Editing Gay village (section)

==List of gay villages==
{{Main|List of gay villages}}

=== North America ===
====United States====
Data from the [[2010 United States census]] showed that [[Provincetown, Massachusetts]], had the most gay couples out of any city in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://provincetowntourismoffice.org/Blog.aspx?IID=26 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713235931/http://provincetowntourismoffice.org/Blog.aspx?IID=26 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-13 |title=Tourism Office of Provincetown, MA |publisher=Provincetowntourismoffice.org |date=2012-01-31 |access-date=2013-09-05 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://gawker.com/5833349/the-us-census-declares-the-gayest-city-in-america |title=The U.S. Census Declares the Gayest City in America |publisher=Gawker.com |date=2011-08-22 |access-date=2013-09-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820080218/http://gawker.com/5833349/the-us-census-declares-the-gayest-city-in-america |archive-date=2013-08-20 }}</ref> Provincetown, or Ptown, was also voted "Best Resort Town in 2011" by Gaycities.com.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gaycities.com/best-of-2011/vote.php?page=3 |title=Resort Town Results - Best of GayCities 2011 |publisher=GayCities |access-date=2013-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510110211/http://www.gaycities.com/best-of-2011/vote.php?page=3 |archive-date=2012-05-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The town had far more gay marriages than straight marriages performed since 2003 when Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriage. The town's various businesses sponsor Gay Men's Week, Women's Week, Bear Week, Family Week (for same-sex families), and their version of a gay pride parade, Carnival.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ptown.org/Calendar.asp |title=Calendar of Events |publisher=Ptown.org |date=2013-05-16 |access-date=2013-09-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909002846/http://www.ptown.org/Calendar.asp |archive-date=2013-09-09 }}</ref> Famous gay residents currently include journalist [[Andrew Sullivan]], filmmaker [[John Waters (filmmaker)|John Waters]], and comedian [[Kate Clinton]].

Some cities have a very well-defined gay village in the heart of a larger area that also has a significant gay population. One example of this phenomenon is [[Davie Village]] in the heart of [[Vancouver]]'s gay community. It sits within the greater [[West End, Vancouver|West End]] area, which, though decently populated by gay people, is not necessarily considered a gay village.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holliday |first=Ian |date=2014-08-04 |title=There goes the gayborhood? UBC prof says Davie Street changing, not dying |url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/there-goes-the-gayborhood-ubc-prof-says-davie-street-changing-not-dying-1.1945844 |access-date=2022-12-02 |website=British Columbia |language=en}}</ref>

