Guide
9 Sites That Commemorate America's LGBTQ+ History
From private homes to bookstores and places of worship, the LGBTQ+ history of the United States lives on in everyday spaces where people of all races, faiths, and professions have gathered, organized and built community. Some lived openly; others were forced to hide their identities. The nine sites in this guide offer a glimpse into the diverse places where queer people have challenged injustice and created lasting legacies. Spanning regions and historic eras, they remind us that the LGBTQ+ community has always been part of—and has actively shaped—the American story.
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Photo By: Robert Pohl
The Furies Collective House (Washington, D.C.)
In the early 1970s, a group of 12 feminist lesbian separatists who called themselves “The Furies Collective” gathered at 219 11th Street SE in Washington, D.C. From this two-story row house, now known as The Furies Collective House, they published a newspaper, "The Furies: Lesbian/Feminist Monthly." Though short-lived, the paper and the women behind it had a significant impact on lesbian thought, culture, and activism in the United States. Still a private residence, in 2024, the National Park Service designated the house a National Historic Landmark.
Learn More
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Photo By: Bob Smith at http://www.bobsmith.photography/
Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni's Room (Philadelphia, PA)
Giovanni’s Room in Philadelphia, established in 1973, is the oldest surviving LGBTQ+ and feminist bookstore in the United States. Named after James Baldwin’s iconic gay novel and designated as historic by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, it has long served as a welcoming space for the queer community, offering a wide selection of LGBTQ+ literature. The original store closed in 2014 and was revitalized by the nonprofit Philly AIDS Thrift. Today, it operates as Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni’s Room, continuing its legacy by selling new and used books, supporting HIV/AIDS services, and hosting events that foster connection.
Learn More
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Photo By: Floto & Warner/Alice Austen House
Alice Austen House (New York City, NY)
The longtime home of Alice Austen—one of the first female photographers in the U.S.—is located in the Staten Island borough of New York City. Born in 1866, Austen and her life partner, Gertrude Tate, spent 30 of their 53 years together in the house, which is now part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios program. In addition to the approximately 7,000 photos she took of turn-of-the-century New York City, Austen captured rare depictions of female relationships in the Victorian era. Intended for private viewing, these photos offer a rare window into queer female life at a time when it was rarely documented.
Learn More
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Photo By: Arlington Street Church
Arlington Street Church (Boston, MA)
The first legally recognized same-sex marriage in the U.S. took place on May 17, 2004, when David Wilson and Robert Compton exchanged vows at Arlington Street Church in Boston, a Unitarian Universalist church. In 1971, the congregation notably rang its steeple bells in celebration of Boston’s first Pride parade and has welcomed numerous LGBTQ+ rights groups into its space over the years.
Learn More
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Photo By: Courtesy of the Ferguson Student Center at the University of Alabama
The University of Alabama Student Center (Tuscaloosa, AL)
In 1993, approximately 50 students who belonged to an LGBTQ+ group known as Seen and Heard gathered outside the Ferguson Student Union at the University of Alabama’s Tuscaloosa campus and engaged in what they called a queer “kiss-off,” using public affection as a form of protest. (The building is now officially known as the University of Alabama Student Center.) The bold and unconventional demonstration sparked strong reactions and widespread discussion. Coverage in "The Crimson White", the university’s student newspaper, fueled broader dialogue around LGBTQ+ rights.
Learn More
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Photo By: Steve Crecelius
Center on Colfax (Denver, CO)
In the 1970s, activists in Denver united to protest police harassment of gay men at local bars. Out of those efforts emerged a community center, now the Center of Colfax, which for 50 years has offered services such as job training and youth programs. The Center actively documents and preserves the state’s queer history through initiatives like the Colorado LGBTQ History Project, which includes a robust collection of oral histories. Each year, the Center helps organize Denver PrideFest, one of the largest Pride celebrations in the region.
Learn More
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Photo By: Y.A. Studios
The Lyon-Martin House (San Francisco, CA)
The former home of Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin—influential lesbian rights pioneers who purchased it in 1955—the Lyon-Martin House in San Francisco stands as a crucial site in LGBTQ+ history. It served as the location for meetings that shaped decades of advocacy for marriage equality, anti-discrimination policies, and feminist causes. The house became the birthplace of the Daughters of Bilitis, the country’s first lesbian civil rights organization, and the headquarters of "The Ladder," the first national lesbian magazine. In 2004, Lyon and Martin became the first same-sex couple to marry in San Francisco, remarrying in 2008 when it became legal in California.
Learn More
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Photo By: @HollywoodUMC
Hollywood United Methodist Church (Hollywood, CA)
The Hollywood United Methodist Church has a long history of inclusivity and activism, particularly during the HIV/AIDS crisis. In 1993, in response to widespread discrimination against gay men, the church displayed a large red ribbon on its bell tower on World AIDS Day in support of the gay community and a tribute to those lost to the epidemic. HUMC also assisted individuals affected by HIV/AIDS by preparing meals and accompanying them to medical appointments. The church became a hub for the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and famously hosted the funeral of activist Pedro Zamora in 1994.
