The Decline of the Gayborhood

The Times ran an interesting item this morning about the decline of some notorious "gayborhoods" in major cities like the Castro in San Francisco.

As a backdrop, and perhaps for other reasons, the story is draped in the annual San Francisco Halloween bash being canceled this year. There was considerable violence last time and way too many posers showing up.

The neighborhoods are going away because people are now spreading out to the suburbs and the prior enclaves invaded by heterosexuals.

The reason for this seems to be that it's becoming less and less a big deal to be gay.

While my cohort probably has somewhat higher-than-median wages and education, I can't name a person I know under the age of 60 who I believe would give a crap if a homosexual couple moved in next door. That's not a statement about my virtue or that of my company, it's just become such an irrelevant thing to characterize someone as.

When you know this information about someone, what does it really tell you besides the obvious?

While there's something charming about the surviving socio/ethnic neighborhoods that survive in our cities, their demise is probably a good thing because of the larger story they tell. Shells of the neighborhoods will survive for a long time, but the areas no longer have to serve as the only place certain folks feel comfortable to be themselves.

My Cubs hat is tipped to the Times for an informative feel-good read today.