The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel Continues Its Speaker Series: Making History Fun Again

“Unspeakable Vice: How San Francisco Became America’s Gay Capital”

The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel, a San Francisco landmark since 1915, continues its monthly speaker series, Making History Fun Again, designed to celebrate the city’s legendary past through lively storytelling, fascinating personalities, and unforgettable local history.
Perfectly timed to coincide with San Francisco’s PRIDE month, on Thursday, June 18, The Clift Hotel’s Redwood Room welcomes Shawn Sprockett, creator of Unspeakable Vice, for an evening exploring the rich and often overlooked history of San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ communities. Through storytelling, archival research, and cultural insight, Sprockett’s presentation, How San Francisco Became America’s Gay Capital, traces more than two centuries of queer history in San Francisco while revealing striking parallels between the past and present.
A gay professor, designer, and San Francisco resident originally from Florida, Sprockett was inspired to action following the passage of the “don’t say gay” legislation in his home state. In response, he began researching and documenting alternative perspectives on local queer history, particularly the experiences of women, transgender communities, and People of Color, and sharing those stories through monthly walking tours across San Francisco’s historic and often forgotten “gayborhoods.”
Drawing from extensive historical research, Sprockett’s talk examines how queer communities shaped San Francisco’s cultural identity long before the city became internationally recognized as a center of LGBTQ+ life and activism. The evening will also explore recurring themes of visibility, resistance, displacement, and community-building, offering insight into how lessons from the past may continue to inform movements for equality and belonging today.

About the Speaker
Shawn Sprockett is the founder of Unspeakable Vice, a San Francisco-based public history project and walking tour series dedicated to uncovering hidden queer histories throughout the city. Combining scholarship, design, storytelling, and activism, his work highlights narratives that have often been excluded from mainstream historical accounts. His tours and lectures explore the intersections of sexuality, race, gender, politics, and urban development across San Francisco history.

Event Details

What: Making History Fun Again — Speaker Series
Featured Speaker: Shawn Sprockett’s “Unthinkable Vice”

When: Thursday, June 18, 2026 | 5:00 p.m. Cocktail Hour | 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Program

Where: The Redwood Room, The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel

Admission: Complimentary with RSVP

Upcoming Speaker Series Lineup

Thursday, July - 16 - Ben Fong-Torres - History of Rock & Roll
Thursday, August 20 - Rob Thomson - History of the Presidio / 250th Anniversary
Thursday, September 17 - Kevin Kopjak Panel - History of the Performing Arts
Thursday, October 15 - Rae Alexander - KQED and Author of Unsung Heroines: 35 Women Who Changed the Bay Area
Thursday, November 19 - Will Hearst - leading a panel that includes Heather Knight (NY Times), Wendy Tokuda (formerly KPIX), Joe FItzgerald Rodriguez (SF Standard), Alexis Madrigal (KQED) - History of Media

Signature Speaker Series Cocktails

Guests attending the speaker series events may enjoy themed cocktails honoring San Francisco’s storied past, including:
Pisco Punch — A Gold Rush original from 1853
Martini — Born along the trail between San Francisco and Martinez
Night Moves (Buena Vista Tribute Espresso Martini) — A wink to the city’s famed Irish Coffee
Maiden Lane — A nod to one of San Francisco’s most notorious streets

About The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel

Located at 495 Geary Street, The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel blends contemporary design with timeless character. Home to the legendary Redwood Room, the hotel has been a cultural fixture of San Francisco since 1915. Following a multimillion-dollar renovation, The Clift offers 372 stylish guest rooms and suites, a state-of-the-art event space, and an enduring commitment to hospitality that is — and always has been — legendary. Learn more at Sonesta Press Room / The Clift or by calling (415) 775-4700.