What does the prescence (or lack) of a gay area tell you about a city?

Question

I think it says to me that the city is thriving. A lack of a gay scene means the place is dead, dying, or in the infant stages of growth.

I can't believe all the retarded answers here, if you dont like homos, what are you doing in this section? Im not gay either, but just stick to the question

Answer 1

The presence or lack of a gay population in an area is a good indicator of social acceptance in the region. Most of the larger cities and cutting edge urban environments have gay areas and usually you will see an increase in property values and a sense of style and liveliness to the area. As far as an indicator for the stage of a cities existence, it's really hard to say, however it has been the trend for the gay population to inhabit areas previously considered blighted and start a process of gentrification in those areas.

Answer 2

First it tells me that I have no interest in living or visiting that city. Second, it tells me that there is probably no arts or culture there either.

By the way, I am confused by your explanation... "I think it says to me that the city is thriving. A lack of a gay scene means the place is dead, dying, or in the infant stages of growth." (Those sentences seem to contradict each other.)

Sorry...I read your question as Lack of ... not presence of...my bad! :-0

Answer 3

Your observation is dead on. I have travelled to many cities around the world and although it is only anecdotal, there does seem to be a correlation between a thriving gay community and a thriving metropolis. More cosmopolitan cities tend to have large gay populations and if you travel a lot, you can see the effect it has. Most gay neighbourhoods tend to be clean, filled with shops and usually the best restaurants and clubs. It also tends to bring in business as gays have more disposable income which allows for larger revenue to the city. Truth is, gays on average spend more on large ticket items than straights (3 to 1) and as such more businesses and cities are beginning to cater to that untapped segment of the population. Bottom line, cities with large gay centres will thrive and attract big business and big money, those that don't tend to dwindle and fade.

Answer 4

First let me say I believe everyone should live how they want to live and I have gay friends. However, I am kind of tired of gay people expecting that the rest of the world go out of their way to make them be recognized. I don't spend my time talking about my sex life or my preference of genders. I am straight. If you are looking for a place to relocate to, and you are gay, then perhaps you have a different question??
I live in Rhode Island, there are a lot of gay scenes here. What that tells me is that there is a large enough gay population to be catered to if these businesses are thriving. There are gay people everywhere, maybe some areas have more than others. If there is a city with little bars and clubs that cater to the gay population, maybe no one has been bold enough to open one, maybe it's not as accepted by the locals. New York for example is a huge city. Go into the village and you will find whatever you are looking for in a non straight environment, but you won't find gay areas all over the city, and New York is far from dying or dead.
Life is what YOU make it sweety, so please, stop making a spectacle out of yourself if you don't want others to.

Answer 5

If it is segregated what does that say about a city???? My city is not really segregated and I like that. So that area is not really a gay area it is an everyone area. Gay people are everywhere in the city. It is pretty open. I like the vegan answer. We do not have segregated areas. I am not gay, but if there is a gay area then I hang out in it along with tons of other straight people. It is an area full of independent business fine food and the arts. It is away from the chain stores and chain restaurants.

Answer 6

lack of places for gay people to go out and have a good time means that a city is not open to new thoughts and ideas....usually smaller southern towns are closed minded.

Answer 7

it depends who's living there. Personally, i find the idea of 'gay areas' as distasteful as a 'straight area' (or a 'black only college' compared to 'white only college'). Communal areas where everyone should feel comfortable being in the company of other human beings: those are the sorts of places a city needs to be healthy.

Answer 8

Taste, Diversity, Tolerance, Acceptance, Civility, Liberality... or lack there of.

Answer 9

The lack of a gay area can also point to intolerance of gays or such a small population of gays that a business cannot be supported.

Answer 10

I don't think so. Gays are only accepted in certain areas. Many thriving cities have low gay populations such as Montreal, Toronto, Pheonix, LA, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Jacksonville, Denver, Salt Lake City, Boston, Portland, etc. Many cities do not accept gays nor ever will. Gays usually lead to bad parts of the city such as San Fran., NYC, Key West, etc.