Learn More
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Gaiety Hollow Home & Gardens (Salem, OR)
Edith Schryver and Elizabeth Lord forged a remarkable path as landscape architects, co-founding Lord & Schryver in Salem, Oregon, in 1929. The two women lived and worked together for more than 40 years, creating as many as 250 public and private gardens throughout the Pacific Northwest. Though they never publicly identified as a couple—a reflection of the time—their partnership is considered a queer relationship. Their Salem home, known today as the Gaiety Hollow Home & Gardens, is on the National Historic Register.
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Nathalie Alonso is a freelance journalist and children's author based in New York City. Her work has appeared in National Geographic, Outside, Refinery29 and TIME for Kids. She holds a B.A. in American studies from Columbia University.
9 Sites That Commemorate America's LGBTQ+ History
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1
The Furies Collective House (Washington, D.C.)
In the early 1970s, a group of 12 feminist lesbian separatists who called themselves “The Furies Collective” gathered at 219 11th Street SE in Washington, D.C. From this two-story row house, now known as The Furies Collective House, they published a newspaper, "The Furies: Lesbian/Feminist Monthly." Though short-lived, the paper and the women behind it had a significant impact on lesbian thought, culture, and activism in the United States. Still a private residence, in 2024, the National Park Service designated the house a National Historic Landmark. -
2
Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni's Room (Philadelphia, PA)
Giovanni’s Room in Philadelphia, established in 1973, is the oldest surviving LGBTQ+ and feminist bookstore in the United States. Named after James Baldwin’s iconic gay novel and designated as historic by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, it has long served as a welcoming space for the queer community, offering a wide selection of LGBTQ+ literature. The original store closed in 2014 and was revitalized by the nonprofit Philly AIDS Thrift. Today, it operates as Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni’s Room, continuing its legacy by selling new and used books, supporting HIV/AIDS services, and hosting events that foster connection. -
3
Alice Austen House (New York City, NY)
The longtime home of Alice Austen—one of the first female photographers in the U.S.—is located in the Staten Island borough of New York City. Born in 1866, Austen and her life partner, Gertrude Tate, spent 30 of their 53 years together in the house, which is now part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios program. In addition to the approximately 7,000 photos she took of turn-of-the-century New York City, Austen captured rare depictions of female relationships in the Victorian era. Intended for private viewing, these photos offer a rare window into queer female life at a time when it was rarely documented. -
4
Arlington Street Church (Boston, MA)
The first legally recognized same-sex marriage in the U.S. took place on May 17, 2004, when David Wilson and Robert Compton exchanged vows at Arlington Street Church in Boston, a Unitarian Universalist church. In 1971, the congregation notably rang its steeple bells in celebration of Boston’s first Pride parade and has welcomed numerous LGBTQ+ rights groups into its space over the years. -
5
The University of Alabama Student Center (Tuscaloosa, AL)
In 1993, approximately 50 students who belonged to an LGBTQ+ group known as Seen and Heard gathered outside the Ferguson Student Union at the University of Alabama’s Tuscaloosa campus and engaged in what they called a queer “kiss-off,” using public affection as a form of protest. (The building is now officially known as the University of Alabama Student Center.) The bold and unconventional demonstration sparked strong reactions and widespread discussion. Coverage in "The Crimson White", the university’s student newspaper, fueled broader dialogue around LGBTQ+ rights. -
6
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Center on Colfax (Denver, CO)
In the 1970s, activists in Denver united to protest police harassment of gay men at local bars. Out of those efforts emerged a community center, now the Center of Colfax, which for 50 years has offered services such as job training and youth programs. The Center actively documents and preserves the state’s queer history through initiatives like the Colorado LGBTQ History Project, which includes a robust collection of oral histories. Each year, the Center helps organize Denver PrideFest, one of the largest Pride celebrations in the region. -
7
The Lyon-Martin House (San Francisco, CA)
The former home of Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin—influential lesbian rights pioneers who purchased it in 1955—the Lyon-Martin House in San Francisco stands as a crucial site in LGBTQ+ history. It served as the location for meetings that shaped decades of advocacy for marriage equality, anti-discrimination policies, and feminist causes. The house became the birthplace of the Daughters of Bilitis, the country’s first lesbian civil rights organization, and the headquarters of "The Ladder," the first national lesbian magazine. In 2004, Lyon and Martin became the first same-sex couple to marry in San Francisco, remarrying in 2008 when it became legal in California. -
8
Hollywood United Methodist Church (Hollywood, CA)
The Hollywood United Methodist Church has a long history of inclusivity and activism, particularly during the HIV/AIDS crisis. In 1993, in response to widespread discrimination against gay men, the church displayed a large red ribbon on its bell tower on World AIDS Day in support of the gay community and a tribute to those lost to the epidemic. HUMC also assisted individuals affected by HIV/AIDS by preparing meals and accompanying them to medical appointments. The church became a hub for the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and famously hosted the funeral of activist Pedro Zamora in 1994. -
9
Gaiety Hollow Home & Gardens (Salem, OR)
Edith Schryver and Elizabeth Lord forged a remarkable path as landscape architects, co-founding Lord & Schryver in Salem, Oregon, in 1929. The two women lived and worked together for more than 40 years, creating as many as 250 public and private gardens throughout the Pacific Northwest. Though they never publicly identified as a couple—a reflection of the time—their partnership is considered a queer relationship. Their Salem home, known today as the Gaiety Hollow Home & Gardens, is on the National Historic Register.
