Queer History Happened Here

Making Queer History in the Haight Visible

This project is the first of its kind for Eye Zen, as we work to create permanent fixtures of queer visibility in San Francisco’s history Haight-Ashbury.

In this political climate, it is more important than ever to not only stand for LGBTQIA+ rights, but to battle erasure, and honor the powerful, beautiful, and at times tragic stories of all of the queens, dykes, trans, and gays who came before us.

Queer History Happened Here #QHHH is a series of QR codes displayed in shops within the Haight-Ashbury Neighborhood. They link to stories that tell the rich history of places within the Haight, whether that be a list of the historic gay bars, or an interview with Peggy Casserta - owner of Mnaidska and creator of the legendary bell-bottom jeans.

This project is in tandem with Walk With Me, a self-guided audio tour of the Haights queer counterculture, that is set to be launched in Summer 2026.

Help support this project
Learn more about Walk with me
Want #qhhh displayed in your shop?
Featured
O'Reilly's Pub
O'Reilly's Pub

You're standing at 1840 Haight Street, now O'Reilly's Pub. This location represents the culmination of decades of legal battles and community organizing that transformed San Francisco into America's gay capital—a place where LGBTQ+ people could finally gather safely after generations of persecution. 1840 Haight Street embodies the courage of LGBTQ+ pioneers who transformed legal victories into vibrant community spaces where freedom, music, activism, and solidarity flourished.

Bound Together Books
Bound Together Books

Bound Together's connection with avant-garde Gay activism and vision was close and supportive due to several Collective members’ involvement in that community. From the 1970s to now the Store has hosted many speakers and events that supported a radical vision of who LGBTQ people are and what they could be.

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