I’ve been thinking a lot about the word “liberation” lately. What does the word mean to me? What does it mean to guests who join us on tour? To some extent, it feels like a buzz word that some activist quoted in a speech decades ago. But I don’t think that could be further from...Read More
Dear friends, As Pride Month comes to a close, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on what Pride means to me, the growth of our tours, and some memorable stories from this past month. Founding Christopher Street Tours and sharing LGBTQ+ history truly feels like my life’s work and greatest honor, and there...Read More
Hey everyone! Michael here, founder and owner of Christopher Street Tours. When I first started giving tours, I knew the namesake had to be Christopher Street. To me, Christopher Street embodies so much history. It’s where riots began and activists paved the way before us. Yet, to some, especially those who aren’t familiar with the...Read More
Symbols hold profound meaning within the LGBTQ+ community, serving as powerful reminders of the struggles and triumphs that have shaped Queer history. We’ve seen various symbols used over time, not only for the practical use of self-identification within the community, but also, the external symbology of Queer power, pride, and activism. In this post, we’ll...Read More
I’m not sure about anyone else, but when I travel to a new (or familiar) destination, one of the first things I do is search for “LGBTQ+ Tours [Insert City Here].” For me, travel isn’t just about discovering the popular landmarks or trendy neighborhoods, it’s about diving head-first into local life and culture. And as...Read More
‘Tis the season for Queer history! But spoiler alert: at Christopher Street Tours, every season is a season for Queer history! This holiday season, we extend a festive invitation for you to immerse yourself in the holiday magic of New York City with our new “Make the Yuletide Gay” Holiday Tour! Picture yourself strolling through...Read More
As the founder of Christopher Street Tours, a company dedicated to sharing stories and uplifting voices of the LGBTQ+ community, I recently had the privilege of being interviewed for an article with Lyft about LGBTQIA+ history tours that bring people together. I’m always grateful for the opportunity to share my passion for preserving and honoring...Read More
Last night, I had the profound privilege and honor to attend the Celebration of Life ceremony for activist, author, and metaphorical mentor, Larry Kramer. It’s difficult to put into words the deep impact that Larry had on my life, even though I only met him once. That meeting, in itself, was a highlight of my...Read More
Downtown Manhattan has always been a vibrant hub of diversity and activism, making it the perfect setting for our new Downtown LGBTQ+ Activism walking tour. As we prepare to launch this exciting project later this summer, we had the opportunity to speak with the Downtown Alliance and share everything you need to know about this...Read More
Earlier this month, founder and owner of Christopher Street Tours, Michael Venturiello, spoke to Spectrum NY1’s Justine Re about the importance and history of Pride. Engaging in conversations that amplify the importance of LGBTQ+ history is always a rewarding experience. Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with Justine Re from Spectrum NY1 for an...Read More
