3 Gay Things to See in NYC

Padma (she/her)

This summer, I got the opportunity to visit New York City as part of my internship. Though I spent most of the summer working remotely, I used my one week in New York to see as much as I could. Along with my cousin Astro, I visited three really cool sites in NYC, which historically, was one of the first places in America to develop its own gay culture. If you ever get a chance, here are three places to learn more about gay history and see some cool things! 

       1. Stonewall Bar and Monument​

Located in Greenwich Village, The Stonewall Bar is the site of the original stonewall riots of 1969, started by Black trans women and led by Marsha P Johnson. This riot started as a result of years of policing, shutting down gay bars, and overall discrimination against LGBTQ+ people throughout America. Today, you can still visit the Stonewall Bar, which is up and running. The first floor has a more relaxed environment with a typical bar, pool table, etc. Upstairs has a club feel, and it hosts drag shows multiple nights a week. My cousin and I were lucky enough to see drag queen Prada G Major when we visited, and she performed amazingly! Across the street, there is a Stonewall National Monument, with information about the original riots and the importance of them. Overall, it’s a great spot to have a fun night out, but also to appreciate the history of gay culture in America. 

Outside of the Stonewall Inn.

       2. Museum of Sex

A pretty eccentric place to visit, the Sex Museum in NoMad was surprisingly fun. Here I learned about sex practices in America dating back to the 18th century, with all sorts of contraptions, old media, and art. Within the museum there was a lot of information about LGBTQ+ history in common practice and in popular culture. Although the ticket was a bit pricey for a museum, it really was a unique experience. There were a ton of sexual artifacts that you could learn about, and one floor was a dedicated art exhibit. Many exhibits were interactive, and it was one of the first places I saw sex talked about so openly. At the end, there were a ton of fun games to participate in, all with overt sexual tones. ​

Boob bouncy house.

       3. Brooklyn Market

Although the Brooklyn Market in Dumbo isn’t overtly gay, after sifting through some of the vendors you can find interesting pieces of media made by and for queer people. I found some from gay books and postcards from the 1980s, which were really fun to see. There are also a ton of vintage clothes, cameras, antiques, etc. which I just have a feeling the gays will love :D ​

Brooklyn Market (during Pride Month!)