Gay village

These neighborhoods, which often arise from crowded, highly dense, and often deteriorated inner city districts, are critical sites where members of gender and sexual minorities have traditionally congregated. From one perspective, these spaces are places of marginality created by an often homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic heterosexual community; from another perspective, they are places of refuge where members of gender and sexual minorities can benefit from the concentration of safe, nondiscriminatory resources and services (just as other minorities do).

In some cities, LGBT people congregate in visibly identified neighborhoods, while in others, they are dispersed in neighborhoods, which have less visibility, because a liberal, affirming

The neighbourhood of Schöneberg in Berlin was the first gay village in the world, developing in the 1920s.^[8] Prior to the 1960s and 1970s, specialized LGBT communities did not exist as gay villages in the United States; bars were usually where LGBT social networks developed, and they were located in certain urban areas where police zoning would implicitly allow so-called "deviant entertainment" under close surveillance.

In New York, for example, the congregation of gay men had not been illegal since 1965; however, no openly

These processes are tied to the spatial nature of the urban renaissance which was occurring at the time. The "first wave" of low-wage gay residences in these urban centers paved the way for other, more affluent gay professionals to move into the neighborhoods; this wealthier group played a significant role in the gentrification of many inner city neighborhoods. The presence of gay men in the real estate industry of San Francisco was a major factor facilitating the urban renaissance of the city in the 1970s.^[13][14]

However, the gentrification of gay villages may also serve to reinforce stereotypes of gays, by pushing out gay people who do not conform to the prevailing "gay, white, affluent, professional" image. Such people (including gay people of color, low-income/working-class gays, and "undesirable" groups such as gay prostitutes and leathermen) are usually forced out of the "village" due to rising rents or constant harassment at the hands of an increased policing presence. Especially in San Francisco's Polk Gulch neighborhood (the first "gay village" in that city), gentrification seems to have had this result.^[15]

Gay men and women have a reputation for driving the revitalization of previously run-down enclaves. Making these neighborhoods more desirable places to live, businesses and other classes of people move to the area and, accordingly, property values tend to go up. The urban studies theorist

The gentrification of once rundown inner-city areas, coupled with the staging of pride parades in these areas, has resulted in the increased visibility of gay communities. Parades such as Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and Manchester's Pride events attract significant investment and create tourist revenue, and cities have acknowledged that the acceptance of lesbian and gay culture has become a sign of urban "sophistication" and that gay-oriented events, such as pride parades and the Gay Games, are potentially lucrative events, attracting thousands of gay tourists and their dollars. The growing recognition of the economic value of the gay community is not only associated with their wealth but also with the role that lesbians and gay men have played (and continue to play) in urban revitalization.

Data from the

Some cities have a very well-defined gay village in the heart of a larger area that also has a significant gay population. One example of this phenomenon is Davie Village in the heart of Vancouver's gay community. It sits within the greater West End area, which, though decently populated by gay people, is not necessarily considered a gay village.^[21]

Boystown in Chicago is also a very well-defined gay village situated within the larger Lakeview neighborhood. Lakeview is an affluent neighborhood with a reputation for being a stronghold of liberal and progressive political views. Outside of Boystown, Lakeview is a mixture of both gay and straight citizens and families, but Boystown is the main gay village.^[22] Boystown began with a cluster of bars on North Halsted Street and blossomed into an entire district dedicated to LGBT life and culture in the 1980s. According to the founders of Sidetrack, one of these pioneering bars, Boystown was only to grow as much as it did because its residents were politically engaged and actively resisted city efforts to drive them underground. Gay bars in boystown also served as a hub of AIDS related activism.^[22]

Andersonville is another of Chicago's gay villages. It became known as "Girlstown" in the 1980s and 1990s following an influx of lesbian couples to the area. Residents attribute this initial migration to a well-loved feminist bookstore called Women and Children First moving to Andersonville after being priced out of Boystown. In the mid-2000s, more families and older people started moving into Boystown, and many gay men also made the move to Girlstown. In the last decade, the number of married gay men in Andersonville actually surpassed the number of married lesbians and many of the neighborhood's lesbian-centric business have closed. Still, Andersonville retains its historical significance for the lesbian community and its identity as a haven for LGBT people.^[23]

Despite its large gay population and higher concentration of gay venues, the

In Tampa, Florida, the gay community was traditionally spread out among several neighborhoods. In the early 21st century, the Ybor City National Historic Landmark District has seen the creation of the GaYbor District, which is now the center of gay and lesbian life in the Tampa Bay area and home to the majority of gay bars and dance clubs, restaurants, and service organizations. Across Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg, the LGBT community is centered around the Grand Central neighborhood near downtown.^[27][28][29] In Orlando, Florida, the gay community is centered around the neighborhoods of Thornton Park and Eola Heights.