Boystown in Chicago is also a very well-defined gay village situated within the larger Lakeview neighborhood. Lakeview is an affluent neighborhood with a reputation for being a stronghold of liberal and progressive political views. Outside of Boystown, Lakeview is a mixture of both gay and straight citizens and families, but Boystown is the main gay village.<ref name="making-boystown">{{Cite web |last1=Jackson |first1=Jason |last2=Nargis |first2=Steven |title=Making Chicago's Boystown |url=http://interactive.wbez.org/curiouscity/makingboystown |access-date=2022-11-19 |website=interactive.wbez.org}}</ref> Boystown began with a cluster of bars on North Halsted Street and blossomed into an entire district dedicated to LGBT life and culture in the 1980s. According to the founders of Sidetrack, one of these pioneering bars, Boystown was only to grow as much as it did because its residents were politically engaged and actively resisted city efforts to drive them underground. Gay bars in boystown also served as a hub of AIDS related activism.<ref name="making-boystown" />
[[File:Boystown, Lakeview, Chicago, Illinois (28522731417).jpg|thumb|Boystown in [[Chicago, Illinois]]]]
Andersonville is another of Chicago's gay villages. It became known as "Girlstown" in the 1980s and 1990s following an influx of lesbian couples to the area. Residents attribute this initial migration to a well-loved feminist bookstore called Women and Children First moving to Andersonville after being priced out of Boystown. In the mid-2000s, more families and older people started moving into Boystown, and many gay men also made the move to Girlstown. In the last decade, the number of married gay men in Andersonville actually surpassed the number of married lesbians and many of the neighborhood's lesbian-centric business have closed. Still, Andersonville retains its historical significance for the lesbian community and its identity as a haven for LGBT people.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saying Goodbye To 'Girlstown': Andersonville's Lesbian Population Shrinks |url=https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160822/andersonville/saying-goodbye-girlstown-andersonvilles-lesbian-population-shrinks |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=DNAinfo Chicago |archive-date=2017-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109134736/https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160822/andersonville/saying-goodbye-girlstown-andersonvilles-lesbian-population-shrinks |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Despite its large gay population and higher concentration of gay venues, the [[South Beach]] area in [[Miami Beach, Florida]], was never exclusively gay, because of its popularity among straight people alike. [[Washington Square West, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania#The Gayborhoood|Philadelphia's traditional gay village]] comprises several downtown blocks and is called "the Gayborhood". The [[LGBT culture in Philadelphia]] has an established presence that includes clubs, bars, and restaurants as well as health facilities for the LGBT community. Philadelphia's "Gayborhood" contains 68 rainbow street sign signs throughout the community.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://hiddencityphila.org/2014/02/the-roots-of-the-gayborhood-the-eve-of-a-milestone/|title = The Roots of the Gayborhood, The Eve of a Milestone|date = 14 February 2014|access-date = 12 June 2014|website = HiddenCityPhila.org|publisher = William Way Center|last = Skiba|first = Bob|archive-date = 9 July 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140709070924/http://hiddencityphila.org/2014/02/the-roots-of-the-gayborhood-the-eve-of-a-milestone/|url-status = live}}</ref> [[Washington, D.C.]]'s Dupont Circle and Logan Circle area are known for its many gay oriented bars, restaurants, and shops. Dupont Circle is also known for its annual High Heel Drag Queen Race.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Levey |first=Robert F. |date=16 June 1977 |title=The gay life at Dupont Circle |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1977/06/16/the-gay-life-at-dupont-circle/37415132-ce48-4edc-96e6-a80cb072fc13/ |access-date=1 December 2022}}</ref> [[The Short North]] in downtown [[Columbus, Ohio]], is primarily known as an art district, but has a strong gay community and a high concentration of gay-oriented clubs and bars. In Boston, the trendy and upscale South End neighborhood has a large population of gay men, and the [[Jamaica Plain, Boston|Jamaica Plain]] and [[Roslindale, Boston|Roslindale]] neighborhoods are home to scores of lesbians, also with vibrant but less trendy downtown areas. Montreal's [[Gay Village, Montreal|Gay Village]] (''Le Village'', in [[French language|French]]) is considered one of North America's largest in population, concentration, and scope.<ref name=MontrealVillageGai>{{cite web |url=http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/PES_PUBLICATIONS_FR/PUBLICATIONS/VILLAGE_GAI.PDF |title=Official census of the Gay Village Montreal 2001 |access-date=2013-11-17 |language=fr |archive-date=2013-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510191001/http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/PES_PUBLICATIONS_FR/PUBLICATIONS/VILLAGE_GAI.PDF |url-status=live }}</ref>

San Diego has its own gay village called [[Hillcrest, San Diego, California|Hillcrest]], which sits around [[Balboa Park, San Diego|Balboa Park]]. Hillcrest is very close to the downtown area but is able to maintain a small town eclectic feel.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hillcrest |url=https://sandiegohistory.org/journal/2000/october/hillcrest-htm/ |access-date=2022-12-02 |website=San Diego History Center {{!}} San Diego, CA {{!}} Our City, Our Story |language=en-US}}</ref> While it is considered by most as the gay area of San Diego with its gay bars and dance clubs, the overall population of the area has only gotten more and more diverse with the rise in condominium projects. Having been priced out of owning or renting in the Hillcrest area, the San Diego LGBT community has spread outward for miles into North Park, University Heights and dozens more neighborhoods. These diverse, welcoming areas have slowly continued the gentrifying process.

