This virtual “walking” tour will take visitors through the history of the LGBTQ+ community in the West End, primarily around the North Slope neighborhood. From the late nineteenth century onward, this neighborhood was a hub for LGBTQ+ people in Boston, even when much of their history and activities flew under the radar. This area featured speakeasies, raids, Boston marriages, early publication of queer literature, famous gay bars, and AIDS epidemic protests. This tour will focus on the faces and places of the queer community in the West End and how they shifted over time.

The West End Museum is dedicated to telling the story of Boston’s West End neighborhood. The Museum provides a space for past and present residents and the community; educates the public in history and urbanization; and preserves its material history and culture. The Museum seeks to challenge citizens to take an active role in shaping their communities.

Emma Beckman will be giving the “tour” portion. She is a Public History Master’s student at Northeastern University. Research Intern at WEM via the Reckonings Project.

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This event is open to the public with a suggested donation of $10.

RSVP on Eventbrite, link to the Zoom will be sent out the day of the event. Email info@historyproject.org with any questions. For security purposes, Zoom meetings require an authenticated Zoom account, so please be sure to register with Zoom prior to the event.

Any donations made support The History Project’s mission to document, preserve, and share LGBTQ history and The West End Museum. Thank you for your support!