Despite crackdowns on Pride symbols and LGBTQ+ representation in public spaces, resilient advocates and local leaders are fighting to preserve the community’s footprint.
Whether you’re looking for places with vibrant Pride celebrations or you want to learn how LGBTQ+ histories and identities are being protected across the country, these cities are doing their part. In the destinations shared, advocates are actively fighting to preserve LGBTQ+ history and rights and pushing back against attempts at erasure.
3 Cities To Visit That Are Protecting LGBTQ+ History When It’s Under Attack
New York City
Pride celebrations, as we know them today, are the direct result of the Stonewall Riots in New York City in 1969. To commemorate the riots of the year prior, in 1970, local advocates and those in several other cities across the country held events continuing to push for LGBTQ+ rights and protections.
Today, that push continues, even in what is considered one of the most accepting cities in the world. In February, under the Trump administration, the National Park Service removed the Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. Following criticism from several local politicians and a joint lawsuit filed by preservation and nonprofit groups, a settlement was reached to rehang the flag.
San Francisco
San Francisco has the highest percentage of LGBTQ+ residents in the country and is one of the most well-established safe havens for the community. Perfect for celebrating Pride Month, the city is also rich in LGBTQ+ history and landmarks. It’s where artist Gilbert Baker created the Pride flag and where the GLBT Historical Society Museum is located. Also, it’s where Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay-identifying politicians in the U.S., was elected in 1977.
The city consistently does its part to protect its LGBTQ+ related historical sites. Back in 2019, city leaders approved the designation of the Castro District as a cultural zone. The distinction meant the area could receive additional funding and resources, according to CBS News. As a protected neighborhood, the Castro District continues to preserve its longstanding LGBTQ+ spaces, as well as rooms for its LGBTQ+ residents and small business owners. Additionally, local leaders have approved updates to Harvey Milk Plaza. By 2028, the site will include a reimagined memorial to the groundbreaking figure and better celebrate his work, legacy, and LGBTQ+ life.
Nashville
Tennessee is known for its strict laws targeting its LGBTQ+ residents and their expression. However, Nashville community members and allies steadfastly fight for LGBTQ+ rights and protections concerning everything from gender affirming care to drag performances. Moreover, related history is being preserved by institutions including Vanderbilt University and Nashville Queer History.
Back in 2019, Nashville became the first Southern city to officially recognize LGBTQ-owned businesses, making them eligible for certain government programs. The city also has a Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce to support those businesses and business owners.
The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp (via the Visit Music City website) and Nashville Pride list a variety of scheduled programming for this Pride Month. Among the latter is Nashville Pride’s annual Festival and Parade, happening June 27. The celebrations will be held despite Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee formally designating June as “Nuclear Family Month” earlier this year. Directly impacting the LGBTQ+ community, the governor’s resolution states, “The nuclear family, consisting of one husband, one wife, and any biological, adopted, or fostered children, is God’s design for familial structure and has been the bedrock of society since the creation of the world.”