In [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]], areas surrounding [[Loring Park, Minneapolis|Loring Park]], site of the local LGBT pride festival, are regarded as a "gay" neighborhood, though many gay and lesbian people have migrated to more residential neighborhoods such as Bryn Mawr and Whittier.{{Original research inline|date=January 2024}}

In [[Tampa, Florida]], the gay community was traditionally spread out among several neighborhoods. In the early 21st century, the [[Ybor City]] National Historic Landmark District has seen the creation of the [[GaYbor]] District, which is now the center of gay and lesbian life in the Tampa Bay area and home to the majority of gay bars and dance clubs, restaurants, and service organizations. Across [[Tampa Bay]] in [[St. Petersburg, Florida|St. Petersburg]], the LGBT community is centered around the [[Grand Central, St. Petersburg, Florida|Grand Central]] neighborhood near downtown.<ref>{{cite web |date=2009-05-29 |title=Flag fracas tells a lot about St. Petersburg's relationship to gay community - Tampa Bay Times |url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/article1005356.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009104646/http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/article1005356.ece |archive-date=2012-10-09 |access-date=2012-06-10 |publisher=Tampabay.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=June 25, 2009 |title=We've got the top Tampa bars, nightclubs for you -- all 100 |newspaper=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |url=http://www.tampabay.com/features/food/bars/article1013454.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=June 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604182907/http://www.tampabay.com/features/food/bars/article1013454.ece |archive-date=June 4, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Warner |first=David |date=2009-06-22 |title=Hail to the Queens: Queenshead bar opens in Grand Central today (video) &#124; Daily Loaf |url=http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/dailyloaf/2009/06/22/hail-to-the-queens-queenshead-bar-opens-in-grand-central-today-video/ |access-date=2012-06-10 |publisher=Blogs.creativeloafing.com}}</ref> In [[Orlando, Florida]], the gay community is centered around the neighborhoods of Thornton Park and Eola Heights.

[[Asbury Park, New Jersey]], and the adjacent town of [[Ocean Grove, New Jersey]], house large gay communities. Many vacationers who visit [[Asbury Park]] are gay, and the city houses [[New Jersey]]'s only gay hotel, [[The Empress Hotel (New Jersey)|The Empress Hotel]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Homepage |url=https://asburyempress.com/ |access-date=July 13, 2021 |website=Asbury Empress}}</ref> [[Collingswood, New Jersey]], a suburb of [[Philadelphia]], also houses a prominent year-round gay community. [[Ogunquit, Maine]], has a gay population of year-round residents and second homeowners.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lodging, Travel and Nightlife in Ogunquit, Maine |url=http://www.gayogunquit.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330185732/http://www.gayogunquit.com/ |archive-date=March 30, 2018 |access-date=January 5, 2021 |website=Gay Ogunquit}}</ref>

[[Greater Los Angeles]] includes several gayborhoods, most notably [[West Hollywood, California|West Hollywood]],<ref>{{cite web |title=LGBTQ+ West Hollywood |url=https://www.visitcalifornia.com/experience/lgbtq-west-hollywood/ |website=Visit California |date=June 3, 2015 |access-date=March 5, 2025}}</ref> [[Silver Lake, Los Angeles|Silver Lake]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://la.curbed.com/maps/mapping-los-angeless-groundbreaking-role-in-lgbt-history|title=Mapping Los Angeles's Groundbreaking Role in LGBT History|last=Barragan|first=Bianca|publisher=[[Curbed|Curbed LA]]|date=April 2, 2014|access-date=March 5, 2025}}</ref> [[The Run, Los Angeles|the Run]] in [[Downtown Los Angeles]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.therundtla.com/|title=The Run DTLA|access-date=March 5, 2025}}</ref> and the [[Broadway Corridor, Long Beach, California|Broadway Corridor]] in [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://longbeachize.com/articles/a-holiday-ode-to-the-queer-bars-of-long-beachs-gayborhood-and-every-queer-bar-in-the-world/|work=Longbeachize|title=A holiday ode to the queer bars of Long Beach's Gayborhood—and every queer bar in the world|author=Brian Addison|date=December 7, 2023|access-date=March 5, 2025}}</ref>

