San Francisco, Uncovered: The Castro

the vibe

🌈 How did a gritty Gold Rush era Irish neighborhood become the epicenter of a movement that changed America? Long before it was known worldwide as the Castro, this San Francisco neighborhood grew up around Irish immigrant families who settled there during the Gold Rush. In this lecture, Bonnie McGregor traces that early history and follows the neighborhood's transformation through one of its most pivotal chapters, the election of Harvey Milk as the first openly gay person elected to public office in California. Bonnie explores the dark days that followed, from Milk's assassination to the backlash and devastation of the AIDS crisis, and the surprising role that Most Holy Redeemer, one of the most liberal Catholic parishes in America, played in bridging the neighborhood's gay and elderly Catholic communities under Father McGuire. A native San Franciscan and longtime City Guide, Bonnie brings a lifetime of local knowledge to this walk through the Castro's Irish origins and its enduring legacy today, from World AIDS Day observances to the Harvey Milk birthday celebrations that still bring the neighborhood together. 🌈 *Specific location is still TBD, but it will be somewhere in SF - hopefully in the Castro :) 🕰 Event Details What should I expect? 7:00-7:35 --> arrival & chats 7:35-8:20 --> lecture 8:20-9:00 --> q&a and more chatting Who's invited? Anyone with an interest in learning new things, meeting new people, and doing fun things on weeknights! Lots of people came solo to…