Saving Gay Neighborhoods From Their Own Success

Once a force of gentrification themselves, gays and lesbians are increasingly being displaced from once queer urban enclaves that have become popular and upscale.

1 minute read

November 27, 2006, 8:00 AM PST

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera


"A few decades ago, straights in urban neighborhoods around the country were nervously watching a 'gay invasion' of their territory as local communities became gentrified by a property-buying influx of LGBT individuals."

"Now those same gay-friendly neighborhoods are threatened by a new wave of gentrification as real estate pressures displace longtime queer businesses and residents, threatening the identity of the "safe havens" created in the 1960s and 1970s."

The growing displacement will be the subject of a series of panel discussions at the GLBT Historical Society in San Francisco. The opening talk, 'Are Gay Neighborhoods Worth Saving,' will focus on gay neighborhoods such as the Castro neighborhood in San Francisco and the City of West Hollywood, CA, which have become desirable urban neighborhoods for gays and straights alike.

Thursday, November 23, 2006 in Bay Area Reporter

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Bronze or metal Native American mask sculpture in park in Minnehaha County.

‘Minnesota Nice’ Isn’t so Nice When You Can’t Find a Place to Live

The Economic Development and Housing Challenge Program can help address the scourge of homelessness among Indigenous people.

15 minutes ago - Minnesota Reformer

Children and adults biking and hanging out on an Open Street closed to vehicles in New York City during the Covid-19 pandemic.

NYC Open Streets Organizers Call for City Support

The number of open streets projects has dropped year after year as volunteer groups struggle to fund and staff them.

1 hour ago - StreetsBlog NYC

Floor-to-ceiling rotating gates at Fairmount subway station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems

SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

April 28 - Mass Transit