Smart cities EMBRACE their LGBT scene + LGBT business can equal financial boon for cities.

[livingwagenow]

Meanwhile, DUMB cities shun their LGBT scene and use their health depts and other ARCHAIC/DRACONIAN means of AUTHORITARIAN intimidation to drive us darn gay people back into their closets.


I am a gay male. I spend money. Gay people love to spend money. We love to patronize gay bars, gay clubs, gay gyms, gay hotels, gay spas etc. These business' create thousands of jobs within the city. The entire LGBT scene supports a rather vibrant economy, even in tough economic times. If Chicago's vibrant LGBT scene were to suddenly disappear, it would throw the entire Chicagoland into a recession.

As mentioned above, I live in what I call 'The gay capitol of the world' -Chicago. I love my city with a passion. Chicago has a rich gay history almost second to none. Chicago has a well developed LGBT scene. Halsted St is a fucking hoot. A real party. Always a good time. A great place to meet friends and hang out. Wrigley is nearby and I occasionally watch the Cubs lose.

But what makes Chicago so great to me is that a hundred years ago, the city began embracing its gay population and slowly over the course of the following decades, Chicago's storied gay scene began to flourish and develop. Gay and Lesbian bars began opening. Gay hotels followed, some that are still in business to this day. During the 1950's the scene really grew to international prominence.

In 1958, a hot young local gay political activist, Chuck Renslow and his gay artist lover, Etienne(Dom Orejudos) opened Chicago's first gay leather bar and it soon became quite famous internationally. The Gold Coast Leather Bar put Chicago's gay scene on the map and soon after, Chicago became a gay tourist destination as other LGBT business' began opening in response to the new surge of gay tourism, the new gay demand, the new economy, the gay dollar.

Renslow later went on to open more gay business', meanwhile his lover Eteinne went on to create some of Chicago's most historically significant art, in a city with a rich LGBT art history, the art galleries are worth the trip alone. Renslow also founded Chicago's Leather Museum and Archives. He is also a storied fixture in Illinois Democratic Party politics. He has founded several LGBT Democratic Party orgs over the decades. He is well known among Democratic Party activists.

After the Gold Coast opened, the decades that followed saw Chicago's LGBT scene grow into a first rate LGBT tourist destination and perhaps the greatest thriving gay scene on this planet. I've traveled to New York, San Fran, Montreal, Toronto, Seattle, Vancouver, Amsterdam and they all have great gay scenes of their own. No doubt about it.

Those cities have also learned the value of supporting a strong and vibrant LGBT scene of their own. Their cities' coffers are filled with gay dollars. Gay people spend generously at gay business' that cater to us. Gay bars, gay clubs, gay gyms, gay baths. These cities realize that what consenting adults do is our own fucking business. Wise decision.

Oh boy, does the money poor in.

On the flip side, I lived in Minneapolis in the late 90's. Polar opposite. Health Depts shut down the entire gay scene. Police raids on gay bars were rather common. In other words, an anti-gay gestapo. Gay business' were shut down or withered and went out of business. Gay bar patrons would fear police raids and gay bars went out of business. I still talk with some old gay friends that live there and things are still the same. State laws and city ordinance's are still driving away gay business and gay tourism. Minneapolis is LOSING out on alot of gay dollars and tourism because of these facts.

Get it now, Minneapolis city leaders? Sad that an otherwise progressive city had to resort to this. Its not the people, its the electeds that are to blame.

Minneapolis is an example of KILLING gay tourism with stupid anti-gay laws and ordinances.

We'll take our gay dollars elsewhere, like Chicago.

Smart cities fill their coffers with gay dollars. Dumb cities use their health depts and police state tactics to shun their LGBT populations.

City planners, get it now?

I am proudly outing the City of Chicago. And the City of Chicago gladly embraces its outing in return. This city wisely embraced its LGBTers decades ago and it is paying great dividends with cash in our coffers.

To anti-gay cities, how are your coffers doing?

[msongs]

1. honolulu gay scene is pretty much limited to drunks in bars and closet cases lol nt

[livingwagenow]

2. That's common in most gay bars and gay scenes.

[livingwagenow]

3. I forgot to add..

If you're gay and have never been to Chicago, do yourself a favor and book a trip to Chi-town. Put it on your bucket list. It's worth the trip. You simply must experience Chicago's gay scene at least once. Its therapeutic, to the mind and soul. The experience frees the mind.

To all people, straight and LGBT, Chicago is known as one of the world's most romantic cities. Take a riverboat tour on a warm summer evening when the city lights up. Breathtaking. The food and art galleries are worth the trip by themselves.

Our city gets a bad rap for all of the gang and gun violence on the city's south side. I wish I had an answer for that. I'd say bring jobs back home so that those neighborhoods can revitalize with better economies. Jobs bring civic pride. Which could go a long way toward ending the violence there.

Don't believe all the negative press that Chicago gets. Our city is a real gem. Ask those of us that live here.

[Recursion]

4. Philly had a "City of Brotherly Love" ad campaign a few years ago

Seemed smart to me. Frankly I never understood how people would let prejudice stand between them and one of the most affluent demographics in the country. But then again I'm a pragmatist.

[livingwagenow]

5. Nice. Smart for Philly to reach out to LGBT tourism. Thanks for adding that. nt