2020 Walking Tour Broadens Its Reach

Like most things in 2020, this year’s Queer Walking Tour of Tidewater, a collaboration between TQHP and Old Dominion University Queer Studies students, changed a bit. Students met on Zoom this semester and were unable to rely on some of the research methods and tools that have been used in previous semesters. Nevertheless, they used a variety of digital tools including Our Own, the region’s gay and lesbian newspaper from 1976 – 1998, digitized copies of the Damron Guide, a travel guide for LGBTQ people, interviews with local LGBTQ people, and some sleuthing through social media. They used all of the tools available to them, and they did this difficult, sometimes frustrating, work during intensely stressful times for our entire country and for them personally. It was challenging, but this group of dedicated students rose to that challenge and presented the tour to participants via Zoom. After their presentations, students and community members engaged in a lively discussion of local queer history.

One exciting benefit of holding the tour virtually is that we were able to expand our geographical reach to include cities outside of Norfolk. This is the first time that any LGBTQ tour in our area has included regional coverage. The tour started near the oceanfront in Virginia Beach and then crossed the water into Hampton and Newport News. The virtual tour was also more accessible for some participants than the traditional in-person walking tour. We learned several valuable lessons from this digital experience that will enhance and update future tours in exciting ways.

https://outwire757.com/fourth-annual-hampton-roads-queer-walking-tour-goes-virtual/

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