There Goes the Gayborhood? (Princeton Studies in Cultural Sociology)

An in-depth look at America's changing gay neighborhoods Gay neighborhoods, like the legendary Castro District in San Francisco and New York's Greenwich Village, have long provided sexual minorities with safe havens in an often unsafe world. But as our society increasingly accepts gays and lesbians into the mainstream, are "gayborhoods" destined to disappear? Amin Ghaziani provides an incisive look at the origins of these unique cultural enclaves, the reasons why they are changing today, and their prospects for the future. Drawing on a wealth of evidence—including census data, opinion polls, hundreds of newspaper reports from across the United States, and more than one hundred original interviews with residents in Chicago, one of the most paradigmatic cities in America— There Goes the Gayborhood? argues that political gains and societal acceptance are allowing gays and lesbians to imagine expansive possibilities for a life beyond the gayborhood. The dawn of a new post-gay era is altering the character and composition of existing enclaves across the country, but the spirit of integration can coexist alongside the celebration of differences in subtle and sometimes surprising ways. Exploring the intimate relationship between sexuality and the city, this cutting-edge book reveals how gayborhoods, like the cities that surround them, are organic and continually evolving places. Gayborhoods have nurtured sexual minorities throughout the twentieth century and, despite the unstoppable forces of flux, will remain resonant and revelatory features of urban life. Gay Neighborhoods, Like The Legendary Castro District In San Francisco And New York's Greenwich Village, Have Long Provided Sexual Minorities With Safe Havens In An Often Unsafe World. But As Our Society Increasingly Accepts Gays And Lesbians Into The Mainstream, Are Gayborhoods Destined To Disappear? Amin Ghaziani Provides An Incisive Look At The Origins Of These Unique Cultural Enclaves, The Reasons Why They Are Changing Today, And Their Prospects For The Future.drawing On A Wealth Of Evidence--including Census Data, Opinion Polls, Hundreds Of Newspaper Reports From Across The United States, And More Than One Hundred Original Interviews With Residents In Chicago, One Of The Most Paradigmatic Cities In America--there Goes The Gayborhood? Argues That Political Gains And Societal Acceptance Are Allowing Gays And Lesbians To Imagine Expansive Possibilities For A Life Beyond The Gayborhood. The Dawn Of A New Post-gay Era Is Altering The Character And Composition Of Existing Enclaves Across The Country, But The Spirit Of Integration Can Coexist Alongside The Celebration Of Differences In Subtle And Sometimes Surprising Ways. More Diverse Options For How To Structure Gay And Lesbian Lives Mean Not The Death Of Gayborhoods But Rather Their Unexpected Growth.exploring The Intimate Relationship Between Sexuality And The City, This Cutting-edge Book Reveals How Gayborhoods, Like The Cities That Surround Them, Are Organic And Continually Evolving Places. Gayborhoods Have Nurtured Sexual Minorities Throughout The Twentieth Century And, Despite The Unstoppable Forces Of Flux, Will Remain Resonant And Revelatory Features Of Urban Life-- Part 1: Gayborhoods Are Changing. Beyond The Gayborhood ; The Happiest Ending ; Triggers -- Part 2: But Are They Disappearing?. Cultural Archipelagos ; Resonance ; Reinvention -- Conclusions. Amin Ghaziani. Includes Bibliographical References (pages [315]-335) And Index. "Gay neighborhoods, like the legendary Castro District in San Francisco and New York's Greenwich Village, have long provided sexual minorities with safe havens in an often unsafe world. But as our society increasingly accepts gays and lesbians into the mainstream, are "gayborhoods" destined to disappear? Amin Ghaziani provides an incisive look at the origins of these unique cultural enclaves, the reasons why they are changing today, and their prospects for the future. Drawing on a wealth of evidence--including census data, opinion polls, hundreds of newspaper reports from across the United States, and more than one hundred original interviews with residents in Chicago, one of the most paradigmatic cities in America--There Goes the Gayborhood? argues that political gains and societal acceptance are allowing gays and lesbians to imagine expansive possibilities for a life beyond the gayborhood. The dawn of a new post-gay era is altering the character and composition of existing enclaves across the country, but the spirit of integration can coexist alongside the celebration of differences in subtle and sometimes surprising ways. More diverse options for how to structure gay and lesbian lives mean not the death of gayborhoods but rather their unexpected growth. Exploring the intimate relationship between sexuality and the city, this cutting-edge book reveals how gayborhoods, like the cities that surround them, are organic and continually evolving places. Gayborhoods have nurtured sexual minorities throughout the twentieth century and, despite the unstoppable forces of flux, will remain resonant and revelatory features of urban life."-- Provided by publisher "Gay neighborhoods, like the legendary Castro District in San Francisco and New York's Greenwich Village, have long provided sexual minorities with safe havens in an often unsafe world. But as our society increasingly accepts gays and lesbians into the mainstream, are "gayborhoods" destined to disappear? Amin Ghaziani provides an incisive look at the origins of these unique cultural enclaves, the reasons why they are changing today, and their prospects for the future. Drawing on a wealth of evidence--including census data, opinion polls, hundreds of newspaper reports from across the United States, and more than one hundred original interviews with residents in Chicago, one of the most paradigmatic cities in America--There Goes the Gayborhood? argues that political gains and societal acceptance are allowing gays and lesbians to imagine expansive possibilities for a life beyond the gayborhood. The dawn of a new post-gay era is altering the character and composition of existing enclaves across the country, but the spirit of integration can coexist alongside the celebration of differences in subtle and sometimes surprising ways. Exploring the intimate relationship between sexuality and the city, this cutting-edge book reveals how gayborhoods, like the cities that surround them, are organic and continually evolving places. Gayborhoods have nurtured sexual minorities throughout the twentieth century and, despite the unstoppable forces of flux, will remain resonant and revelatory features of urban life."--Provided by the publisher Gay neighborhoods, like the legendary Castro District in San Francisco and New York's Greenwich Village, have long provided sexual minorities with safe havens in an often unsafe world. But as our society increasingly accepts gays and lesbians into the mainstream, are “gayborhoods” destined to disappear? This book provides an incisive look at the origins of these unique cultural enclaves, the reasons why they are changing today, and their prospects for the future. Drawing on a wealth of evidenc—including census data, opinion polls, hundreds of newspaper reports from across the United States, and more than 100 original interviews with residents in Chicago, one of the most paradigmatic cities in America—the book argues that political gains and societal acceptance are allowing gays and lesbians to imagine expansive possibilities for a life beyond the gayborhood. The dawn of a new post-gay era is altering the character and composition of existing enclaves across the country, but the spirit of integration can coexist alongside the celebration of differences in subtle and sometimes surprising ways. Exploring the intimate relationship between sexuality and the city, the book reveals how gayborhoods, like the cities that surround them, are organic and continually evolving places. Gayborhoods have nurtured sexual minorities throughout the twentieth century and, despite the unstoppable forces of flux, will remain resonant and revelatory features of urban life. Introduction 1 PART I. GAYBORHOODS ARE CHANGING . . . Chapter 1 Beyond the Gayborhood 35 Chapter 2 The Happiest Ending 64 Chapter 3 Triggers 102 PART II. BUT ARE THEY DISAPPEARING? Chapter 4 Cultural Archipelagos 133 Chapter 5 Resonance 166 Chapter 6 Reinvention 210 Conclusions 244 Acknowledgments 261 The Language of Sexuality 267 Appendix: What Are Gayborhoods? How Do We Study Them? 271 Notes 287 Works Cited 315 Index 337