Queer Neighborhoods

[James Blandings]

Do you think it is beneficial for GLBT folks to establish neighborhhoods where they form a large visible community, or does it have drawbacks?

Would you personally prefer to live in such a neighborhood?

The city I live in has an estimated 30-40% gay population. There are some neighborhoods where almost all the inhabitants are gay. In the downtown area there are 2 gay bars, a gay male bookstore, a lesbian bookstore, a coffeehouse that caters very specifically to gays,a gblt community center, an office building that is all glbt organizations, and at least a dozen other businesses that are run by openly gay people.

On my block, which is one of the least gay parts of town, there's me (open bi), my next door neighbor is an out lesbian, and there are two other homes of gay male couples that I know of.

On of the interesting things is that since this has become known as a gay-friendly town property values have gone way up, which has made a lot of people much more welcoming.

 

[deliciously_naughty]

Well, I don't think that we're talking about "lavender ghettos" here. I don't think there's anything wrong with a gay section of town. Both boston and nyc have neighborhoods that are known as gay districts, but not in a derogatory way. I know that if I want to find a gay bookstore, it's most likely near Christopher Street in NYC or in the South End in Boston. HOwever, that isn't the only place to find them.

I think it is interesting. Jamaica Plain, which is next to Boston was a low rent district for quite some time. But it became gentrified in part due to the yuppies, and the gay populations moving in and revamping the area.

 

[KisstheSky]

There's one in Chicago, its mainly around Halstead it's nicknamed "Boystown" and thats where the Pride Parade and Fest is every year. There are all sorts of places there that make it a fun place to be whether your GLBT or straight.
The atmosphere there is great you don't have to worry about people passing judgement on you, you can just be who you are and I love that. My gay guy friend and I have been talking about moving near there since we've been wanting to move into the city anyways....the only problem is rent is rather high there so we may just live a few blocks east or something
Either way I'm looking forward to it.

 

[Netzach]

Love my 'hood

We have one. (MplsStPaul)
I live in it.

I don't ever want to move.

It's not just gay, it's a little down n out and gay, too. It's got marginal folks bumped up against condos starting at 300K.

I'd be a marginal folk.

I love it. There are days I feel like the most vanilla person in my neighborhood.

 

[Etoile]

DC has a gay neighborhood, Dupont Circle. To my dismay (because it's such a pretty area) it's becoming somewhat mainstream and so the gay community is kind of moving east, into other parts of town. I'd love to live there, not only to immerse myself in the community but because they are the most darling old houses!

My Daddy lives in Chelsea, and I have to admit I love just walking around there. I feel so comfortable and it's a big mental boost to see so many gay couples in public. (Back here in DC, my girlfriend doesn't like to be affectionate in public except in Dupont.)

 

[deliciously_naughty]

I only wish I could afford an apartment in the South End of Boston

 

[jackbird]

Well, I don't think that we're talking about "lavender ghettos" here. I don't think there's anything wrong with a gay section of town. Both boston and nyc have neighborhoods that are known as gay districts, but not in a derogatory way. I know that if I want to find a gay bookstore, it's most likely near Christopher Street in NYC or in the South End in Boston. HOwever, that isn't the only place to find them.

I think it is interesting. Jamaica Plain, which is next to Boston was a low rent district for quite some time. But it became gentrified in part due to the yuppies, and the gay populations moving in and revamping the area.

Down on cape cod there's a large population of gays. P town is mostly gay and a big draw in the summer time of str8 as well as gays.

 

[coati]

Do you think it is beneficial for GLBT folks to establish neighborhhoods where they form a large visible community, or does it have drawbacks?

Would you personally prefer to live in such a neighborhood?

The only drawback I have seen is higher housing costs, and that only applies to certain specific neighborhoods. Many neighborhoods near progressive towns and cities have reasonable housing costs and are very open and GLBT friendly. It is so much easier to be your true creative self in a neighborhood that is not rigidly tied to binary gender concepts and hetero-only sexuality values.

As a young bisexual man during the early 1970s, I was amazed at how much my creativity and social life increased after I moved from a very conservative part of San Diego County to the Bay Area of California. What a confidence-booster that was!

 

[SissySalina]

sissy believes that your neighborhood is what you make it.
There are many folks that like to live among like minded people, even in small towns all over, and then there are some folks that think this is wrong.
This sissy thinks you should be able to live where you want to with respect to others, if you do not respect others wishes then you are not a neighbor but an intruder.
Second the property value is only good high if you are planning to sell, if you are just living it only means higher taxes. The value of any property is its worth to the owner or the one trying to acquire it.
Thoughts of a sissy.