The Element of Space

In Jennings book, Tomboys and Bachelor Girls, a large aspect in the development of the lesbian community was the element of space. Space was also a factor in the homosexual identity after World War I, as seen in A History of Homosexuality in Europe: Berlin, London, Paris 1919-1939. In both cases, the homosexual community was forced to create its culture and identity in certain spaces that were alloted to it; For example, gay bars and pubs were centralized to a certain district in both London and Paris, and lesbian clubs were forced to locations where they were discreet and camouflaged.

Coincidentally, the homosexual community today in the United States - at least Chicago - sees the same sort of "herding" of gays into a certain section of the city. Boystown, located on the north side of Chicago, is known for two things: 1) Its proximity to Wrigley Field and 2) The abundance of rainbow flags that encompass its 15 block radius. Boystown is, as the saying goes, where the gays go to play, and not so ironically where much of the homosexual community makes up its permanent residence.

So why is it that 2010 in the north side of Chicago is no different than the 1930's or 1950's in London? I'm not entirely sure of the history of Boystown, but I believe I can safely assume this isn't a random parallel. Did society believe that by containing the gay population in a certain area that they would be able to remove them from their city, and culture, all together? It may seem like a pretty silly notion, but maybe if the gays didn't have to be seen by the more superior heterosexual population, then maybe homosexuals didn't really exist.

Chicago today is a pretty gay-friendly city. It proudly boasts one of the most lively and large gay-pride parades in the nation, and the gay bars that I have been to in the city have still been some of the best times I have had. So why, then, is Boystown still known as the "gay" part of the city? And does this go to prove that no matter how accepting and gay-friendly a city is, does it still give the city some sort of "relief" that the gay community is centralized to a certain area?