I need a preview of the gay community in Chicago (Sheridan: college, to live in)

[Maarts]

Hello.

I am a 21 years old male and I am strongly considering moving to Chicago.

I need a few advices :

- How is the gay population in Chicago (generally speaking) ?

- How easy it is finding guys in their 20s (between 21-24 mainly) ?

- Are the bars and clubs located in Boystown worth it ?

- Is it complicated to date outside of clubs and bars ?

Any other kind of informations would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[PerseusVeil]

Originally Posted by Maarts

Hello.

I am a 21 years old male and I am strongly considering moving to Chicago.

I need a few advices :

- How is the gay population in Chicago (generally speaking) ?

Large. Chicago is the third biggest city in the country, and the dominant city in the Midwest. Expect to see a lot of gays from the smaller metro areas in the region.

Additionally, gay nightlife is still dominated primarily by Boystown, but most gay people in Chicago don't live in Boystown anymore. I believe Edgewater has since taken the crown. It makes sense though. It's cheaper, the gay beach is there, and Andersonville is probably counted towards its total.

- How easy it is finding guys in their 20s (between 21-24 mainly) ?

Can't say I've had any problems. I moved to Chicago for college and I'm currently in my mid-20s.

- Are the bars and clubs located in Boystown worth it ?

As opposed to what? The bars in Andersonville? Straight bars?

- Is it complicated to date outside of clubs and bars ?

Not really. That's where the apps come in. Tinder, for example, is classier if you want to actually meet someone and not just hookup immediately. I always found it interesting how it was essentially Grindr for my straight friends though.

[ABUV]

There is a gay beach?

[TBideon]

Hollywood beach.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by ABUV

There is a gay beach?

Hollywood Beach. The beach itself is asexual as far as I can tell, but many of the people who utilize the beach are gay.

It's most likey "the gay beach" because of the large gay population in the community next to it, Edgewater, and because there isn't really a beach next to Boystown even though it's on the lakefront. There are also a good number of straight families who use Hollywood Beach, too, though. It's basically right where the north end of Lake Shore Drive turns into Sheridan Road. It's an easy walk from the Bryn Mawr or Granville stops on the Red Line. Or if you're coming from downtown, the 147 express bus gets you close and is often faster from around the Watertower near Michigan Ave.

[PerseusVeil]

Originally Posted by emathias

Hollywood Beach. The beach itself is asexual as far as I can tell, but many of the people who utilize the beach are gay.

It's most likey "the gay beach" because of the large gay population in the community next to it, Edgewater, and because there isn't really a beach next to Boystown even though it's on the lakefront. There are also a good number of straight families who use Hollywood Beach, too, though. It's basically right where the north end of Lake Shore Drive turns into Sheridan Road. It's an easy walk from the Bryn Mawr or Granville stops on the Red Line. Or if you're coming from downtown, the 147 express bus gets you close and is often faster from around the Watertower near Michigan Ave.

The disconnect between the two sections of Hollywood / Kathy Osterman Beach is rather interesting. All the gays are down further by the pier with the rainbow painted pylon closer to Hollywood and LSD, but all the families are closer to Ardmore.

[coldwine]

Originally Posted by Maarts

Hello.

I am a 21 years old male and I am strongly considering moving to Chicago.

I need a few advices :

- How is the gay population in Chicago (generally speaking) ?

- How easy it is finding guys in their 20s (between 21-24 mainly) ?

- Are the bars and clubs located in Boystown worth it ?

- Is it complicated to date outside of clubs and bars ?

Any other kind of informations would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

The gay population in Chicago is very large and very diverse. It's one of the perks of having a large urban center.

Gay men in their early 20's are certainly plentiful. I actually happen to live in what I suppose could be considered a gayborhood, with many gay men and women (mostly older) as neighbors. I just had several major renovations done, and the renovation crew were almost exclusively young gay men in their early 20's

Boystown is, eh, you know. It's twinks. Easy sex. You can go out dancing and whatnot. It is what it is.

It is no more complicated to date outside bars here than anywhere else. Certainly much easier in many respects.

I might be very biased, as a straight woman who has always had many gay men in her life (as an aside, I have three gay uncles, one of which is my godfather). I am very active in the gay community as an ally, and I do a lot of pro bono work for the community.

I'm about ** close from just going full yenta on you, OP.