Christopher Street Tours

19/02/2025

It was a pleasure chatting with the Business Gay podcast, especially about the powerful intersection of entrepreneurship and activism.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on what activism truly means and how each of us can spark our own inner activist. In a world where q***r and trans people are being erased, simply sharing LGBTQ+ stories - on tour and beyond - feels like an act of resistance and resilience.

🎧 Listen here: https://calanbreckon.com/podcast/michael-venturiello-christopher-street-tours/

28/01/2025

On the blog! 🌈

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...

21/01/2025

Currently reading. 📖

After Silence: A History of AIDS through Its Images by Avram Finkelstein.

Thank you, , for this insightful and heartfelt memoir of your time in the Silence = Death Collective, Gran Fury, and ACT UP. Your impact is still felt around the world and we are so grateful for your art, your activism, and your legacy.

17/01/2025

Hiii NYC tour guides!! 👋🏼🌈

Earlier this week, our NYC team met to discuss some exciting updates coming your way soon! 🤩

We’re so grateful for this team and the amazing work they’re doing to change the world, one tour at a time! 🌎💜

31/12/2024

Happy New Year! Wishing you all a joyous and gay new year ahead! 🥳✨

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 Tou...

24/11/2024

Hii new friends! 👋🏼🌈

So excited to welcome these groups on tour this week! Thanks for joining us for a stroll around our favorite neighborhood in NYC! 🤗

18/11/2024

It’s here! Our very own Christopher Street Tours zine! 🤩

Relevantly titled RESIST! Stories of Resilience, Activism, & Triumph highlights key moments, figures, and milestones in LGBTQ+ history. Designed to empower, educate, and inspire, this 22-page zine offers readers a glimpse into the powerful legacy of LGBTQ+ activism, strength, and progress. 🗣️

A special thanks to fabulous tour guide and storyteller, , for collecting, writing, and uplifting these stories, and to the incredible Paul at for his artistic and thoughtful design. Thank you for bringing this vision to life! 🌟

Get yours now at ChristopherStreetTours.com/Store. 🛍️

18/11/2024

Hiii tour groups! 🥰🌈

This past week, we gave tours to welcoming families, a group from the TripCon tour conference, and an LGBTQ+ employee resource group. We even led a special “after dark” tour 😉 where we got to see the rainbow lights of Christopher Park!

10/11/2024

There’s always time to stop and view the Haring. 😌

Thank you to all of our tour groups this week for joining us and engaging in thoughtful and meaningful conversations about the past, present, and future. Walking tours are an incredible way to learn local history and get to know the neighborhood, but this week in particular, they felt like small acts of resilience and resistance. 🌈

We’re here, we’re q***r, and we’re not going anywhere! The people united will never be defeated. 🗣️

04/11/2024

Some recent tours ☺️🌈🍂

What’s your favorite thing about fall in the Village? 😁

01/11/2024

I am so honored to be part of The Villager and Villager Express’ inaugural class of Village Block Stars! 🌟

Being recognized as a leader in the Village for my work with Christopher Street Tours is an incredible honor, and I’m deeply grateful for the chance to continue sharing stories of our LGBTQ+ ancestors who paved the way for us. It’s especially meaningful to be named alongside so many inspiring leaders in the Village who are all leading such impactful initiatives!

From the article: “One of the most iconic neighborhoods in the world, the Village sets a high bar for those who hope to carry on its esteemed legacy. Luckily, our 40 honorees are up to the task. Representing a diverse range of industries, these individuals have shaped Manhattan in ways both big and small, strengthening the community and providing a proverbial scaffolding for the next generation. From the East River to the Hudson, the Village Block Stars are making history before our eyes.” 🌈

You can read the full list by checking out the link in our story, or visiting politicsny.com. 🗞️

31/10/2024

Earlier this month, we had the honor of hosting a powerful conversation and book signing with author and activist Raquel Willis, who inspired us with her insights on intersectionality, liberation, and the ongoing fight for justice. It was so meaningful to connect with and learn from such a trailblazer in the movement. 🏳️‍⚧️

Thank you, Raquel, for joining Christopher Street Tours and our Franklin County group as the grand finale of our multi-day tour. Your words will carry with us as we continue in the work and continue paving the way forward. ✨

You can learn more about Raquel and her work in her debut memoir, The Risk It Takes to Bloom, at www.raquelwillis.com/bloom.

30/10/2024

Earlier this month, we partnered with the Close Friends Collective for a zine-making workshop with our multi-day tour group! We learned all about the history and importance of “zines” (short for magazines), a form of art with historical connections to q***r activtism, education, and storytelling. We explored historic materials and even had the chance to create our own zines to take home! ✨

A huge thanks to our friends at the Close Friends Collective for leading this interactive session and showing us the power of zines in preserving and celebrating q***r history, and also to our friends at the Bluestockings Collective for hosting this event! 🌈

28/10/2024

Sharing another highlight from our multi-day group tour: a screening of “Stonewall: The Making of a Monument” and talkback with Emmy-nominated director and filmmaker, Cheryl Furjanic. 🎞️

The documentary shared the history and significance of the Stonewall Monument, capturing the spirit and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community and the continued fight for justice. Cheryl shared behind-the-scenes insights into the making of the film and the importance of preserving LGBTQ+ history through storytelling. 🌈

A huge thank you to Cheryl for her incredible work and for giving us such an intimate look into this pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ history, and to the Stonewall Inn for hosting us. It was truly an awe-inspiring moment. ✨

27/10/2024

From NYC to Boston 📍

We had a great time on tour this week sharing the LGBTQ+ history of NYC’s Greenwich Village and Cambridge, MA! 🌈

23/10/2024

Earlier this month, our multi-day tour group had the honor of hearing from Ken Kidd, an activst, community organizer, and friend of Christopher Street Tours. 🌈

Ken shared parts of his personal story with the theme “Out, Loud, & Proud,” recounting his journey of advocacy and resilience through the decades. With over 30 years of LGBTQ+ activism, Ken offered insights into being unapologetically out, loud, and proud, while sharing rare memorabilia from the early 90s. His work with ACT UP, Q***r Nation, and more continues to inspire us all to continue paving the way forward.

Thank you, Ken, for joining us! 💖

21/10/2024

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

20/10/2024

Falling in love with these fall tours! 😍🧡🍂🫶🏼