In 1970, the year following the Stonewall Uprising, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles and other cities held inaugural Pride marches. And this year, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of these parades and their work to inspire a growing activist movement. Since its 2001 founding, Orbitz has marched in lockstep with the LGBTQ+ community via countless parades, TV spots, and through the support of LGBTQ+ charities. And while many Pride events have gone virtual this year, our community commitment remains steadfast. Even if we won’t be cheering on our favorite floats, we can still celebrate. Show your Pride all year long by visiting some of these LGBTQ+ landmarks, monuments and hangouts using the guide below.

Note: All travel is subject to frequently changing governmental restrictions—please check federal, state and local advisories before scheduling trips.

Popular New York LGBTQ+ Sites

Stonewall National Monument

The Stonewall Inn, the site of the 1969 riots that sparked the modern LGBTQ rights movement, is now part of a 7.7-acre monument devoted to LGBTQ history. Enjoy Christopher Park year around!

James Baldwin residence

This Upper West Side building is where Baldwin, a gay man of color and famed writer, speaker and intellectual giant lived for more than 20 years. It’s under consideration to be added to the National Registry of Historic Places.

LGBT Memorial

Located within Hudson River Park, this collection of boulders modified with laminated glass to reflect a rainbow prism was created to recognize those lost in the 2016 Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando.

Jacob Riis Park

It’s appropriate that this queer beach is in Queens—it’s beloved by all the queens! It’s also the beach most likely to attract the full color of the LGBTQ rainbow—socially safe distancing, of course.

Popular Chicago LGBTQ+ Sites

Legacy Walk

The rainbow-ringed pylons lining North Halsted Street officially designate Boystown as an LGBTQ ‘hood. They also honor queer icons via biographical placards placed upon each.

Honorary street signs

They’re all over town and pay tribute to notable Chicagoans, including queer pioneers like gay leatherman Chuck Renslow and lesbian playwright Lorraine Hansberry.

Logan Square

The city’s hippest ‘hood (aka Logan’s Queer) is home to Lori Lightfoot, Chicago’s first openly lesbian mayor of color who lives on Wrightwood Avenue and enjoys local hangouts like Lula Café and Reno.

AIDS Garden

This 2.5-acre park located in a historic LGBTQ hangout in the Lakeview neighborhood is still under construction, but its 30-foot Keith Haring sculpture “Self Portrait” was unveiled last autumn.

Popular San Francisco LGBTQ+ Sites

575 Castro Street

The site where LGBTQ city councilman and activist Harvey Milk once owned a camera shop is now marked by a plaque and a mural of Milk wearing a T-shirt that reads, “You gotta give ‘em hope.”

Castro Theatre

A city icon and neighborhood marker, no visit to San Francisco is complete without taking the requisite selfie outside this landmark movie palace.

Gene Compton Cafeteria Way

Compton’s Cafeteria was a transgender hangout that in 1966 became the site of one of the first LGBTQ riots in the country. A plaque at Taylor and Turk streets commemorates the event.

Dolores Park

This Mission neighborhood park is the queer place to be on warm weekends. Even better, it’s currently marked with large circle outlines to encourage safe social distancing.

Popular Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Sites

Mattachine Steps

The Mattachine Society was the first lasting LGBTQ rights organization in the country. The Mattachine Steps, in queer-friendly Silver Lake, are named for cofounder Harry Hay.

Venice Pride Flag Lifeguard Tower

A rainbow-colored lifeguard tower in the heart of Venice Beach affirms the neighborhood’s openness to everyone, and has become its newest Instagram attraction.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Many queer celebs, from closeted stars of the golden age to today’s drag icons (“Sashay away”) have a star on the Walk of Fame. Maybe your name will be added one day!

Richfield Oil (aka Golden Tip)

If you’ve been binging Netflix, you know all about this LA gas station where hunky attendants pumped more than just gas. Located at 5777 Hollywood Blvd, the site is now a fire station.

Popular Washington DC LGBTQ+ Sites

Supreme Court of the United States

On June 26, 2015 the court held in a 5–4 decision that the Fourteenth Amendment requires all states to grant and recognize same-sex marriages. So yeah, go ahead and steal a kiss in front of the building!

The White House

Numerous LGBTQ protests have been staged out front, including an early picketing in 1965, and also five National Marches on Washington in 1979, 1987, 1993, 2000 and 2009.

Frank E. Kameny Residence

Recognized for his LGBTQ activism, Kameny lived in a Colonial Revival home that also served as headquarters for organizing. In 2009 it was declared a historic landmark.

The Furies Collective

Now a private residence, this Capitol Hill row house on the National Registry of Historic Places once housed the Furies, a lesbian separatist collective who printed a newspaper in the home’s basement.

More LGBTQ travel inspiration

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