Lavender Literary Society: Marc Zinaman x Jay W. Walker

Join us for an exciting in-person book club meeting at , where Marc Zinaman and Jay W. Walker will discuss Zinaman's book . After the program, join us next door at to celebrate historic queer spaces with a free drink!

All ages are welcome for the author talk at the Visitor Center. 21+ attendees only at Stonewall Inn afterparty.

This sprawling, unique visual history of New York City’s queer spaces documents the evolution of LGBTQ+ culture, community, and activism within Manhattan’s dynamic landscape over the course of a century.

From 1920s bathhouses, drag balls, and the ascent of homophobia during World War II, to the protests and parades of the 1960s and 1970s, to the horrors of AIDS; from the vibrant nightlife scene of the 1990s to 2018’s Rainbow Wave, which saw a record number of queer elected officials in the US, to the rise of geosocial dating apps, every major milestone of LGBTQ+ social history is thoughtfully documented.

The American LGBTQ+ Museum Book Club is a space for community and connection, bridging generations through the magic of storytelling. The selections will be a mix of popular queer history and memoir with inspiring authors and iconic guest facilitators. The pages we turn will become stepping stones for intergenerational dialogue, fostering understanding, empathy, and unity. Together, we’ll traverse the landscapes of queer culture, savoring the nuances and complexities that make our stories uniquely ours. This isn’t just a book club; it’s a movement. Reading together becomes a powerful act of empowerment, a catalyst for change, and a testament to the resilience of the LGBTQ+ spirit. Participants will be a part of something extraordinary. In this book club, we won’t just read, we’ll weave the threads of our stories into a tapestry of strength, resilience, and pride.

Marc Zinaman is a New York City-based writer and historian. Since 2021, he has been running the social media account @Queer_Happened_Here, which maps the forgotten LGBTQ+ history of the city. He is the author of Queer Happened Here: 100 Years of NYC's Landmark LGBTQ+ Places (Prestel, 2025)and was the contributing editor of the book Getting In: NYC Club Flyers from the Gay 1990s (Daken Press, 2024).

Jay W. Walker is a longtime NYC Queer activist, organizer, and event producer. He is a cofounder and lead organizer of the Reclaim Pride Coalition and Queer Liberation March, and a founding member and current president of Gays Against Guns. He is also a founding and active member of Rise and Resist, the a capella, resistance "queertet" Sing Out Louise, and Hands Off NYC. Jay's writing has appeared in The Nation, The Advocate, POZ Magazine, LGBTQ Community News and numerous other NYC community publications. For the last 4 years, Jay has co-hosted of the "Gurl Stop" podcast, which he co-created. A native of Hampton, VA, Jay has lived in New York for 40 years.

Our beautiful Lavender Literary Society graphic is designed by the incredible (they/he), a multidisciplinary artist, designer, creative director, and Capricorn, drawing reimagined futures and playfulness in Los Angeles.

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. Please reach out with any questions, requests or needs to [email protected].

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center, 51 Christopher Street, New York, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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