‘Gayborhoods’ are becoming more straight: research
Posted July 28, 2014 11:49 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – As Vancouver’s gay community begins to celebrate Pride Week, new research shows traditionally “gay” neighbourhoods across North America are becoming more “straight.”
Traditionally gay neighbourhoods have eight per cent fewer gay men and 13 per cent fewer lesbians than a decade ago, says Amin Ghaziani with UBC, who has authored a new book called There Goes the Gayborhood?.
He says this shows more acceptance. “LGBT-identified individuals say that they no longer feel confined to the singular streets of just one gayborhood, as they feel more accepted by straight society.”
But Ghazini maintains “gayborhoods” are still important for providing things like same-sex housing.
“Housing discrimination against same-sex couples and households continues,” he tells us. “That level of discrimination tends to be higher outside of gayborhoods than it tends to be within them.”
He feels “de-gaying” in these areas could result in lower LGBT voting power and a loss of cultural identity.
“These areas, historically, have provided ways for the LGBT community to organize politically, either in response to an event against the community, a hate crime, as a way to express their electoral preferences,” he argues.
Ghaziani notes he is pleasantly surprised to see the gay community create new hubs in surprise areas, including spots around desirable schools, with more same-sex couples having children.