Greater Los Angeles includes several gayborhoods, most notably West Hollywood,^[32] Silver Lake,^[33] The Run in Downtown Los Angeles,^[34] and the Broadway Corridor in Long Beach.^[35]

Ottawa established an LGBT-friendly village along Bank Street in Centretown on November 4, 2011, when the City of Ottawa installed six street signs at the intersections of Bank/Nepean, Bank/Somerset and Bank/James. This is the cap to an historic year and six years of lobbying, where the village installed two public art projects in addition to tripling the number of rainbow flags in the village area. The village in Ottawa features a diverse mix of businesses and organizations, many of which cater to or of specific interest to the LGBT community, and has a high concentration of LGBT persons living and working in the area.^[37]

Le Marais in Paris has experienced a growing gay presence since the 1980s, as evidenced by the existence of a large gay community and of many gay cafés, nightclubs, cabarets and shops, such as one of the largest gay clubs in Europe

, Le Depot. These establishments are mainly concentrated in the southwestern portion of the Marais, many on or near the streets Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie and Vieille du Temple.

A well-known gay village of Sitges is one of the richest residential areas within the area of greater Barcelona. The town hosts several gay events throughout the year, such as Gay Pride and Bears Week. The first monument for the gay community, an inverse triangle, was built in Passeig Maritim street in 2006. Many gay tourists use the gay-friendly accommodation in Sitges during Circuit Festival of Barcelona.

Not all major cities have gay villages, especially those with more progressive histories with LGBT rights. Sweden, for example, legalized same sexual activity in 1944, a full 67 years before Lawrence v. Texas decriminalized homosexuality in the US.^[38][39] As a result, there was not the same need for secret gathering places in Swedish cities that shaped many gay villages elsewhere. However, there are areas which were historically known as meeting places for gays, such as Södermalm in Stockholm, Punavuori and Kallio in Helsinki, which remain as somewhat trendy areas for gay people to live in, though they do not have a predominantly gay population.

There are a number of

gay villages in England such as in Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and London

.

Australasia

Australia

Rainbow Crossing in Sydney's Surry Hills

neighbourhood

In Sydney, New South Wales, Potts Point (also known as "Poofs Point") and nearby Elizabeth Bay (also known as "Betty Bay") are renowned for having the largest gay population in the city, with many gay run business. The area is known for having the highest density of population in Australia with many Art Deco apartment blocks. Newtown also has a sizable gay population but it has a more gritty bohemian feel. Darlinghurst is also a historically gay area. Oxford Street in particular is known as the Golden Mile due to its long stretch of LGBT bars and clubs.^[40]

In Melbourne, Victoria, city fringe suburbs such as Collingwood and South Yarra have sizeable gay communities.^[41] Big 7 Travel ranked Melbourne as the fourth most LGBT friendly city in the world.^[42]

New Zealand

Hamilton East, a suburb of Hamilton, a town situated in the North Island of New Zealand is one of the newest gay villages worldwide. There is a small gay population with some gay owned businesses, cafes and is across the river from the Hamilton CBD. The local LGBT pride month is in April each year and celebrates local diversity.

Asia

Thailand

In Pattaya, Thailand, Boyztown is a hub of gay nightlife and entertainment that is especially popular with European and Chinese tourists.^[43] Since its peak in the 1990s and early 2000s, rising prices and COVID policies have caused Boyztown to lose some of its business. At the peak of its popularity, Boyztown drew in funding for AIDS-related charity organizations through grand events like the Pattaya Gay Festival.

Japan

Shinjuku Ni-chōme, Tokyo's gay village, boasts the world's highest density of gay and lesbian bars, many of which are very small and highly curated to a particular scene. Some are intended for foreign tourists, while others give priority to regulars and court a certain subset of the local LGBT community, such as butch lesbians or the BDSM community.^[44] Ni-chōme is also home to Japan's first LGBT center, Pride House Tokyo Legacy. Like Pattaya's Boyztown, Nichō's business suffered during the pandemic, but it is slowly developing its former popularity.^[45]

South America

Bogota, Colombia has a prominent gay village called the Chapinero. The locus of the Chapinero's LGBT culture is one of the most famous gay nightclubs in the world, Theatron, which opened in the 1990s. Before Theatron, the Chapinero had a vibrant drag ball scene that drew crowds from neighboring South American countries.^[46]

LGBT populations

Top LGBT populations in Brazilian cities

Main article:

