Prices checked on Sep 11, 2026Things to do in Vancouver
It's time for Vancouver's secrets to come out of the closet. The wild, untold history of Vancouver's LGBTQ2+ community comes alive through stories of struggle, unity, and celebration on a 2 hour adventure through Downtown and the West End. You'll meet a history of outrageous drag queens, book store bombings and the unsung heroes who forever changed the social fabric of our city.
Meet your guide – the man in pink! – outside Trees Organic Coffee Shop at 930 Burrard Street. You'll soon embark on a 2 hour long adventure into the LGBTQ2+ history and culture of this West Coast metropolis. You'll weave a path through Imperial Court coronations, drag kings at the Quadra, gay ministers at the United Church, Patient Zero, the GRID crisis, and visit urban oasis Nelson Park, until you find yourself in the gaybourhood on Davie Street. The walking tour strolls the historic tree-lined West End as you discover the city's earliest Pride parade, Jim Deva Plaza, bookstore bombings, 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 right in the middle of the action in the Davie Street village with its fantastic variety of bars and restaurants.
The Really Gay History Tour in Vancouver, Canada lasts about 2 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
Prices start at $29 per person for this Vancouver experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is Meet outside the Trees Organic Coffee Shop at 930 Burrard St. . Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 20 participants.
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
This was the best tour I’ve ever been on. Glenn is so informative and passionate, and I learned stories about Vancouver and Canadian LGBTQ+ history that I would never be able to learn elsewhere. I teared up twice. I was so inspired by this tour. Highly recommend!!
The tour guide was wonderful and very knowledgeable. I learned so much and had a great time! Do tour
Hi Morgan, Thanks so much for the review! We're so glad you enjoyed Glenn's tour so much, he's an amazing storyteller. Hope to see you back for another tour someday soon :)
Another find walking tour from Forbidden Vancouver agency. They have the best tour guides. A portion of the ticket admissions goes to charity so they give back to the community. The tour guide Glenn in pink, is simply the best, it's his picture in the advertisement so can easily find him at the starting point. Don't bother coming early. Knowledgable, humourus mixing pre-colonialization history of the First Nation, westward expansion, railroad construction uniting east to west and its development of Vancouver, scandals, pop culture, AIDS history and impact, gay civil rights pertaining to the federal government, local courts, human rights charter, city hall, religion and medical care, memorials and the gayborhood. From discreet anonymous hookup to the development of identity codes in public places to eventually speakeasies. Glenn will poise for pictures and answer any questions, even if overtime. One can ask for recommendations. Lecture includes gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, two spirit and transgender, drag kings and queens and sex workers. Talks of racism, feminism but fails to address the handicap. Glenn is the best, great personality and did his own research. This walking tour and Jack the Ripper in London are the best walking tours I've ever taken and I travelled around the world. Dont forget to tip him so he can buy more pink clothing ans accessories. Great way to be come familiar with Davie gayborhood. Wheelchair/walker accessible. Glenn will adjust pace if needed.
Hi there, Wow! Thanks so much for writing us such an in-depth glowing review! Sounds like you had a fantastic time with Glenn exploring the Davie Village, he's an amazing storyteller with a big heart. Thanks for the 5 stars and we hope to see you on another tour next time you're in Vancouver :)
Glenn is an amazing gem . We had two hours of a well paced walking tour , thoroughly researched, well presented, passionate , caring ,… amazing ! Thanks 🌈
Hi there, Thanks for the review! Thrilled you enjoyed Glenn's tour so much. Hope to see you on another tour someday soon :)
This experience leaves an impact on you. It leaves you with hope for the future and sorrow for those who suffered for the rights we have today. You go through the good and bad parts of history and about infighting between gay men and the lesbians. The tour guide Glenn, the man in the pink hat, is a magnificent story teller making the tour feel a lot shorter than 2 hours. The best thing someone can do if you go on this tour is interact and ask questions. Talk with the others on the tour. You should expect there to be 18-20 other people with you so not a lot but a decent size.
Hi John, Wow, thanks for such a heartfelt review! We're so gladd you enjoyed Glenn's tour so much, we had no doubt you would have such a good time on his tour :)
Wow. What an amazing tour! Glenn is not only a wonderful informed guide, he did all the research himself, and is a fantastic storyteller regarding the history of LGBTQ2IA in Vancouver. I think this was one of the best tours I've ever done (in my decades of travel and tours). Wonderful!!!!
Thanks so much for witing us such a thoughtful review! Glenn's such an amazing storytellr, we have no doubt you'd have such a fantastic experience on his tour. Thanks for the 5 stars, and we hope to see you on another tour someday soon :)
Very good research and heart felted storytelling. The guide managed to accompany a diverse group (locals-visitors, queers-allies, young-seniors, etc.) in making everyone feel welcome, leaving no one behind as he set the stories and context. The tour also had a great balance in representation of many groups (gay, lesbian, trans, two-spirit, bi, +). We highly recommend this tour to everyone.
Hi Mathiew, Thanks so much for writing us a review! Sounds like you had an amazing time with Glenn, and an amazing group to experience these stories with. Thanks for the 5 stars, and hope you can join us for another tour someday soon :)
This tour was really incredible, even as a Vancouverite who thought she knew much of the city's queer history. Glenn has a gift for researching and uncovering the lesser known parts of queer history and tells the city's stories in the most entertaining and thoughtful way. If you're interested in queer history, human rights, or Vancouver's lesser known histories, this tour is a must-do.
Hi there, Thanks for writing us this review! Glenn's such an amazing storyteller, and we're so glad you enjoyed his thoughtful presentation of this history. Hope you can join us again for another tour someday :)
Glenn was a fantastic tour guide and provided meaningful context with personal connections to the queer community. We were lucky enough to meet Empress on the tour as well. We highly recommend this experience
Hi Ken, Thanks so much for leaving a review. Delighted to hear the Really Gay History Tour with Glenn was such a meaningful experience. Thank you for joining us!
Outstanding tour. Glenn has put tremendous effort into research and storytelling. He focuses on building community among the participants. An awesome opportunity to learn and meet people. Couldn’t recommend it more highly.
Hi there, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review. I am so happy to hear you had such a fantastic time on the Really Gay History Tour with Glenn. I'm thrilled it was such an impactful experience and that Glenn took such wonderful care of the group. Hope to see you on tour with us again soon :)
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Really Gay History Tour in Vancouver, Canada | 2 hours | 5.0 (368) | $29 | |
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