By David Jacques
contributor
Palm Springs. Provincetown. Chelsea. It seems like these ultra-gay oases might be a dying breed.
A few months ago, I spent some time in the beautiful, old-Hollywood town of Palm Springs, CA. Portions of Palm Springs are very, very gay. And it seems to me that 20, 30 or 40 years ago, the world’s gayborhoods were some of the only places where gay people felt safe to express themselves openly. They served a real and very necessary purpose.
Today, things are different. Somewhat. Whether I’m at home in Rhode Island, or spending time in Toronto, I don’t feel unsafe showing affection for my boyfriend. People’s perspectives on being gay have evolved, and though there is still much room to grow, things have gotten better. And so as ‘everywhere else’ becomes more accepting, the need for the Provincetown's of the world is starting to dwindle.
Instead of living in the gay Meccas, most of my 20-something gay friends view these places—Palm Springs, Provincetown, Chelsea—as vacation destinations. It’s refreshing to spend a week or two not being in the sexual minority, but there’s no need to permanently relocate.
Beyond safety, there’s still something great about the sense of community a gay individual gets in a place like Palm Springs. Connecting with other LGBTQ individuals and sharing stories and experiences can be a very powerful thing.
But I can’t help but think that as the younger generations of gay people grow up and assimilate, the days are numbered for these gayborhoods. Decades ago, LGBTQ young people flocked to these gay-centric cities and towns to create a life for themselves. Today, they go there for a vacation. It’s a marked difference, and I wonder how the next generation of LGBTQ people will regard these gay Meccas. Will they still serve a purpose in an increasingly accepting world?
In my eyes, the possible demise of the gayborhood is a bittersweet prospect. It’s great that the world is evolving and becoming more accepting, but it’s certainly sad that these amazing and colorful communities may be dissipating.
What do you think? Are the gay Meccas a dying breed? And is that a good thing?