In 2018, I started giving LGBTQ+ walking tours in NYC. What began as a Facebook post and a free Eventbrite listing eventually turned into Christopher Street Tours. When I first started, it was just me – a solo tour guide with a binder full of photos, sharing stories I’d collected from books, podcasts, and deep...Read More

At Christopher Street Tours, we celebrate Pride every day. And while June is filled with exciting celebrations and powerful moments of protest, there are countless ways to honor LGBTQ+ history, culture, and community all year long in New York City (and around the world). Whether you’re a local or planning a visit to the Big...Read More

Every year, people from around the world come to New York City to explore LGBTQ+ history with Christopher Street Tours. For many queer folks and allies, NYC is synonymous with Pride – a city often recognized as the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement. So it’s no surprise that when they visit, they want...Read More

When we think about social change, it’s easy to imagine huge organizations and sweeping movements changing the world. But the truth is, so much of the progress we celebrate today started with small groups of people, or collectives, thinking about ways that they can make a difference. There is power in small groups, chosen families,...Read More

When I started Christopher Street Tours in 2018, it felt like I was just a singular, passionate, gay tour guide with a binder full of photos and a head full of stories. What began as a one-person operation has since grown into a globally recognized LGBTQ+ walking tour company, welcoming tens of thousands of guests...Read More

Earlier this month, the National Park Service removed the word “transgender” from the Stonewall National Monument website. Erasing the contributions of trans people from one of the most pivotal sites in LGBTQ+ history is completely unacceptable. Trans people are integral to the history of Stonewall and to the continued fight for LGBTQ+ rights, and to...Read More

Recently on tours, I’ve started stopping at a particular photo displayed outside of Christopher Park. The image captures a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ history – the first Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day, which occurred on June 28, 1970. This historic event began as an annual protest march and demonstration to commemorate the Stonewall Riots. Over...Read More

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...Read More

I’ve been thinking a lot about anger recently. So often, anger is painted in this negative light, as if the feeling itself is unproductive or irrational. But anger can be a beacon in the dark, showing us where change is needed and pushing us forward to demand it. In moments of uncertainty, I look back...Read More

“Out of the Closets and Into the Streets”: Lessons from the Gay Liberation Front Recently, members of the Christopher Street Tours team, including myself, had the privilege of attending an event at the LGBT Center in partnership with the American LGBTQ+ Museum. The invitation and title boldly read: “OUT OF THE CLOSETS! 1969 | Founders...Read More