The Gay Places Initiative is not just about bricks and mortar—it’s about memory, identity, and queer resilience. In a world where LGBTQ+ histories have often been erased or ignored, this project sets out to map and honor the places that helped shape queer life in Buffalo and Western New York. And thanks to historian Dr. Jeff Iovannone, these places are coming alive through a powerful blog series that reads like a love letter to our past.
🌈 69 Johnson Park
69 Johnson Park is a striking Second Empire–style home built around 1865. Originally owned by the Chamot family, French immigrants who lived there for decades, the house is architecturally significant for its mansard roof and ornate Victorian details. But its importance extends beyond architecture—it was the longtime residence of gay rights activists Dr. James Haynes and Donald Licht. The couple restored the home in the 1980s. It was used as a hub for Buffalo’s LGBTQ community, co-founding key organizations like the Mattachine Society of the Niagara Frontier and the Western New York AIDS Program.
🌈 9500 Clarence Center Road
9500 Clarence Center Road is more than a beautiful example of Greek Revival architecture—it’s a landmark in Western New York’s LGBTQ+ history. Built around 1835, the house became home to Peggie Ames, one of the region’s first publicly out transgender women. After transitioning in the 1970s, Peggie faced harassment and rejection, but remained in her home, where she opened a crafts shop, offered peer counseling, and became a key contact for national trans support networks. Through decades of quiet persistence, Peggie transformed 9500 Clarence Center Road into a place of advocacy, refuge, and pride—laying groundwork for the trans community in WNY and beyond.
🌈 510 Tacoma Avenue
510 Tacoma Avenue is a classic Buffalo double with Prairie Style influences, but it also holds a deeper cultural significance. In the 1960s, it was home to Leslie Feinberg—celebrated author of Stone Butch Blues and a pioneering voice in transgender and working-class queer activism. Feinberg’s early years in Buffalo were shaped by rejection, economic struggle, and harassment. Yet the city’s factories, bars, and queer community also gave her a sense of pride, purpose, and identity. While Tacoma Avenue was not a place of comfort for her, it was a place of transformation and sanctuary.
🌈 330 Franklin Street
330 Franklin Street is a striking example of late Federal townhouse architecture. Built in 1854, it housed both residences and businesses over the years, including Boyle Brothers Plumbing, The Radio Doctor repair shop, and O’Neill’s Grill. But beyond its architectural significance, 330 Franklin also played a vital role in Buffalo’s queer history. In the late 1960s, Jim Garrow’s establishment, the Tiki, became a hub for the city’s LGBTQ+ community, offering a welcoming space even without a liquor license. With good coffee, turkey sandwiches, and jukebox dancing, the Tiki was more than a café—it was a safe haven at a time when bars catering to queer patrons faced intense scrutiny.
🌈 140 North Street
140 North Street, home to the historic Lenox Hotel, has stood as a landmark in Buffalo’s Allentown neighborhood since 1896. Originally built as an apartment house, the Lenox transformed into a luxury hotel in 1901 to accommodate visitors attending the Pan-American Exposition. Over the decades, Allentown became a cultural and social hub, attracting artists, musicians, and Buffalo’s growing LGBTQ+ community. Among its residents was Bobby Uplinger, an openly gay man who fought for the right of queer people to exist freely in public spaces. His legal battle, People v. Uplinger, helped dismantle discriminatory laws that targeted LGBTQ+ individuals, leaving a lasting impact on civil rights in New York.
Through Dr. Jeff’s storytelling and the Gay Places Initiative’s preservation work, these spaces are no longer hidden or forgotten. They’re being woven back into the larger story of Buffalo—right where they belong. This isn’t just history—it’s our history. It’s the stories of quiet bravery and bold visibility. Of lovers, fighters, and family—chosen and found. And it deserves to be seen, celebrated, and preserved.
To learn more or get involved, visit the full Gay Places Initiative page. Because our places matter, and our stories are worth saving.
