This two-story, red brick Colonial Revival property was once the home and office of the father of gay activism, Dr. Franklin E. Kameny. It also served as a headquarters for gay civil rights organizing that eventually led to overturning the American Psychiatric Association's definition of homosexuality as a mental illness.

In Vern L. Bullough’s “Before Stonewall: Activists for Gay and Lesbian Rights in Historical Context” publication, Kameny is described as "one of the most significant figures" in the American gay rights movement. The building was designated a historic landmark in 2009 for being the epicenter of the gay rights movement in Washington, D.C.

The very first gay rights demonstration at the Pentagon was held on July 31, 1965, according to Beemyn in their book, “A Queer Capital.” Here, participants included pioneering gay rights activists John Richard “Jack” Nichols, who co-founded the Mattachine Society of Washington, and Lilli Vincenz, who was the first lesbian member of the Mattachine Society of Washington. This society that both activists were members of is known as one of the earliest gay rights organizations in the U.S. This protest at the Pentagon was also the fifth protest ever held by the society.

This former bookstore in Dupont Circle was founded in 1974 by Deacon Maccubbin, who contributed to the migration of LGBT members into the Northwest neighborhood, according to Frank Muzzy in his book, “Gay and Lesbian Washington, D.C.”

This discrete shop measured 300 square feet and contained 250 gay titles. One celebrity who held a book signing at the location in October 1985 was Andy Warhol. A year after opening, Lambda Rising outgrew the space and moved to 2001 S Street NW before later moving again to 1625 Connecticut Ave NW. In 2010, the bookstore closed.

At Calvary United Methodist Church, James Tinney, a journalism professor at Howard University, founded Faith Temple, the country’s first independent church to focus on the spiritual needs of LBGT people of color. By creating Faith Temple, Tinney hoped to create a space for LGBT people of color to celebrate Christianity.

Weekly services began in September 1982. In October 1984, the location moved to the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Downtown.

At this historic D.C. university, students formed the Lambda Student Alliance, or LSA, in October 1979. This was the first openly LGBT organization at a historically black college or university. The LSA only ended up existing for two years, but it affected the campus and local black LGBT communities with as many as 50 students attending the group’s weekly meetings.

An unknown hotel that was located next to the university was also notable. It was at this hotel that approximately 500 LGBT people of color gathered for the first National Third World Lesbian and Gay Conference in October 1979. Here, attendees stemmed from Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and the U.S. This conference was organized by the National Coalition of Black Gays and its D.C. chapter. This event was also held concurrently with the first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.

At the corner of I and 8th streets NE, this long-closed coffeehouse once served as “an informal black lesbian community center” and the headquarters for the defunct pioneer lesbian group, Sapphire Sapphos, according to Washington City Paper. Here, nationally acclaimed poet Essex Hemphill and filmmaker Michelle Parkerson showcased their works. The coffeehouse launched on New Year’s Day in 1982 by Ray Melrose, the president of the D.C. Coalition at the time. With this coffeehouse, Melrose hoped to create a social, political, and cultural space for LGBT people of color.