This was a very informative tour and I learned a lot of Vancouver’s queer history. Glenn was an excellent storyteller and was attentive to everyone.

Amazing tour. You can tell our guide had really done a ton of research and gave accurate information. I never expected to learn so much and be so moved by the stories shared. Exceptionally well done. I would absolutely recommend if you’re even just considering it.

we took the Really Gay History Tour with Glenn and it was fabulous. He is a brilliant story teller and he chose very compelling history to share with us.

We’d taken part in the “Lost Souls of Gastown” and “Secrets of Stanley Park” tours last year. Both were excellent and we really enjoyed ourselves (see my reviews on this site). This year, we wanted to check out the “Really Gay History Tour” and finally did so near the end of October. And while we haven’t yet done ALL of Forbidden Vancouver’s walking tours, I’m going to go out on a limb and say this one is probably their best overall tour! Our guide, Glenn (with two n’s), was absolutely phenomenal! He’s a story-teller in the best sense of that word: As you zig-zag through downtown and the West End (the tour isn’t straight), he paints a beautiful picture that, while touching on the struggles for equality, is much more about the growth of our society and how we’ve become tolerant and liberated as a result. In short, the tour is a celebration of community and the passion with which Glenn tells the tale is moving, jarring, funny and beautiful. Our tour began at the Robert Lee YMCA building, which is noteworthy for a couple of reasons: First, it inspired the Village Peoples’ popular “YMCA” song (great to hear live!); and, 2) It is adjacent to ted northe Lane, which was named after, well, ted northe, a prominent LGBTQ2+ activist perhaps most well-known for showing up to protests outside the old Vancouver Courthouse – the current Vancouver Art Gallery – in full drag. northe’s efforts paid off with the passage of bill C-50 in 1969. Prime Minister Trudeau subsequently called northe and, as told by Glenn, asked to speak with “Your majesty!” After stopping within clear eyesight of the Hotel Vancouver (one of the first queer hangouts circa 1940s), we ambled near St Paul’s Hospital and talked about so-called “Patient Zero” Gaetan Dugas while concomitantly highlighting St Paul’s significant role in early HIV/AIDS patient care. From here, we ambled towards Nelson Park, which is historically significant because it functioned as the starting point for Vancouver’s early Pride Parades, the first of which began in 1978. The highlight of this stop, though? While Glenn was talking about how the early Pride Parades were dangerous affairs – with people chucking objects and debris at the participants while shouting obscenities – we were visited by “Dave Davie on Davie!” It was an awesome, albeit brief, cameo! One of the major highlights for me, oddly enough, came when we stopped at a parking lot in Davie Village. Here, Glenn told us of a building that no longer exists: It was two-storeys high, with a Korean restaurant on the lower level and, on its upper level, was a small bookstore founded by Bruce Smyth and Jim Deva in 1983: Little Sister’s. The bookstore was (and is) significant exactly because it became a sort of lightning rod for rights and equality. When it first opened over forty years ago, it was the first queer bookstore in Western Canada. It became an important gathering place; however, by 1985, the Little Sister’s was unfairly targeted by the CBSA for allegedly importing “obscene” materials (many of which were available in large chain bookstores). Then, in 1987, someone threw a bomb in the building’s stairwell. No one was killed, but the event highlights what a challenging time the 1980s were for the LGBTQ2+ community. The customs case went all the way to the Canadian Supreme court in 2000, with the court recognizing that government had violated the Canadian Charter. Indeed, Little Sister’s was punching well above its weight! Our tour concluded, appropriately, at Jim Deva Plaza, near Davie Street’s famous rainbow crosswalks. Throughout our 2-hour “parade,” Glenn enlightened us; he made us think; he made us shed a few tears; and he made us laugh at almost every turn. If you want to do a walking tour of Vancouver, make sure it is this one! You learn a lot about Vancouver’s Gay history, yes, but you also gain an understanding of how far we’ve all come and why this is both important and liberating!

History of Vancouver and its people… Hearing it for the first time how it has been, how it has evolved and how far we have changed as society….though there is always place for improvement …

It was a crisp Sunday fall morning when we met up with tour group, headed by the mesmerizing Glenn. We were going into the tour with excitement as we did not know what to expect but eager to learn more about queer history. From the very beginning, Glenn has presented himself with such expertise and openness, you can hear the passion behind the facts he was sharing with the group. The highlights and historical spots make you realize that the city never stops teaching you about human history and lessons. We can tell from how he explained information that any piece of knowledge has been thoroughly researched and fairly imparted - the happy, sad, frustrated, and violent parts contributed to a very grounded experience. There was never a dull moment and there were always giggles and laughter to lighten up some of the heavy history and the struggles of the heroes of queer history. It was nothing short of a raw and real tour that let us appreciate the triumphs of the queer community. We can truly say each LGBTQ+ has their own journey and they deserve all the kindness and respect we give as human beings. We hope lots of people get the chance on this tour as it really opens up your mind and heart that we are all one humankind. A few tips: 1. Come at least 5 minutes early to the meeting spot to check-in 2. Dress for the weather and wear comfy shoes 3. Bring water and aim to empty your bladder prior to the tour 4. Bring a Kleenex (you'll find out why during the tour) 5. Tip Glenn really good!