LGBT people in Brazil

In 2009, a survey conducted by the

bisexual (a total of 10.4%), while 4.9% of the female population was estimated to be lesbian and 1.4% bisexual (a total of 6.3%).^[47]

In the city of Rio de Janeiro, 19.3% of the male population was estimated to be gay or bisexual. Among the female population in the city of Manaus, 10.2% were estimated to be lesbian or bisexual.^[47]

Top Brazilian cities in LGBT population by percentage of residents

Rank	City	Percentage of city population
1	Rio de Janeiro	14.30%
2	Fortaleza	9.35%
3	Manaus	8.35%
4	São Paulo	8.20%
5	Salvador	8.05%
6	Brasília	7.95%
7	Belo Horizonte	6.85%
8	Curitiba	6.55%
9	Porto Alegre	5.95%
10	Cuiabá	5.65%

Top LGBT populations in the US

An estimated 33 to 50 percent of Palm Springs, California, are gay male or other parts of the LGBTQ community; this statistic makes them the largest percentage community in the US.^{[citation needed]}

The following charts show a list of the top US cities, states, and metro areas with:

1. the highest population of gay residents, and
2. the highest percentage of gay residents within city limits. (LGBT population as a percentage of total residents).
   US Census does not ask for sexual orientation or gender identity
   .

Top US cities in LGBT population by number of LGBT residents

LGBT population rank	City	Percentage of city population	LGBT population	US population rank
1	New York City	4.5%	377,100	1
2	Los Angeles	5.6%	222,488	2
3	Chicago	5.7%	153,843	3
4	San Francisco	15.4%	134,716	17
5	Phoenix	6.4%	106,112	5
6	Houston	4.4%	101,772	4
7	San Diego	6.8%	96,220	8
8	Seattle	12.9%	95,621	18
9	Dallas	7.0%	93,730	9
10	Boston	12.3%	84,787	24
11	Philadelphia	4.2%	66,444	6
12	Atlanta	12.8%	63,698	38
13	San Jose	5.8%	59,682	10
14	Denver	8.2%	58,701	19
15	Washington, D.C.	8.1%	57,561	23
16	Portland	8.8%	57,233	26
17	Minneapolis	12.5%	53,744	46

Top US cities in LGBT population by percentage of total residents

LGBT percentage rank	City	Percentage of city population	LGBT population
1	San Francisco	15.4%	134,716
2	Seattle	12.9%	95,621
3	Atlanta	12.8%	63,698
4	Minneapolis	12.5%	53,744
5	Boston	12.3%	84,787
6	Sacramento	9.8%	49,341
7	Portland	8.8%	57,233
8	Denver	8.2%	58,701
9	Washington, D.C.	8.1%	57,561
10	Orlando	7.7%	21,930
11	Salt Lake City	7.6%	15,210
12	Dallas	7.0%	93,730

Top US metropolitan areas in LGBT population by percentage of total residents

Rank	Metro area	Percentage of metro population	LGBT population
1	San Francisco	8.2%	636,320
2	Seattle	6.5%	266,656
3	Boston	6.2%	306,381
4	Portland	6.1%	153,284
5	Tampa	5.9%	188,495
6	Austin	5.9%	134,718
7	Denver	5.8%	171,901
8	Minneapolis–Saint Paul	5.7%	210,344
9	Orlando	5.7%	152,382
10	Hartford	5.6%	82,996

Population

Top US CMSA in LGBT population by percentage of total residents

Rank	Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area	LGBT	LGBT % population
1	Fort Lauderdale	289,824	4.7%
2	Atlanta – Marietta, Georgia – Sandy Springs, Georgia	294,694	4.3%
3	New York City – North Jersey – Long Island	943,306	4.0%[49]
4	San Francisco – Oakland – San Jose, California	349,560	3.6%
5	Fort Worth – Arlington, Texas	284,238	3.5%
6	Los Angeles – Long Beach, California – Santa Ana, California	628,668	3.4%
7	Boston – Cambridge, Massachusetts – Quincy, Massachusetts	287,850	3.4%
8	Chicago–Naperville–Joliet, Illinois	309,596	3.1%
9	Philadelphia – Camden, New Jersey – Wilmington, Delaware	200,107	2.8%
10	Washington Metropolitan Area	238,664	2.5%

Top US states in LGBT population by number of LGBT residents

Rank	State	Percentage of state population	LGBT population
1	California	5.2%	2,055,820
2	Texas	3.6%	1,031,040
3	Florida	4.6%	976,120
4	New York	4.2%	819,420
5	Illinois	3.8%	483,360
6	Ohio	4.0%	467,200
7	Pennsylvania	3.5%	447,650
8	Georgia	4.3%	452,360
9	Massachusetts	5.7%	391,761
10	Washington	5.7%	428,184

