Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Gay districts evolved many decades ago so marginalized people could be near like-minded folk, and in close proximity to the bars, which were the community centers until not too long ago. It felt safe to be around like-minded people. Being marginalized meant many negative things back then, from being shunned by family to losing one's job to being encarcerated. So it was important to at least feel that sense of security associated with community. As our society has evolved slowly to a certain level of tolerance, and community resources have expanded greatly beyond bars, the level of exclusivity afforded by the "gay ghetto" (or "gayborhood" in today's vernacular) has begun to wane, depending on one's experience or location.
We've seen this with the migration of younger gays from New York's Chelsea to nearby Hell's Kitchen (aka "Hellsea"), due to the chief byproduct of gentrification: high rent. HK, while not that much less expensive than Chelsea, has evolved into a more eclectic "gay friendly" neighborhood than the more gay-exclusive Chelsea and West Village of previous decades. Further, what has resulted is a sprawling of gay men and lesbians through the outer boroughs of NYC, and into the NJ, LI, Westchester and Connecticut suburbs.
Here in Charleston, a similar pattern has evolved with young gays being priced out of the traditionally gay-friendly enclaves of Harleston Village and Ansonborough. Both communities were popular in past decades because of their cheap rent, close proximity to the nightlife venues of the historic district, and an accepting artists colony and university population. Many gays have now settled in the Hampton Park area further up the peninsula, but I think most have chosen to scatter to neighborhoods and suburbs all over the area. Even in a conservative city like Charleston, this is due to a growing tolerance for gays. Here in North Charleston, an industrial, blue collar suburb established in the 1970s, there is the gay-inclusive Park Circle neighborhood, which is popular with a sizable number of same-sex couples. Park Circle also has a couple of women's bars, and several other gay-owned businesses, most of which are not exclusively gay.
The Montrose District in Houston is one of, if not the, most sought after neighborhood in the city. It is home to the top restaurants, adjacent to the museum district and downtown. There are of course a ton of gay bars, but many straight bars and eclectic pubs as well. There is an emerging scene of botique clothing stores and is the most walkable neighborhood in the metro area.
Like Houston's Montrose, Dallas' Oak Lawn is gay, loud, proud and booming. I've lived in the area for ten years, been in the bars and gone to the parades. Every year the crowds are larger. The trend has continued to tear down old, defunct apartments and homes and replace them with upscale apartments and townhomes.
The main drag thru the 'Crossroads', as it is called, is Cedar Springs. At one time it was the main route from downtown to the airport, Love Field, until the opening of DFW. Now they shut down that street for gay sponsored parties 3 or 4 times a year. I first moved there is '69 when the population was largely pilots and stewardesses. Since the opening of DFW those pilots and stewardesses have moved away, leaving the party to the gay pilots and stewardesses.
that's called gentrification. no wonder black people hate gays.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WillysB
Like Houston's Montrose, Dallas' Oak Lawn is gay, loud, proud and booming. I've lived in the area for ten years, been in the bars and gone to the parades. Every year the crowds are larger. The trend has continued to tear down old, defunct apartments and homes and replace them with upscale apartments and townhomes.
The main drag thru the 'Crossroads', as it is called, is Cedar Springs. At one time it was the main route from downtown to the airport, Love Field, until the opening of DFW. Now they shut down that street for gay sponsored parties 3 or 4 times a year. I first moved there is '69 when the population was largely pilots and stewardesses. Since the opening of DFW those pilots and stewardesses have moved away, leaving the party to the gay pilots and stewardesses.
In Austin, the "gay area" is basically a collection of gay trendy nightclubs interspersed with straight trendy nightclubs. There is a coffeeshop with a mainly gay clientele too. However, it is not a real gayborhood in that there really isn't housing there. Austin is a pretty accepting place, so gay people get along pretty well no matter where in the city they live.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Is there a need for the gay ghetto?
