Comments on: Washington DC: The Death of the Gay Ghetto? http://thenewgay.net/2007/11/death-of-gay-ghetto.html For Everyone Over the Rainbow Wed, 23 May 2012 20:37:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: cellmaker http://thenewgay.net/2007/11/death-of-gay-ghetto.html#comment-234 cellmaker Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:10:00 +0000 http://tngmichael.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/the-death-of-the-gay-ghetto/#comment-234 I think there's a little too much emphasis on the idea that gay people have been swooping in on undervalued real estate to make a gay neighborhood.<br/><br/>I'm sort of in the middle of the pack, having come of age in the 1980s, but there's not doubt that coming out was not exactly easy during the Reagan years, and living a bit in the shadows (or at least away from the frowning suburbs) was very appealing. <br/><br/>As a brand of social outlaw, gay people fit in well in the abandoned neighborhoods, and banding together brought both safety and and the beginnings of an economic renaissance to those parts of the city. Straight women followed, what with plenty of men to shield them from harm while posing basically no threat. Straight men then follow the women, and within a relatively short time the gay neighborhood starts to look like the rest of America.<br/><br/>Now being gay is so "normal" that there's little need to hang out with other social outcasts. And so, as we get mainstreamed we're as likely to live in Kensington as Shaw.<br/><br/>Charlie in Logan <br/><br/> --who moved there when it was a scary dump because he couldn't afford Dupont anymore -- go figure I think there’s a little too much emphasis on the idea that gay people have been swooping in on undervalued real estate to make a gay neighborhood.

I’m sort of in the middle of the pack, having come of age in the 1980s, but there’s not doubt that coming out was not exactly easy during the Reagan years, and living a bit in the shadows (or at least away from the frowning suburbs) was very appealing.

As a brand of social outlaw, gay people fit in well in the abandoned neighborhoods, and banding together brought both safety and and the beginnings of an economic renaissance to those parts of the city. Straight women followed, what with plenty of men to shield them from harm while posing basically no threat. Straight men then follow the women, and within a relatively short time the gay neighborhood starts to look like the rest of America.

Now being gay is so “normal” that there’s little need to hang out with other social outcasts. And so, as we get mainstreamed we’re as likely to live in Kensington as Shaw.

Charlie in Logan

–who moved there when it was a scary dump because he couldn’t afford Dupont anymore — go figure

]]> By: Anonymous http://thenewgay.net/2007/11/death-of-gay-ghetto.html#comment-233 Anonymous Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:43:00 +0000 http://tngmichael.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/the-death-of-the-gay-ghetto/#comment-233 I don't know, with Nellie's and Town opening up in the U St. area and BeBar in Shaw, I wonder if it isn't just moving east, at least in DC. With 17th St. aging, aren't the kids just finding a new neighborhood for themselves? U St. used to be a fun place to go, but now it's just Little Dupont to me. I don’t know, with Nellie’s and Town opening up in the U St. area and BeBar in Shaw, I wonder if it isn’t just moving east, at least in DC. With 17th St. aging, aren’t the kids just finding a new neighborhood for themselves? U St. used to be a fun place to go, but now it’s just Little Dupont to me.

]]> By: Ben http://thenewgay.net/2007/11/death-of-gay-ghetto.html#comment-232 Ben Thu, 08 Nov 2007 02:01:00 +0000 http://tngmichael.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/the-death-of-the-gay-ghetto/#comment-232 I was going to go to the Castro for Halloween, but I was convinced to skip it by nearly every local I spoke with, due to the violence that has increased every year. Apparently some of the gays protested in the streets, but I don't blame the city for shutting down public transit to the castro if people are getting shot, stabbed, and murdered every year. I went there twice this week. Many people commented about "what it once was." It has such a dionysian past, I was surprised by a heavily older crowd as well as the sleepy quality of the place, even on a Saturday night. I agree totally with your comment about the spread of the community. I found the mission district to be just as gay, but filled with moes that are more newgay/share common interests. If I lived here I think I could live a very gay life without ever going to the Castro. I feel that in time, the same could be said in DC, with newgays relegating dupont to the margins while focusing on the Shaw neighborhood or beyond. I was going to go to the Castro for Halloween, but I was convinced to skip it by nearly every local I spoke with, due to the violence that has increased every year. Apparently some of the gays protested in the streets, but I don’t blame the city for shutting down public transit to the castro if people are getting shot, stabbed, and murdered every year. I went there twice this week. Many people commented about “what it once was.” It has such a dionysian past, I was surprised by a heavily older crowd as well as the sleepy quality of the place, even on a Saturday night. I agree totally with your comment about the spread of the community. I found the mission district to be just as gay, but filled with moes that are more newgay/share common interests. If I lived here I think I could live a very gay life without ever going to the Castro. I feel that in time, the same could be said in DC, with newgays relegating dupont to the margins while focusing on the Shaw neighborhood or beyond.

]]> By: RyanA http://thenewgay.net/2007/11/death-of-gay-ghetto.html#comment-231 RyanA Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:09:00 +0000 http://tngmichael.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/the-death-of-the-gay-ghetto/#comment-231 You're right that gayborhoods are the victim of their own success. The process of gentrification is often started by gays who have the disposable income to revitalize property and lack the concern of safety and schools for their kids. Once the gayborhood brings in nightlife, slightly higher safety, and increased property values, it becomes more appealing to young straight singles, and on and on. We become priced out of areas like the Castro, Dupont, Rittenhouse, etc. and have to move on.<br/><br/>But I do think the era of the super gayborhood has passed. Now that cities are much gay friendlier than they once were, the need to ghettoize is not as strong. It's kind of sad (huge all-gay neighborhoods are fun) but is really a sign of progress in some ways. You’re right that gayborhoods are the victim of their own success. The process of gentrification is often started by gays who have the disposable income to revitalize property and lack the concern of safety and schools for their kids. Once the gayborhood brings in nightlife, slightly higher safety, and increased property values, it becomes more appealing to young straight singles, and on and on. We become priced out of areas like the Castro, Dupont, Rittenhouse, etc. and have to move on.

But I do think the era of the super gayborhood has passed. Now that cities are much gay friendlier than they once were, the need to ghettoize is not as strong. It’s kind of sad (huge all-gay neighborhoods are fun) but is really a sign of progress in some ways.

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