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Alternatively, there may always be a need for LGBTQ-specific services, no matter what the level of social acceptance.
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There is a shared understanding that the decentralization of gay neighborhoods is premature attitudes towards LGBTQ individuals are changing, but not at the speed that gayborhoods are gentrifying. In recent years, gay bars have followed LGBTQ individuals into Andersonville and other neighborhoods, while nonprofits and social services have not.
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The future of Boystown is uncertain the next few years will be crucial. As gentrifying neighborhoods continue to price out LGBTQ residents, specialized services, political clout, and opportunities will likely be diminished. Despite growing tolerance towards some segments of the LGBTQ community, there is a shared understanding that the benefits of changing attitudes have not been widespread. Researchers have developed several theories to explain the decentralization of “gayborhoods.” A popular theory suggests that the demand for gay districts has declined as gay and lesbian individuals have earned significantly higher acceptance, while other studies propose that gentrification is the result of neighborhood identity. Unfortunately, in recent years, rents and property values have skyrocketed in the neighborhood as more non-LGBTQ individuals and businesses have moved into the area. In recent years an emerging branch of queer research has begun to explore the changing dynamics of gay districts across the nation. This research project is a literature review of journal articles published from 2011 through 2018 on the replacement of queer spaces with ones geared to the white middle class. Chicago’s Boystown, one of the oldest gay districts in the country, has played a vital role in the LGBTQ community’s fight for equality and social acceptance. Is Boys Town safe Chicago?Ĭrime Rate: You’ll Be A-OK In Boystown For example, while the average crime rate in Chicago hangs around 4,000 reported criminal acts per 100,00 residents, Boystown is much safer, with a crime rate of roughly 1,048 criminal acts per 100,000 people that call this area home.Department: Institute for Policy & Civic Engagement, UIC And it’s a 30-45 minute commute to most of the major tourist sites. But there are not a lot of hotels there so you’ll have fewer options. Is Boys Town Chicago Nice?īoystown is a very nice area with lots of restaurants and bars. Known as Hollywood Beach, the gays and their friends hang out on the south side. Boystown is in Cook County and is one of the best places to live in Illinois. LGBT rights in Illinoisīoystown is a neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois with a population of 5,572. Since 2013, the Chicago Pride Parade has attracted about 1 million attendees each year…. The first pride parade took place in 1970, a year after the Stonewall riots. And while the whole city exudes a welcoming vibe, there are a couple of neighborhoods and places you shouldn’t miss.Ĭhicago has a vibrant LGBT community. Our city is known for embracing diversity and inclusion, from our world-famous Pride celebrations to establishing the country’s first official gay neighborhood. It’s known for its welcoming vibe, nonstop nightlife, LGBTQ-owned businesses, and excellent dining options. Northalsted (also known as Boystown) is one of the most country’s inclusive LGBTQ+ communities and the oldest officially recognized gay neighborhood in the United States.