Glenn was an excellent tour guide-composed, knowledgeable, warm, engaging. They were the perfect facilitator for an incredibly informative, inspiring, and moving experience. I participated in the tour as part of a university course and I highly recommend the tour for other students or school groups of all ages.

The tour guide, Glenn, is very knowledgeable and well-spoken. His passion for the subject matter truly shines through, making the tour not only informative but also engaging. I definitely learned a lot and would recommend this experience to everyone!

Being a fan of walking tours we went on two during our last visit to Vancouver, The Really Gay History Tour was on Sunday Morning at 10am. We had a small group of 5 and Glenn was our story teller, guide and curator of this walking tour. There are two kinds of tour guides, those that are there to just present the material and those that are truly passionate about the material and it's presentation. Glenn is in the second group, he knows the material, he is passionate about the material and he wants to share that passion and information with his tour groups. Our tour was supposed to last 2 hours, but Glenn had so many much to share that we ran over time by about 30 minutes. Glenn has spent so much time curating this tour that I'm sure he has enough material for 8-10 hours or even more. The information provided covers the pre-colonial days up to modern times. Stops at many of the historic spots and gives you a glimpse into Vancouver's Gay History. If you are in town on Sunday morning and have a few hours to spare, it will be time well spent. Glenn will take you on an emotional, entertaining and educational journey though the Gay History of Vancouver. Suitable and Highly recommend for EVERYONE! Deserving of More than 5 Stars

I learned and laughed so much on this tour! Glenn was knowledgable, warm, frank, funny and expressive. At every stop he drew us right in, making comfortable space for questions and reflection. I will remember things I learned about our community, and the colourful maple leaves in the bright sunshine. The group was fantastic - friendly and chatty. I can't wait to try another tour!

You will laugh. You will cry. Glenn is amazing! Kudos Glenn for all of the heart and hard work you put into pulling this tour together and offering it to Vancouver.

I was really impressed by Glenn's (storyteller and guide) authentic delivery of a tour that was inclusive, educational and confronted the difficult themes in local queer history. I was especially grateful that Glenn provided a space for guests to think about queerness outside of Western perspectives and provided a comprehensive excerpt on what it actually means to be on unceded lands, which is often not fully understood. Additionally, it was great to hear that our storyteller had personally met and engaged meaningfully with some of the individuals mentioned in tour and the audience is able to learn from these first hand accounts. Hands down, loved it!

After we had an amazing tour with Glenn through Gastown during the forbidden walking experience, we had to come back and join in the really gay history tour. I was convinced the first tour was already immensely interesting and soooo well told that a second tour couldn’t possibly be that great. Well I was wrong! The really gay history tour is everything and more you could wish for. Glenn is an AMAZING storyteller and you just get pulled in by what and how he tells facts and stories. Go book this tour now!

Glenn’s tour is full of pride, history, and heart. I’m a local and I would take the tour again. Thank you, Glenn!!!

I am so glad I did this tour!!! It was so interesting/heartbreaking and inspiring. Gave life to stories that may otherwise have been forgotten! Glenn is an incredible guide and story teller. He was so warm and welcoming to everyone and made the tour such a safe and enjoyable experience!

Incredible! We went as a group of tourism professionals with a passion for story telling, and Glenn***** absolutely delivered. We had no idea what we were in for doing a walking tour in our city, and it was a resounding (and well deseved) applause from us at the end. We were blown away by the passion he expressed throughout the entire tour. His own personal research into Vancouver's LGBTQ2 history and interviews with members of the community really shown through the entire 2 hours. It was a privilege to be able to tour with him and hear some uplifting, and some horrific stories of the persecution, and ultimate reliance of this marginalized community. Thank you so much Glenn, we had a blast and your storytelling really brought the tour to life.

What a great tour guide. I didn’t know what to expect but Glenn is truly a story teller that had me enthralled in his historical and passionate storytelling experience. He truly makes this walking tour a memorable experience. Anyone interested in history any history could benefit from this tour. You don’t have to be part of an orientation to benefit. Glenn surely is colourful and fun. Thank you.

Before this tour, I knew almost nothing about Queer history in Vancouver. Thanks to Glenn, I now know a lot more. Glenn is an incredible storyteller who takes you through some of Vancouver's Queer history. I will definitely be recommending this tour to others.

Here from Australia and wanted to learn about Vancouver’s queer history. Thanks Glenn for a fabulously fascinating tour!!

I’ve been a solo traveler and participated in numerous walking tours in my life. They have all been fun and informative, but none has been as inspirational, touching, and sobering as The Really Gay History Tour expertly curated and guided by Glenn. This an event organized by our office's Pride Employee Resource Group (ERG). What a great way to connect with colleagues, learn, and get inspired together! Glenn has conducted deep archival research and interviewed numerous people in the LGBTQ+ community as he developed this tour. In his masterful storytelling, we learned about the history and intimate stories about the oppression this community has endured by our regulators, health care system, and other members of our larger community. We also learned how their fight for the right to be themselves, to love, live and work normally, something many of us take for granted, has led to more freedom and equality for our society as a whole. What gives me hope is the pivotal roles some government officials and church leaders played in supporting their fight. And I hope their contemporaries continue to make their leadership positions count by continuing to support our marginalized communities. I'd highly recommend this tour to anyone!