THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
 
 
 
 
 
 
46 entries match your criteria.  

 
 

Rainbow Honor Walk Historical Markers

A series of LGBT and related historical markers set into the sidewalk in San Francisco's Castro District.
 
By Andrew Ruppenstein, December 13, 2023
Audre Lorde Marker - wide view
1 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, Duboce Triangle — Audre Lorde — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Market Street, on the right when traveling west.
Audre Lorde (1934-1992) American writer, political activist, and self-described black feminist lesbian mother warrior poet, whose work confronted racism, sexism and homophobia — — Map (db m237817) HM
2 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, Duboce Triangle — Barbara Jordan — (1936-1996) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Market Street east of Castro Street, on the right when traveling west.
Noted politician and civil rights leader, widely considered to be the first openly lesbian representative elected to the United States Congress — — Map (db m120172) HM
3 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, Duboce Triangle — Divine — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Market Street at Noe Street, on the right when traveling west on Market Street.
Divine (1945-1988) Singer and actor whose exceptional magnetism, radical artistry and flamboyant drag persona celebrated queer culture in film and theatrical appearances — — Map (db m237780) HM
4 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, Duboce Triangle — Fereydoun Farrokhzad — (1938-1992) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Market Street at Castro Street, on the right when traveling west on Market Street.
. . . — — Map (db m120372) HM
5 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, Duboce Triangle — Josephine Baker — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Market Street, on the right when traveling west.
Josephine Baker (1906-1975) African-American born French dancer, singer, actress, Resistance fighter and world-famous entertainer who refused to perform for segregated audiences — — Map (db m186406) HM
6 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, Duboce Triangle — Kiyoshi Kuromiya — (1943-2000) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Market Street near Castro Street, on the right when traveling west.
Japanese-Americas human rights activist and founder of the Critical Path Project, one of the earliest resources for information about HIV research and treatment — — Map (db m120181) HM
7 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, Duboce Triangle — Lou Sullivan — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Market Street south of 16th Street, on the right when traveling west.
Lou Sullivan (1951-1991) Transgender historian and activist who challenged the denial of medical treatment to trans people who would be gay or lesbian after gender transition — — Map (db m186313) HM
8 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, Duboce Triangle — Marie Equi — (1872-1952) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Market Street at Noe Street, on the right when traveling west on Market Street.
American physician and political radical who fought for peace, an eight-hour workday, women's suffrage and their right to birth control — — Map (db m187158) HM
9 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, Duboce Triangle — Quentin Crisp — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Market Street, on the right when traveling west.
Quentin Crisp (1908-1999) Writer, lecturer and raconteur whose flamboyance and caustic wit attracted public interest in his views about social manners, style and conformity — — Map (db m238009) HM
Paid Advertisement
10 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, Duboce Triangle — Sally Ride — (1951-2012) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Market Street at Castro Street, on the right when traveling west on Market Street.
Physicist and astronaut, the first American woman in space, where as a mission specialist she helped to launch satellites and conduct scientific experiments Sally Ride — — Map (db m120150) HM
11 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, Duboce Triangle — W.H. Auden — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Market Street east of Noe Street, on the right when traveling west.
Anglo-American poet whose brilliant insights, political engagement and unsurpassed technical virtuosity in nearly every verse form influenced a generation of writers — — Map (db m187043) HM
12 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, Eureka Valley — Bayard Rustin — (1912-1987) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On 19th Street, on the right when traveling east on 19th Street.
African-American civil rights activist credited as the chief organizer of the watershed 1963 March on Washington and advocate for gay and lesbian causes — — Map (db m186766) HM
13 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, Eureka Valley — Del Martin — (1921-2008) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On 19th Street west of Castro Street, on the left when traveling west.
American feminist, civil rights activist and cofounder of the Daughters of Bilitis, the first social and political organization for lesbians in the United States. — — Map (db m186782) HM
14 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Alan Turing — (1912-1954) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
Near Castro Street south of 18th Street.
British cryptanalyst, logician, philosopher and mathematician widely recognized as a pioneer of artificial intelligence and the father of computer science Alan Turing — — Map (db m98105) HM
15 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Allen Ginsberg — (1926-1997) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Castro Street near 18th Street, on the left when traveling north.