Top US states in LGBT population by percentage of total residents

Rank	State	LGBT population
		% of state population	#
1	New Hampshire	6.6%	89,430
2	Washington	5.7%	428,184
3	Massachusetts	5.7%	391,761
4	Maine	5.2%	69,731
5	California	5.2%	2,055,820
6	Colorado	5.1%	289,935
7	Vermont	5.1%	31,841
8	New Mexico	4.9%	102,753
9	Minnesota	4.7%	263,200

same-sex couples in Los Angeles

See also

• Ethnic enclave
• Homosocialization
• Lesbian bar
• LGBT tourism
• Gay villages in the UK
• Gay Street

Notes

1. ^ Julia Goicichea (August 16, 2017). "Why New York City Is a Major Destination for LGBT Travelers". The Culture Trip. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
2. ^ ^{a b} Eli Rosenberg (June 24, 2016). "Stonewall Inn Named National Monument, a First for the Gay Rights Movement". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
3. ^ "Workforce Diversity The Stonewall Inn, National Historic Landmark National Register Number: 99000562". National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
4. ^ Castells (1983) p. 160.
5. ^ "Bienvenue au Village gai de Montréal !". Un monde un village. Archived from the original on 2013-09-05. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
6. ^ Huqueriza, Chris. "Gay destinations on the rise off the beaten track". dot429. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
7. ^ Grush, Loren (January 26, 2010). "Magazine Ranks Austin Among Top 10 Gay Friendly Cities". ABC News. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
8. ISSN 0190-8286
   . Retrieved 2022-12-02.
9. ^ Castells, 1983 p.141
10. ^ Rosenberg, Eli (June 24, 2016). "Stonewall Inn Named National Monument, a First for the Gay Rights Movement". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
11. ^ ^{a b} "Official census of the Gay Village Montreal 2001" (PDF) (in French). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-05-10. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
12. ^ Owens, Ernest (October 19, 2019). "There Goes the Gayborhood". Philadelphia magazine. Archived from the original on October 21, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2019. Rapid social change and Midtown Village development are encroaching on Philadelphia's LGBT mecca. Should we mourn its loss or embrace its evolution?
13. ^ "The gay saviors of San Francisco's Victorians". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
14. ^ "The Castro | Castro History". www.kqed.org. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
15. ^ "San Francisco Bay Guardian - Looking for a Guardian article?". Retrieved 14 February 2018.
16. ^ "Britain: Village people; The gay economy". The Economist. Vol. 378, no. 8463. February 4, 2006. p. 27. ProQuest 224021047.
17. ^ "Tourism Office of Provincetown, MA". Provincetowntourismoffice.org. 2012-01-31. Archived from the original on 2012-07-13. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
18. ^ "The U.S. Census Declares the Gayest City in America". Gawker.com. 2011-08-22. Archived from the original on 2013-08-20. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
19. ^ "Resort Town Results - Best of GayCities 2011". GayCities. Archived from the original on 2012-05-10. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
20. ^ "Calendar of Events". Ptown.org. 2013-05-16. Archived from the original on 2013-09-09. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
21. ^ Holliday, Ian (2014-08-04). "There goes the gayborhood? UBC prof says Davie Street changing, not dying". British Columbia. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
22. ^ ^{a b} Jackson, Jason; Nargis, Steven. "Making Chicago's Boystown". interactive.wbez.org. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
23. ^ "Saying Goodbye To 'Girlstown': Andersonville's Lesbian Population Shrinks". DNAinfo Chicago. Archived from the original on 2017-11-09. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
24. ^ Skiba, Bob (14 February 2014). "The Roots of the Gayborhood, The Eve of a Milestone". HiddenCityPhila.org. William Way Center. Archived from the original on 9 July 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
25. ^ Levey, Robert F. (16 June 1977). "The gay life at Dupont Circle". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
26. ^ "Hillcrest". San Diego History Center | San Diego, CA | Our City, Our Story. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
27. ^ "Flag fracas tells a lot about St. Petersburg's relationship to gay community - Tampa Bay Times". Tampabay.com. 2009-05-29. Archived from the original on 2012-10-09. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
28. ^ "We've got the top Tampa bars, nightclubs for you -- all 100". Tampa Bay Times. June 25, 2009. Archived from the original on June 4, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
29. ^ Warner, David (2009-06-22). "Hail to the Queens: Queenshead bar opens in Grand Central today (video) | Daily Loaf". Blogs.creativeloafing.com. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
30. ^ "Homepage". Asbury Empress. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
31. ^ "Lodging, Travel and Nightlife in Ogunquit, Maine". Gay Ogunquit. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
32. ^ "LGBTQ+ West Hollywood". Visit California. June 3, 2015. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
33. ^ Barragan, Bianca (April 2, 2014). "Mapping Los Angeles's Groundbreaking Role in LGBT History". Curbed LA. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
34. ^ "The Run DTLA". Retrieved March 5, 2025.
35. ^ Brian Addison (December 7, 2023). "A holiday ode to the queer bars of Long Beach's Gayborhood—and every queer bar in the world". Longbeachize. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
36. ^ "Map of Village". The Gay Toronto Tourism Guild. Archived from the original on February 6, 2007. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
37. ^ CBC News (8 November 2011). "Ottawa introduces first "Gay Village"". CBC. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
38. ^ Birtles, Katie (2020-01-04). "Sweden has been named the world's most LGBTQ+ friendly country for travellers". Real Word. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
39. ^ "Lawrence v. Texas". Oyez. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
40. ^ McKinnon, Scott. "Big city gaybourhoods: where they come from and why they still matter". The Conversation. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
41. ^ "Gay Melbourne Travel Guide". 13 April 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
42. ^ "Melbourne is the fourth most LGBT+-friendly city in the world". Time Out. November 10, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
43. ^ Kenyon, Barry (2020-10-28). "Pattaya Boyztown: end of an era?". Pattaya Mail. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
44. ^ Linehan, Alice (2021-04-01). "Discover Ni-chōme, the Japanese neighbourhood with 300 gay and lesbian bars". GCN. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
45. ^ "Battered but unbowed by coronavirus, Tokyo's gay district forges stronger ties". Reuters. 2020-12-03. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
46. ^ Ordonez, Jairo (2010-07-01). "In Bogota, freedom is in the ghetto". The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide. 17 (4): 18–20.
47. ^ ^{a b} "Mosaic Brazil Sexuality Project". MundoMais. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
48. ^ Gates, Gary J. (2006). "Same-sex Couples and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Population: New Estimates from the American Community Survey" (PDF). The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy, UCLA School of Law October. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 17, 2007. Retrieved April 20, 2007.
49. ^ "Our Vision". The American LGBTQ+ Museum. Retrieved July 13, 2021.

