Happy New Year, friends! Michael here, founder and owner of Christopher Street Tours. 👋
As 2024 draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey that this year has been. There have been so many memorable moments and milestones – both personally and for Christopher Street Tours.
If you’ve ever taken a tour with me, you might already know the story: Christopher Street Tours began in 2018 as a passion project to bring LGBTQ+ history to life through walking tours in NYC. Since then, I’ve seen Christopher Street Tours grow and develop in ways I could never imagine. After being laid off from my corporate job in August of 2023, I made the leap to lead Christopher Street Tours full-time. Now, as I wrap up my first full year as a full-time entrepreneur, I’m filled with gratitude for the journey and the community that has supported me along the way.
As I think about the highlights from 2024, I should also say that every single tour is a highlight in its own way. Meeting guests from all over the world, hearing their stories, and having the opportunity to share the LGBTQ+ history of one of my favorite neighborhoods is truly a privilege. Each tour brings its own unique spirit and energy, which is one of my favorite things about this work. In addition to these moments on tour, there are a few additional highlights that make 2024 a standout year.
Growing Our Team
This year, we welcomed Jenna and Bryan to the Christopher Street Tours family. Their passion and perspectives have added so much depth to our mission of amplifying LGBTQ+ history. Their addition has allowed us to connect with more guests and further our mission of making these stories accessible to everyone.
Expanding into Boston
A major milestone for us was launching our Cambridge LGBTQ+ Visionaries Walking Tour in the Boston area, our first tour outside of New York City! Expanding into a new city has allowed us to reach a broader audience and share this history with even more people.
Opening an LGBTQ+ Shop
In collaboration with an incredibly talented queer graphic designer (who also created our logo in 2023), we launched an online shop featuring LGBTQ+ tour-themed shirts, totes, sweaters, stickers, pins, and even a queer history zine. It’s been amazing to see these designs out in the world!
Welcoming Our First Multi-Day Tour Group
We hosted our first multi-day tour group this year, curating an unforgettable four-day experience that deepened connections to LGBTQ+ history and community in NYC. This experience also highlighted the growing demand for immersive LGBTQ+ travel experiences, something we’re looking to explore in the coming year.
Speaking at Middle and High Schools
In addition to our speaking engagements with corporate organizations and college groups, we had the honor of speaking at middle and high school assembly for the first time this year. Sharing stories of LGBTQ+ resilience and allyship with younger audiences felt especially meaningful, inspiring the next generation to engage with this history.
Partnering with Local Queer Businesses
We strengthened our community ties through partnerships with local queer-owned businesses, uplifting fellow LGBTQ+ businesses and increasing community. Personal highlights included our first Queer Wine Tasting with Simply Wine and a Queer Bar Tour featuring iconic locations like the Stonewall Inn, Henrietta Hudson, and Cubbyhole.
As I look back on 2024, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the growth we’ve experienced – not just as a business, but as part of a larger movement to make LGBTQ+ history accessible to all. Every step, every guest, and every connection helps to fuel our mission and reminds me why I love this work so much.
Here’s to another year of building community, sharing stories, and welcoming new friends to Christopher Street Tours. Thank you for being part of this journey.
Wishing you all a joyous and gay new year ahead!
With gratitude,
Michael Venturiello
Founder, Christopher Street Tours