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1
The Furies Collective House (Washington, D.C.)
In the early 1970s, a group of 12 feminist lesbian separatists who called themselves “The Furies Collective” gathered at 219 11th Street SE in Washington, D.C. From this two-story row house, now known as The Furies Collective House, they published a newspaper, "The Furies: Lesbian/Feminist Monthly." Though short-lived, the paper and the women behind it had a significant impact on lesbian thought, culture, and activism in the United States. Still a private residence, in 2024, the National Park Service designated the house a National Historic Landmark. -
2
Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni's Room (Philadelphia, PA)
Giovanni’s Room in Philadelphia, established in 1973, is the oldest surviving LGBTQ+ and feminist bookstore in the United States. Named after James Baldwin’s iconic gay novel and designated as historic by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, it has long served as a welcoming space for the queer community, offering a wide selection of LGBTQ+ literature. The original store closed in 2014 and was revitalized by the nonprofit Philly AIDS Thrift. Today, it operates as Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni’s Room, continuing its legacy by selling new and used books, supporting HIV/AIDS services, and hosting events that foster connection. -
3
Alice Austen House (New York City, NY)
The longtime home of Alice Austen—one of the first female photographers in the U.S.—is located in the Staten Island borough of New York City. Born in 1866, Austen and her life partner, Gertrude Tate, spent 30 of their 53 years together in the house, which is now part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios program. In addition to the approximately 7,000 photos she took of turn-of-the-century New York City, Austen captured rare depictions of female relationships in the Victorian era. Intended for private viewing, these photos offer a rare window into queer female life at a time when it was rarely documented. -
4
Arlington Street Church (Boston, MA)
The first legally recognized same-sex marriage in the U.S. took place on May 17, 2004, when David Wilson and Robert Compton exchanged vows at Arlington Street Church in Boston, a Unitarian Universalist church. In 1971, the congregation notably rang its steeple bells in celebration of Boston’s first Pride parade and has welcomed numerous LGBTQ+ rights groups into its space over the years. -
5
The University of Alabama Student Center (Tuscaloosa, AL)
In 1993, approximately 50 students who belonged to an LGBTQ+ group known as Seen and Heard gathered outside the Ferguson Student Union at the University of Alabama’s Tuscaloosa campus and engaged in what they called a queer “kiss-off,” using public affection as a form of protest. (The building is now officially known as the University of Alabama Student Center.) The bold and unconventional demonstration sparked strong reactions and widespread discussion. Coverage in "The Crimson White", the university’s student newspaper, fueled broader dialogue around LGBTQ+ rights. -
6
Center on Colfax (Denver, CO)
In the 1970s, activists in Denver united to protest police harassment of gay men at local bars. Out of those efforts emerged a community center, now the Center of Colfax, which for 50 years has offered services such as job training and youth programs. The Center actively documents and preserves the state’s queer history through initiatives like the Colorado LGBTQ History Project, which includes a robust collection of oral histories. Each year, the Center helps organize Denver PrideFest, one of the largest Pride celebrations in the region. -
7
The Lyon-Martin House (San Francisco, CA)
The former home of Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin—influential lesbian rights pioneers who purchased it in 1955—the Lyon-Martin House in San Francisco stands as a crucial site in LGBTQ+ history. It served as the location for meetings that shaped decades of advocacy for marriage equality, anti-discrimination policies, and feminist causes. The house became the birthplace of the Daughters of Bilitis, the country’s first lesbian civil rights organization, and the headquarters of "The Ladder," the first national lesbian magazine. In 2004, Lyon and Martin became the first same-sex couple to marry in San Francisco, remarrying in 2008 when it became legal in California. -
8
Hollywood United Methodist Church (Hollywood, CA)
The Hollywood United Methodist Church has a long history of inclusivity and activism, particularly during the HIV/AIDS crisis. In 1993, in response to widespread discrimination against gay men, the church displayed a large red ribbon on its bell tower on World AIDS Day in support of the gay community and a tribute to those lost to the epidemic. HUMC also assisted individuals affected by HIV/AIDS by preparing meals and accompanying them to medical appointments. The church became a hub for the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and famously hosted the funeral of activist Pedro Zamora in 1994. -
9
Gaiety Hollow Home & Gardens (Salem, OR)
Edith Schryver and Elizabeth Lord forged a remarkable path as landscape architects, co-founding Lord & Schryver in Salem, Oregon, in 1929. The two women lived and worked together for more than 40 years, creating as many as 250 public and private gardens throughout the Pacific Northwest. Though they never publicly identified as a couple—a reflection of the time—their partnership is considered a queer relationship. Their Salem home, known today as the Gaiety Hollow Home & Gardens, is on the National Historic Register.