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Created by Dale Tegman Updated On: July 21, 2012
LGBT folks are the first affinity group in history to electively transcend class, ethnicity, race, religion, sex, and gender lines. This is a walking tour of sites important to our community.
Historic and Protected Site · Castro · 19 tips and reviews
Dale Tegman: This flag was sewn by artist Gilbert Baker to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the flag in 2008. Baker designed the first pride flag in 1978. The original flag included turquoise and pink stripes.
Dale Tegman: In the entrance to the MUNI you can see plaques commemorating the life of Harvey Milk who began many of his famous marches on City Hall here at the square.
Dale Tegman: Commemorates LGBT persons massacred during World War II. While the garments of Jews in concentration camps were marked with yellow stars of David, gays had theirs marked with pink triangles.
429 Castro St (btwn 18th & Market), San Francisco, CA
Indie Movie Theater · Castro · 118 tips and reviews
Dale Tegman: A rep house with a massive pipe organ. Still played every night before screenings! In the 60s and 70s, the dark, vertiginous balcony allowed men to kiss and touch in relative safety and comfort.
Dale Tegman: Site of the original Toad Hall. Toad was one of the first dance clubs catering to gay men and one of the first clubs with live DJs. Between 1971 and 74, Toad Hall was four times destroyed by fire.
American Restaurant · Castro · 96 tips and reviews
Dale Tegman: The former site of the Elephant Walk, a "sweater bar". As recently as 1994, men would stand around a piano and sing along to show tunes. You can still see frosted glass elephants on some windows.
100 Collingwood St (btw 18th St & 19th St), San Francisco, CA
Playground · Castro · 7 tips and reviews
Dale Tegman: Around Collingwood Park, men used to line up at night, waiting to be picked up for sex by other men driving around the block in cars. After bar time, "The Meat Rack" would stretch down 18th St!
Dale Tegman: The site of the old Castro Camera store. It was here that many LGBT people first registered to vote and it was twice headquarters for Harvey Milk's Supervisory campaigns.