Renowned poet, leading figure of the Beat Generation of American writers and artists, champion of freedom of expression and sexual self-determination. — — Map (db m99801) HM
16 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Alvin Ailey — (1931-1989) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Market Street at 16th Street, on the right when traveling east on Market Street.
American dancer and choreographer who drew upon his black cultural heritage to revolutionize African-American participation in 20th century performance — — Map (db m186789) HM
17 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Bob A. Ross — (1934-2003) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Castro Street at 18th Street, on the right when traveling south on Castro Street.
Pioneer in gay journalism, co-founder and longtime publisher of the Bay Area Reporter, president of the Tavern Guild and Meals on Wheels, Emperor VII of the Imperial Court — — Map (db m308839) HM
18 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Chavela Vargas — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Market Street, on the right when traveling east.
. . . — — Map (db m186361) HM
19 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Christine Jorgensen — (1926-1989) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Castro Street near 19th Street, on the left when traveling north.
American entertainer whose highly publicized gender change in the 1950s first brought widespread mainstream attention to transgender issues. — — Map (db m99810) HM
Paid Advertisement
20 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Federico Garcia Lorca — (1898-1936) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Castro Street near 18th Street when traveling north.
Poet, dramatist and political activist whose heroic opposition to totalitarianism resulted in his murder by Fascists during the Spanish Civil War. — — Map (db m99822) HM
21 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Freddie Mercury — Rainbow Honor Walk —
Near Market Street, on the right.
Freddie Mercury (1946-1991) Singer, songwriter and showman whose talent, versatility and commanding stage presence made him. an innovative and dazzling global ambassador of rock — — Map (db m237809) HM
22 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Frida Kahlo — (1907 - 1954) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On 19th Street at Castro Street, on the right when traveling west on 19th Street.
Artist who used indigenous symbols, imagery, colors and traditions of Mexican culture to resolutely depict and celebrate women's form and experience — — Map (db m186740) HM
23 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — George Choy — (1960-1993) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Castro Street near 18th Street, on the left when traveling north.
Passionate activist for queer Asians and Pacific Islanders and AIDS awareness who was instrumental is brining LGBT counseling programs to San Francisco public high schools. — — Map (db m99821) HM
24 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Gerry Studds — (1937-2006) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Market Street, on the right when traveling east.
First openly gay member of the U. S. Congress and bold champion of civil rights, AIDS funding and marriage equality — — Map (db m187042) HM
25 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Gertrude Stein — (1874-1946) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Castro Street 0 miles north of 19th Street.
Experimental American writer whose Paris salon brought together many of the artists and authors who would help define modernism in literature and art — — Map (db m98028) HM
26 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Gladys Bentley — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Market Street at 16th Street, on the right when traveling east on Market Street.
Gladys Bentley (1907-1960) Pioneering pianist and blues singer of the Harlem Renaissance who challenged established gender roles with her appearance and choice of material — — Map (db m237784) HM
27 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Glenn Burke — (1952-1995) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Market Street east of Castro Street, on the right when traveling east.
First openly gay major league baseball player whose raised hand, after a home run, led to the invention of the high five. Glenn Burke — — Map (db m120400) HM
28 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Harry Hay — (1912-2002) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Castro Street near 19th Street, on the left when traveling north.
Sexual revolutionary who defined LGBT as a cultural identity and founded the first enduring gay rights organization in the United States. — — Map (db m99807) HM
29 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — James Baldwin — (1924-1987) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Castro Street near Market Street, on the left when traveling north.
Eloquent novelist, essayist, poet, social critic, civil rights leader and passionate advocate for racial equality and human rights for gays. — — Map (db m99818) HM
Paid Advertisement
30 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Jane Addams — (1860-1915) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Castro Street near Market Street, on the left when traveling north.
Pioneer social reformer, activist for women's rights and world peace, public philosopher, author, first American woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. — — Map (db m99816) HM
31 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Josι Sarria — (1922-2013) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Market Street at Castro Street, on the right when traveling east on Market Street.
