Comments on: Place: Gay People Make Better Communities http://thenewgay.net/2008/04/gay-people-make-better-communities.html For Everyone Over the Rainbow Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:21:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Anonymous http://thenewgay.net/2008/04/gay-people-make-better-communities.html#comment-1948 Anonymous Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:20:00 +0000 http://tngmichael.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/gay-people-make-better-communities/#comment-1948 last time i checked minnie mouse isn't gay. last time i checked minnie mouse isn’t gay.

]]> By: D Castle http://thenewgay.net/2008/04/gay-people-make-better-communities.html#comment-1947 D Castle Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:46:00 +0000 http://tngmichael.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/gay-people-make-better-communities/#comment-1947 I'm giddy about this recent topic, Ben. Race and ethnicity issues in the gay community was the subject of some major research of mine last year. While I didn't focus on gentrification specifically, your questions here are reminiscent of the ones I had with respect to coverage of gay communities of color (specifically with regards to the AIDS issue) in The Advocate over the last 30 years. My findings were pretty revealing, yet, speaking as a fortunate and educated gay person of color, they were not that surprising. Gay people of color, especially the poor, have largely been ignored, especially in our communities unofficial news magazine of record. If this is the case for gay media, I imagine the same probably holds true for the gentrification process. <br/><br/>Now, whether they want to participate is another question (though their participation is mostly involuntary as they are slowly squeezed out), but I suspect that they too would appreciate well-appointed homes and picturesque yards.<br/><br/>I don't know what gay communities of the future will look like, but I'm glad we're having this dialogue so that we make sure they're as inclusive as possible. It's about time. I’m giddy about this recent topic, Ben. Race and ethnicity issues in the gay community was the subject of some major research of mine last year. While I didn’t focus on gentrification specifically, your questions here are reminiscent of the ones I had with respect to coverage of gay communities of color (specifically with regards to the AIDS issue) in The Advocate over the last 30 years. My findings were pretty revealing, yet, speaking as a fortunate and educated gay person of color, they were not that surprising. Gay people of color, especially the poor, have largely been ignored, especially in our communities unofficial news magazine of record. If this is the case for gay media, I imagine the same probably holds true for the gentrification process.

Now, whether they want to participate is another question (though their participation is mostly involuntary as they are slowly squeezed out), but I suspect that they too would appreciate well-appointed homes and picturesque yards.

I don’t know what gay communities of the future will look like, but I’m glad we’re having this dialogue so that we make sure they’re as inclusive as possible. It’s about time.

]]> By: runnybabbit http://thenewgay.net/2008/04/gay-people-make-better-communities.html#comment-1946 runnybabbit Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:32:00 +0000 http://tngmichael.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/gay-people-make-better-communities/#comment-1946 I'm really torn about this issue. On the one hand, urban neighborhoods are necessarily dynamic and to say that one group or other should have a permanent claim is just silly nostalgia. It's a little patronizing, in my opinion, to assert that white gay males just "happen" to these black working class communities and they have no recourse but to "be pushed" out like debris. Why isn't it plausible to acknowledge that these people, much like middle class whites mid-century, are taking advantage of opportunities presented by economic advancement and moving to places where they can get more square footage for their money and chase the dream of a better life for themselves and their families? On the other hand, it is really unfortunate that these neighborhoods have become so monochromatic. Public/subsidized housing almost never works and there are never enough lower-income units. The focus should be on creating incentives to draw these middle class minorities back to the urban center much like successful efforts to draw suburban whites have contributed to the current demographic situation. Don't assume that these people want, anymore than you do, to live in run-down "ghettos" with poverty and crime run amok. A brownstone in dupont may be out of their financial reach, but a ranch home in landover offers a much more appealing option than a socially-ill, blighted cityscape. Just some thoughts. Great discussions about race and class lately, btw. I've been waiting for some of this. I’m really torn about this issue. On the one hand, urban neighborhoods are necessarily dynamic and to say that one group or other should have a permanent claim is just silly nostalgia. It’s a little patronizing, in my opinion, to assert that white gay males just “happen” to these black working class communities and they have no recourse but to “be pushed” out like debris. Why isn’t it plausible to acknowledge that these people, much like middle class whites mid-century, are taking advantage of opportunities presented by economic advancement and moving to places where they can get more square footage for their money and chase the dream of a better life for themselves and their families? On the other hand, it is really unfortunate that these neighborhoods have become so monochromatic. Public/subsidized housing almost never works and there are never enough lower-income units. The focus should be on creating incentives to draw these middle class minorities back to the urban center much like successful efforts to draw suburban whites have contributed to the current demographic situation. Don’t assume that these people want, anymore than you do, to live in run-down “ghettos” with poverty and crime run amok. A brownstone in dupont may be out of their financial reach, but a ranch home in landover offers a much more appealing option than a socially-ill, blighted cityscape. Just some thoughts. Great discussions about race and class lately, btw. I’ve been waiting for some of this.

]]> By: The Gayographer http://thenewgay.net/2008/04/gay-people-make-better-communities.html#comment-1945 The Gayographer Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:15:00 +0000 http://tngmichael.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/gay-people-make-better-communities/#comment-1945 OK so I guess it is pretty cool to be anti-gentrification. But is it wise to say "I don't want to be part of a gentrification process." What is the alternative, continue greenfield development at the urban fringe? Because that is what the young middle class default to when they can't find appealing options in town. While I suppose it hasn't been found in DC yet, there is a way to accomplish urban redevelopment (gentrification?) while still respecting the communities that exist.<br/><br/>As far as what the gay communities of the future will look like, I think we are already getting a hint. Rather than single-center, concentrated communities like Dupont through the late 90s we will see multiple centers connected by the networks of people who live in those places. OK so I guess it is pretty cool to be anti-gentrification. But is it wise to say “I don’t want to be part of a gentrification process.” What is the alternative, continue greenfield development at the urban fringe? Because that is what the young middle class default to when they can’t find appealing options in town. While I suppose it hasn’t been found in DC yet, there is a way to accomplish urban redevelopment (gentrification?) while still respecting the communities that exist.

As far as what the gay communities of the future will look like, I think we are already getting a hint. Rather than single-center, concentrated communities like Dupont through the late 90s we will see multiple centers connected by the networks of people who live in those places.

]]> By: coach http://thenewgay.net/2008/04/gay-people-make-better-communities.html#comment-1944 coach Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:03:00 +0000 http://tngmichael.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/gay-people-make-better-communities/#comment-1944 personally, i don't want to succeed at being a part of a gentrifying process. anybody seen the documentary flag wars about the tension between a historically black comm. in columbus and gay gentrification? <br/>there were people fighting for shaw & logan in the 80s & 90s, they just did it the old-school way, and that doesn't hold a candle to shit tons of disposable income. personally, i don’t want to succeed at being a part of a gentrifying process. anybody seen the documentary flag wars about the tension between a historically black comm. in columbus and gay gentrification?
there were people fighting for shaw & logan in the 80s & 90s, they just did it the old-school way, and that doesn’t hold a candle to shit tons of disposable income.

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