Preserving LGBTQ+ history through storytelling: A conversation with Christopher Street Tours

“My hope is that tour participants see themselves reflected in this history, and see that it's possible to make positive social change in their own communities.”

Michael Venturiello
Founder

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Some stories live in books. Others live in the streets where history happened.

For Michael Venturiello, founder of Christopher Street Tours, preserving LGBTQ+ history means bringing people directly to the places where generations of activists, artists, advocates, and community members helped shape the movement. 

Through walking tours, events, and speaking engagements, Christopher Street Tours brings LGBTQ+ history to life in the places where it happened.

As Michael explains, “Sharing LGBTQ+ history and telling LGBTQ+ stories is an act of resistance and an act of resilience.”

Christopher Street Tours joins a growing community of operators creating meaningful experiences through storytelling and connection.

From research project to LGBTQ+ history organization

When Michael moved to New York City in 2016, he aspired to become a writer. At the time, he was working on an LGBTQ+ historical fiction novel centered on the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. Around the same time, he became involved with ACT UP, the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, where he was deeply inspired by the stories of activists fighting for change.

As part of his research, Michael wanted to experience a walking tour of Greenwich Village focused on LGBTQ+ history. To his surprise, he couldn’t find an LGBTQ+-owned tour company offering year-round tours of the neighborhood.

So he began creating one himself.

Initially, he shared the tour with friends and community members while deepening his own understanding of queer history.

Over time, interest grew, and in 2018, Christopher Street Tours officially launched.

Today, the company offers tours, events, and speaking engagements focused on LGBTQ+ history.

“I am a nerd at heart,” Michael says. “I simply wanted to learn as much queer history as possible.”

Walking through living history

For many visitors, places like the Stonewall Inn and Christopher Street are important landmarks. For Michael, they are living reminders that history is still unfolding. Every time he leads a group through Greenwich Village, he feels connected not only to the stories of the past but also to the people experiencing them in the present.

“When I would personally visit these spaces, the Stonewall Inn, Christopher Street, the NYC AIDS Memorial, I felt a pulsating buzz humming through my chest,” he says. “The spaces beg to have their stories told.”

At the start of each experience, Michael reminds guests that LGBTQ+ history isn’t something confined to textbooks.

“Queer history is not over,” he says. “It’s not some closed chapter in a history book.”

Much of the history shared on tour took place within the last 60 years, making it both recent and deeply relevant today.

“My hope is always that people feel inspired and empowered to continue paving the way forward,” he says. “My hope is that tour participants see themselves reflected in this history, and see that it’s possible to make positive social change in their own communities.”

Why representation matters

While the tours are educational, they are also deeply personal.

Guests arrive seeking history, connection, understanding, and representation.

He’s hosted parents of transgender children who wanted to become better allies. Student Gay-Straight Alliances learning their own history for the first time. Families celebrating LGBTQ+ loved ones. Visitors who become emotional while standing at the NYC AIDS Memorial, remembering friends and family members they’ve lost.

Some guests express joy simply because they could hold hands openly during the tour, something they could never safely do in their home countries. Others take photos of the Pride flags around Stonewall because visible symbols of LGBTQ+ acceptance are rare where they live.

“Identity-based tours are so unique and so special, because guests are learning their own history while simultaneously building and being surrounded by community,” he says. “Every single tour is meaningful, and reminds me of why I do this work, and why this work matters.”

Creating experiences where guests feel seen, represented, and welcomed is increasingly important for tour operators looking to build stronger connections with their communities.

Preserving stories through research and community

Authenticity has always been central to Christopher Street Tours.Michael says the tours are built on two primary foundations: research and stories.

“So much of queer history is oral history,” he explains.

Because LGBTQ+ stories were often excluded from traditional historical records, personal accounts and community storytelling remain critical tools for preserving that history. Michael intentionally incorporates those perspectives into his tours, ensuring guests hear not only what happened, but how people experienced those moments.

As LGBTQ+ history continues to evolve, Christopher Street Tours evolves alongside it. New developments, cultural conversations, and current events often become part of the experience. When changes were made to LGBTQ+ representation at Stonewall National Monument, for example, Michael felt it was important to discuss those developments with guests because they represent history unfolding in real time.

“As LGBTQ+ history continues to evolve, so will our tour.”

What tour operators can learn from Christopher Street Tours

Christopher Street Tours may focus on LGBTQ+ history, but Michael believes the lessons behind building meaningful experiences apply to operators in every category.

His advice is simple: “To make a meaningful impact within a community, start within the community.”

Before launching Christopher Street Tours, Michael spent time speaking with local business owners, community members, activists, and storytellers. Those conversations helped shape the tour into something larger than a collection of historical facts.

For operators looking to create experiences that resonate with guests, he recommends listening first. Schedule coffee meetings. Ask questions. Learn from local voices. Understand the stories that make a place unique.By doing so, operators can create experiences that feel authentic, foster connection, and leave a lasting impact on visitors.

Supporting a growing mission

As Christopher Street Tours grew, Michael needed tools that could support that growth while maintaining a positive guest experience.

“FareHarbor helped turn a small ‘passion project’ into a fully developed business,” he says.

Today, FareHarbor powers the booking experience for Christopher Street Tours, allowing Michael and his team to focus on what matters most: sharing stories, building community, and preserving LGBTQ+ history for future generations.

Keeping the stories alive

For Michael, the work of preserving LGBTQ+ history ultimately comes down to visibility. History helps people understand where they come from and see themselves reflected in stories that too often go untold.

“Seeing yourself represented, in general, but in this case, in history, is life-changing and life-saving,” Michael says. “The fact that I can do that now for others, at any stage in their learning journey, is truly one of my greatest honors in this lifetime.”

Through every tour, every story, and every conversation, Christopher Street Tours helps ensure those histories remain visible, accessible, and alive for generations to come.