References

• Cante, Richard C. (March 2008). Gay Men and the Forms of Contemporary US Culture. London: Ashgate Publishing.
  ISBN 978-0-7546-7230-2
  .
• Castells, Manuel 1983. The City and the Grassroots: A Cross-Cultural Theory of Urban Social Movements. Berkeley, Los Angeles: University of California Press.
• D'Emilio, John 1992. Making Trouble: Essays on Gay History, Politics, and the University. New York, London: Routledge.
• Escoffier, Jeffrey 1998. American Homo: Community and Perversity. Berkeley, Los Angeles, London: University of California Press.
• Florida, Richard 2002. The Rise of the Creative Class: And How It's Transforming Work, Leisure, Community and Everyday Life. New York: Perseus Books Group.
• Forest, Benjamin (1995). "West Hollywood as Symbol: The Significance of Place in the Construction of a Gay Identity". Environment and Planning D: Society and Space. 13 (2): 133–157.
  S2CID 145416819
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• Kenney, Moira Rachel 1998. "Remember, Stonewall was a Riot: Understanding Gay and Lesbian Experience in the City" Chapter 5, pp. 120–132 in: Leoni Sandercock (ed) Making the Invisible Visible. Berkeley, Los Angeles, London: University of California Press.
• Lauria, Mickey; Knopp, Lawrence (1985). "Toward an Analysis of the Role of Gay Communities in the Urban Renaissance". Urban Geography. 6 (2): 152–169.
  doi:10.2747/0272-3638.6.2.152
  .
• Levine, Martin P. 1979. "Gay Ghetto" pp. 182–204 in: Martin Levine (ed) Gay Men: The Sociology of Male Homosexuality. New York, Hagerstown, San Francisco, London: Harper & Row.
• Ray, Brian and Damaris Rose 2000. "Cities of the Everyday: Socio-Spatial Perspectives on Gender, Difference, and Diversity" pp. 507–512 in: Trudi Bunting and Pierre Filion (eds). Canadian Cities in Transition: The Twenty-First Century. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gay villages.

• Memoir and history of gay Upper West Side in Manhattan, NYC Archived 2012-02-16 at the Wayback Machine
• Counting Gay New York (Gotham Gazette, July 2001)
• NYC LGBT Historical Sites Project

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