====Canada====
[[Church and Wellesley]] is an LGBT-oriented community located in [[Toronto, Canada]]. It is roughly bounded by Gould Street to the south, Yonge Street to the west, Charles Street to the north, and Jarvis Street to the east, with the intersection of Church and Wellesley Streets at the centre of this area. Though some gay- and lesbian-oriented establishments can be found outside of this area, the general boundaries of this village have been defined by the Gay Toronto Tourism Guild.<ref>{{cite web |title=Map of Village |url=http://www.gaytorontotourism.com/mapofvill.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206152511/http://www.gaytorontotourism.com/mapofvill.htm |archive-date=February 6, 2007 |access-date=April 24, 2021 |website=The Gay Toronto Tourism Guild}}</ref> 

[[Ottawa]] established an LGBT-friendly village along Bank Street in Centretown on November 4, 2011, when the City of Ottawa installed six street signs at the intersections of Bank/Nepean, Bank/Somerset and Bank/James. This is the cap to an historic year and six years of lobbying, where the village installed two public art projects in addition to tripling the number of rainbow flags in the village area. The village in Ottawa features a diverse mix of businesses and organizations, many of which cater to or of specific interest to the LGBT community, and has a high concentration of LGBT persons living and working in the area.<ref>{{Cite news |last=CBC News |date=8 November 2011 |title=Ottawa introduces first "Gay Village" |work=CBC |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-introduces-first-gay-village-1.1078985 |access-date=1 December 2022}}</ref>

=== Europe ===
[[File:Chueca metro street sign Madrid.jpg|thumb|The entrance to [[Chueca (Madrid Metro)|Chueca metro station]] in the Plaza de [[Chueca, Madrid|Chueca]] (Chueca square) in [[Madrid]]]]
[[File:Amsterdam little street.JPG|thumb|Warmoesstraat in Amsterdam]]The neighbourhood of [[Le Marais]] in [[Paris]] has experienced a growing gay presence since the 1980s, as evidenced by the existence of a large gay community and of many gay cafés, nightclubs, cabarets and shops, such as one of the largest gay clubs in [[Europe]], Le Depot. These establishments are mainly concentrated in the southwestern portion of the Marais, many on or near the streets Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie and Vieille du Temple.

A well-known gay village of [[Sitges]] is one of the richest residential areas within the area of greater [[Barcelona]]. The town hosts several gay events throughout the year, such as Gay Pride and Bears Week. The first monument for the gay community, an inverse triangle, was built in Passeig Maritim street in 2006. Many gay tourists use the gay-friendly accommodation in Sitges during Circuit Festival of Barcelona.

Not all major cities have gay villages, especially those with more progressive histories with LGBT rights. Sweden, for example, legalized same sexual activity in 1944, a full 67 years before ''[[Lawrence v. Texas]]'' decriminalized homosexuality in the US.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Birtles |first=Katie |date=2020-01-04 |title=Sweden has been named the world's most LGBTQ+ friendly country for travellers |url=https://www.trafalgar.com/real-word/sweden-lgbtq-friendly-country/ |access-date=2022-12-02 |website=Real Word |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lawrence v. Texas |url=https://www.oyez.org/cases/2002/02-102 |access-date=1 December 2022 |website=Oyez}}</ref> As a result, there was not the same need for secret gathering places in Swedish cities that shaped many gay villages elsewhere. However, there are areas which were historically known as meeting places for gays, such as [[Södermalm]] in Stockholm, [[Punavuori]] and [[Kallio]] in Helsinki, which remain as somewhat trendy areas for gay people to live in, though they do not have a predominantly gay population.

There are a number of [[gay villages in England]] such as in [[Birmingham Gay Village|Birmingham]], [[The Calls|Leeds]], [[Canal Street (Manchester)|Manchester]] and [[Old Compton Street|London]].

