Guided walking tour only
- Bottled water
- Snacks
Today Washington DC is one of the most LGBTQ-friendly jurisdictions in the country with gay-friendly laws, an inclusive school curriculum, anti-discrimination protections, and marriage equality. But from the 1940s-1970s, this city was ground zero for actively uncovering closeted gay federal government employees and firing them without justification. On this walking tour, you’ll see Washington DC’s iconic government buildings through the eyes of the committed government servants who were persecuted because of their sexual orientation. You’ll see the sites where the brave few chose to fight back and demand their civil rights. And you’ll see where they built their own communities and paved the way for today’s more inclusive city. Our country chose fear over competence and denied the service of hundreds of eminently qualified researchers, diplomats, and leaders. But in the end, learn how this discrimination caused the LGBTQ community to organize, to unite, and to emerge from the closet.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.