Dec 02, 2007Quickie Link: Why the Gay Bars of Boston Are Disappearing
By vanrozenheim
(USA) - The disappearance of places like Buddies and Chaps may sound like a problem limited to Gay men, but it is part of a much larger trend reshaping American cities. As Gay bars vanish, so go bookstores, diners, and all kinds of spaces that once allowed "blissful public congregation." When Gays moved out of the shadows during the '70s, then began settling in certain areas of major cities (like the South End in Boston), Gay bars evolved. Some became respected neighborhood institutions, offering meeting space to social groups, sponsoring softball teams and arts festivals, distributing condoms and health information, and buying ads in local newspapers. By the mid-1980s, they were a major force in turning Gay Pride holidays into citywide celebrations, sponsoring eye-catching parade floats and raucous block parties.