Army veteran, drag performer, politcal activist, first openly gay candidate for public office in the world, founder of the Imperial Court System Jose Sarria — — Map (db m120176) HM
32 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Keith Haring — (1958-1990) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Castro Street near 19th Street, on the left when traveling north.
American artist and social activist whose distinctive outline figures express universal concepts of birth, sex, love and joy. — — Map (db m99804) HM
33 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Leonard Matlovich — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Market Street at Noe Street, on the right when traveling east on Market Street.
Leonard Matlovich (1943-1988) Decorated American serviceman who outed himself to confront the U.S. military's ban on gays serving in the armed forces — — Map (db m237992) HM
34 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Maurice Sendak — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Market Street, on the right when traveling east.
Maurice Sendak (1928-2012) American writer and illustrator of beloved and groundbreaking children's books who brought to life a luminous world of fantasy and imagination — — Map (db m237788) HM
35 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Oscar Wilde — (1854-1900) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
Near Castro Street south of Market Street.
Irish dramatist, poet, novelist and essayist known for his biting wit, flamboyant dress, glittering conversation and enduring artistic achievements Oscar Wilde — — Map (db m98068) HM
36 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Randy Shilts — (1951-1994) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Castro Street north of 19th Street, on the right when traveling north.
Influential author and journalist, the first openly gay reporter to cover LGBT issues for American mainstream media Randy Shilts — — Map (db m98161) HM
37 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Rikki Streicher — (1926-1994) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Market Street east of Castro Street, on the right when traveling east.
San Francisco entrepreneur and sports advocate who worked within the City's bar culture to create social activism — — Map (db m120448) HM
38 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Roger Casement — 1864-1916 — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Castro Street at 18th Street, on the right when traveling north on Castro Street.
Irish patriot, diplomat and pioneering activist for the human rights of indigenous peoples, martyred for his pivotal role in Ireland's 1916 Easter Rising — — Map (db m308837) HM
39 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Sylvester — (1947-1988) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
Near Castro Street south of 18th Street, on the left when traveling south.
Multi-gold singer and songwriter known as the “Queen of Disco” and “a visionary of queerness, race and music” — — Map (db m98043) HM
Paid Advertisement
40 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Sylvia Rivera — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Market Street near 16th Street, on the right when traveling east.
Sylvia Rivera
(1951-2002) Gay liberation and transgender rights advocate, a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front, Gay Activist Alliance and Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries — — Map (db m237822) HM
41 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Tennessee Williams — 1911-1983 — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Castro Street.
Two-time Pulitzer prize winning dramatist whose powerful, timeless portraits of the human condition revolutionized American theatre and whose works are regularly revived Tennessee Williams — — Map (db m98042) HM
42 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Tom Waddell — (1937-1987) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Castro Street north of 18th Street, on the right when traveling north.
Physician, decathlete and founder of the Gay Games which created an international community of LGBT athletes and helped to shatter stereotypes of LGBT people worldwide Thomas F. Waddell — — Map (db m98138) HM
43 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Virginia Woolf — (1882-1941) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Castro Street near Market Street when traveling south.
Pioneer of modernist literature and feminist whose work explored the artistic, sexual and religious roles imposed upon women during her lifetime Virginia Woolf — — Map (db m98040) HM
44 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Vito Russo — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Market Street at 16th Street, on the right when traveling west on Market Street.
Vito Russo (1946-1990) Activist, film historian, author and co-founder of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation who brought attention to stereotyping of LGBTs in film — — Map (db m237815) HM
45 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — We'wha — (1849-1896) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On Market Street east of Castro Street, on the right when traveling east.
Respected Zuni lhamana, or two spirit, accomplished potter, weaver and cultural ambassador of the Zuni nation — — Map (db m120373) HM
46 ► California, San Francisco City and County, San Francisco, The Castro — Yukio Mishima — (1924 - 1979) — Rainbow Honor Walk —
On 19th Street west of Castro Street, on the right when traveling west.
Japanese novelist, playright, poet, actor and film director whose work blended modern and traditional aesthetics to explore sexuality and political change — — Map (db m186747) HM
 
 
CeraNet Cloud Computing sponsors the Historical Marker Database.
This website earns income from purchases you make after using our links to Amazon.com. We appreciate your support.
Paid Advertisement
Nov. 13, 2026