===Australasia===
====Australia====
[[File:Rainbow Crossing on Campbell Street in Surry Hills (2).jpg|thumb|The original [[DIY rainbow crossing|Rainbow Crossing]] in [[Sydney]]'s [[Surry Hills]] neighbourhood]]
In [[Sydney]], New South Wales, [[Potts Point]] (also known as "Poofs Point") and nearby [[Elizabeth Bay, New South Wales|Elizabeth Bay]] (also known as "Betty Bay") are renowned for having the largest gay population in the city, with many gay run business. The area is known for having the highest density of population in Australia with many [[Art Deco]] apartment blocks. [[Newtown, New South Wales|Newtown]] also has a sizable gay population but it has a more gritty bohemian feel. Darlinghurst is also a historically gay area. Oxford Street in particular is known as the Golden Mile due to its long stretch of LGBT bars and clubs.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McKinnon |first=Scott |title=Big city gaybourhoods: where they come from and why they still matter |language=en |work=The Conversation |url=https://theconversation.com/big-city-gaybourhoods-where-they-come-from-and-why-they-still-matter-93956 |access-date=2022-12-02}}</ref>

In [[Melbourne]], Victoria, city fringe suburbs such as [[Collingwood, Victoria|Collingwood]] and [[South Yarra]] have sizeable gay communities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://queerintheworld.com/gay-melbourne-travel-guide/|title=Gay Melbourne Travel Guide|date=13 April 2018 |access-date=January 17, 2023}}</ref> Big 7 Travel ranked Melbourne as the fourth most LGBT friendly city in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/news/melbourne-has-been-named-the-fourth-most-lgbtqia-friendly-city-in-the-world-111022|title=Melbourne is the fourth most LGBT+-friendly city in the world|work=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]|date=November 10, 2022|access-date=January 17, 2023}}</ref>

==== New Zealand ====

[[Hamilton East, New Zealand|Hamilton East]], a suburb of [[Hamilton, New Zealand|Hamilton]], a town situated in the [[North Island]] of [[New Zealand]] is one of the newest gay villages worldwide. There is a small gay population with some gay owned businesses, cafes and is across the river from the Hamilton CBD. The local LGBT pride month is in April each year and celebrates local diversity.

=== Asia ===
====Thailand====
In Pattaya, Thailand, [[Boyztown]] is a hub of gay nightlife and entertainment that is especially popular with European and Chinese tourists.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kenyon |first=Barry |date=2020-10-28 |title=Pattaya Boyztown: end of an era? |url=https://www.pattayamail.com/featured/pattaya-boyztown-end-of-an-era-331380 |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=Pattaya Mail |language=en-US}}</ref> Since its peak in the 1990s and early 2000s, rising prices and COVID policies have caused Boyztown to lose some of its business. At the peak of its popularity, Boyztown drew in funding for AIDS-related charity organizations through grand events like the Pattaya Gay Festival.

====Japan====
[[File:Colorful neon street signs in Kabukichō, Shinjuku, Tokyo.jpg|thumb|[[Shinjuku Ni-chōme]], Tokyo]]
Shinjuku Ni-chōme, Tokyo's gay village, boasts the world's highest density of gay and lesbian bars, many of which are very small and highly curated to a particular scene. Some are intended for foreign tourists, while others give priority to regulars and court a certain subset of the local LGBT community, such as butch lesbians or the BDSM community.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Linehan |first=Alice |date=2021-04-01 |title=Discover Ni-chōme, the Japanese neighbourhood with 300 gay and lesbian bars |url=https://gcn.ie/discover-ni-chome-japanese-neighbourhood-300-gay-bars/ |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=GCN |language=en}}</ref> Ni-chōme is also home to Japan's first LGBT center, Pride House Tokyo Legacy. Like Pattaya's Boyztown, Nichō's business suffered during the pandemic, but it is slowly developing its former popularity.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-12-03 |title=Battered but unbowed by coronavirus, Tokyo's gay district forges stronger ties |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-japan-lgbt-idCAKBN28D03I |access-date=2022-12-01}}</ref>

=== South America ===
Bogota, Colombia has a prominent gay village called the Chapinero. The locus of the Chapinero's LGBT culture is one of the most famous gay nightclubs in the world, Theatron, which opened in the 1990s. Before Theatron, the Chapinero had a vibrant drag ball scene that drew crowds from neighboring South American countries.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ordonez |first=Jairo |date=2010-07-01 |title=In Bogota, freedom is in the ghetto |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&sw=w&issn=15321118&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA232889539&sid=googleScholar&linkaccess=abs |journal=The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide |language=English |volume=17 |issue=4 |pages=18–20}}</ref>