The University of Baltimore holds the Baltimore Studies Archive which contains oral histories celebrating 35 years of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore (GLCCB). The GLCCB was a youth group and health center on West Chase street aimed to provide community, support, and healthcare. They always had a lot of participants, noting that around 50 people would show up to meetings. The GLCCB first started out as a predominantly male space, but later the gender demographics became more expansive. In 1989, the health center turned into the Chase Brexton Clinic (named after Chase and Braxton streets), branching off into its own health services platform.
To learn more about Baltimore gay history from the perspectives of GLCCB members, click here.
Bars have always acted as safe spaces for LGBTQ+ folk to express themselves and form community. Louise Parker Kelley identifies Leon’s- the oldest gay bar in Baltimore, located in Mount Vernon, which has been in operation since 1957. One member of the GLCCB even noted coming out at Leon’s. Other prominent bars include Pepper Hill, which one member of the GLCCB noted was notorious amongst heterosexual bar-goers. The Lesbian Community Center was founded in 1974 and shared an office floor with Women: a Journal of Liberation, a publication with a strong lesbian influence. The Club Hippo opened in 1972, and supported Pride Day for many years. In the 80s, Baltimore Pride became very prominent and the most “striking” figures of the gay and lesbian community would get the most visibility on the news. Baltimore was considered a “neighborhood town” which is clear in the support and community observed in queer spaces.
Kelley also points out some other notable historic queer Baltimore spots, such as the 31st Street Bookstore in Charles Village. This bookstore was formed in 1973 and had a very strong lesbian feminist presence. It closed in 1995 and is now in operation as Normal’s Bookstore. Also in Charles Village, the Wyman Park dell was the site of Pride festivals from 1988 to 1996. Later, Pride festivals moved to Druid Hill Park.
To learn more about LGBT history in Baltimore, consider exploring this book in our Arnold collection:
