The Times’s Pierre-Antoine Louis writes:

Growing up in Flatbush, Brooklyn, I started attending Pride events at age 17. There were no guides to the festivities as there are now, so my friends and I explored New York City on our own to find gay-friendly places like Luke & Leroy’s and Chi Chiz bar.

We also strolled along the Christopher Street Pier to watch our fellow L.G.B.T.Q. family members vogueing and celebrating.

Discovering that side of the city changed my life. I felt more comfortable being my gay self, and these spaces helped my friends and I understand that we were not alone.

This year, New York City is hosting WorldPride for the first time, as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Inn uprising and a half-century of struggles and liberation.

An audio tour that I hosted for The Times takes listeners to 11 places in New York that are of special importance to the L.G.B.T.Q. community, and provides information on Pride events and insider tips.