Philly Gayborhood and LGBTQ History Walking Tour
Description
Calling all LGBTQ travelers, gaggle of local gays and their friends alike! Get your facts straight and your history GAY on this specialty tour of Philadelphia’s iconic Gayborhood. Get under the skin of queer Philly. Discover the controversies, paradoxes, and hidden histories of the only formalized Gayborhood in the country. Let’s talk and spill all that historical tea hunny! Tour includes: - Barbara Gittings, "Gay Pioneer" - Alain Locke, Dean of the Harlem Renaissance - Giovanni's Room, The nation's longest continuously-operating LGBT-focused bookstore - The evolution of Pride: from protest to parade - Kiyoshi Kuromiya: Inventor, Architect, Activist - A tribute to Gloria Casarez Wheel Chair Accessible upon request.
Tour Options
Itinerary
See the Pride and Progress mural on the side of the William Way LGBTQ Community Center.
On the side of Writer's Block Rehab (local qpoc owned bar), see two incredible murals of queer icons.
Visit the oldest continuously operating LGBTQ-focused bookstore in the country.
See what the heart of the Gayborhood consisted of and the location of Philadelphia's oldest Gay bars
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(43)
Danny was an excellent tour guide! 10/10 would recommend
My law firm organized a tour with Beyond the Bell for pride month and we all absolutely loved it!! Danny was a phenomenal guide! The tour was super informative and fascinating. I will be bringing friends along in the future.
Thank you so much for joining us, Emily! See you again soon.
Danny was amazing! You could really tell he knew what he was talking about and kept our entire group engaged! Overall 10/10!
Thank you for joining us!
Danny was lovely, knowledgeable , engaging and far exceeded our expectations. Would definitely recommend to any!
We're so grateful you enjoyed your tour!
Danny was phenomenal. Our group had an enriching experience.
We're so glad to hear! Hope to see you again soon.
My tour guide, Danny, was phenomenal. Danny is incredibly well spoken, gave extensive detail and stories. He has an incredible voice and is gorgeous. Highly highly recommend this tour.
Thank you for your review! We hope to see you again soon.
This was a fantastic tour and one of the highlights of our time in Philadelphia. Martha was an outstanding guide—knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly passionate about LGBTQ history and the Gayborhood. She brought the stories of the community, the activism, and the people who shaped it to life in such a thoughtful and meaningful way. We learned so much about the history of the area and appreciated how Martha connected the past to the present. She created a welcoming atmosphere and made the experience both educational and enjoyable. Highly recommend this tour for anyone interested in Philadelphia history or LGBTQ history—and if you get Martha as your guide, you’re in great hands! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you!!
My 14 year old granddaughter who was visiting from Colorado, my daughter, her boyfriend, and I took the Philly Gayborhood and LGBTQ History Walking Tour. The three of us females had taken the Badass Women History Tour two years prior, and liked it so much that we knew we wanted to choose Beyond the Bell Tours again. Joey was our guide, and we couldn't have asked for a better person to show us different historical landmarks, relate the history of the gayborhood in Philly, and answer our questions. Even though three of us have lived in Philly for some years, we learned so much. I wish history had been taught in such an interesting way in school! We all really enjoyed this tour, and want to take more ones from Beyond the Bell Tours.
Thank you Stacey! I am so glad you enjoyed your time with Joey. Hope to see you on another tour soon!
The tour was fantastic and highly inspiring! You get a great history of LGBTQ+ rights, some women's history, black history, and activism amongst all three marginalized groups. The walk is a nice stroll and not difficult at all to navigate. Would highly recommend to all!
Thank you so much! Hope to see you again soon!
This tour was phenomenal, I learned SO much and our tour guide was fantastic. I walked away wanting to go on the tour again to try and soak up as much of the history, stories, and facts as possible. This is a MUST activity for locals and tourists!
Thank you so much! Hope to see you on another tour soon!
