goodbye Halloween in the Castro

[remicks]

***


SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 24


— This Halloween, the Glindas, gladiators and harem boys of the Castro — along with untold numbers who plan to dress up as Senator Larry E. Craig, this year’s camp celebrity — will be celebrating behind closed doors. The city’s most popular Halloween party, in America’s largest gay neighborhood, is canceled.


The once-exuberant street party, a symbol of sexual liberation since 1979 ( before 1979 they closed off Polk Street on Halloween) has in recent years become a Nightmare on Castro Street, drawing as many as 200,000 people, many of them costumeless outsiders, and there has been talk of moving it outside the district because of increasing violence. Last year, nine people were wounded when a gunman opened fire at the celebration.
For many in the Castro District, the cancellation is a blow that strikes at the heart of neighborhood identity, and it has brought soul-searching that goes beyond concerns about crime.
These are wrenching times for San Francisco’s historic gay village, with population shifts, booming development, and a waning sense of belonging that is also being felt in gay enclaves across the nation, from Key West, Fla., to West Hollywood, as they struggle to maintain cultural relevance in the face of gentrification.
There has been a notable shift of gravity from the Castro, with young gay men and lesbians fanning out into less-expensive neighborhoods like Mission Dolores and the Outer Sunset, and farther away to Marin and Alameda Counties, “mirroring national trends where you are seeing same-sex couples becoming less urban, even as the population become slightly more urban,” said Gary J. Gates, a demographer and senior research fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles.
At the same time, cities not widely considered gay meccas have seen a sharp increase in same-sex couples. Among them: Fort Worth; El Paso; Albuquerque; Louisville, Ky.; and Virginia Beach, according to census figures and extrapolations by Dr. Gates for The New York Times.

“Twenty years ago, ( or thirty years ago ) if you were gay and lived in rural Kansas, you went to San Francisco or New York,” he said. “Now you can just go to Kansas City."



from The New York Times

rest of article :

HERE



******

[SandraDee]

I think this is a growing trend as gays get slightly more assimilated into mainstream society. This means that the once vibrant gay 'ghettos' become watered down & less relevant. It's happening here in the UK & I certainly notice it here in Manchester where it's a case of 'spot the gay person' in this city's 'gay village' at times now that the city centre is full of hen parties, students, yuppies, suburban couples etc. all wanting a night out in this part of town while the gays seem to be moving out to Cheshire & Lancashire & making their own entertainment.

[Simon White]

Ah well, thats the price of acceptance !

Mortgages, marriage...families ...whatever happened to radicalism ?

[markydefad]

ummm....the problem with Halloween in the Castro is that GANG BANGERS used that event in the past few years to come to the neighborhood and KILL (STAB & SHOOT) PEOPLE!!!!
.....................so it was CANCELLED...after the mess last year.

"Last year, nine people were wounded when a gunman opened fire at the celebration."

[SandraDee]

Mortgages, marriages, families or people getting attacked/killed, whatever it is it's all mainstream hetero society as far as I'm concerned & we're getting sucked into it all bit by bit....very sad really.

[ol'skinflint]

Originally Posted by remicks

***


SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 24


— This Halloween, the Glindas, gladiators and harem boys of the Castro — along with untold numbers who plan to dress up as Senator Larry E. Craig, this year’s camp celebrity — will be celebrating behind closed doors. The city’s most popular Halloween party, in America’s largest gay neighborhood, is canceled.


The once-exuberant street party, a symbol of sexual liberation since 1979 ( before 1979 they closed off Polk Street on Halloween) has in recent years become a Nightmare on Castro Street, drawing as many as 200,000 people, many of them costumeless outsiders, and there has been talk of moving it outside the district because of increasing violence. Last year, nine people were wounded when a gunman opened fire at the celebration.
For many in the Castro District, the cancellation is a blow that strikes at the heart of neighborhood identity, and it has brought soul-searching that goes beyond concerns about crime.
These are wrenching times for San Francisco’s historic gay village, with population shifts, booming development, and a waning sense of belonging that is also being felt in gay enclaves across the nation, from Key West, Fla., to West Hollywood, as they struggle to maintain cultural relevance in the face of gentrification.
There has been a notable shift of gravity from the Castro, with young gay men and lesbians fanning out into less-expensive neighborhoods like Mission Dolores and the Outer Sunset, and farther away to Marin and Alameda Counties, “mirroring national trends where you are seeing same-sex couples becoming less urban, even as the population become slightly more urban,” said Gary J. Gates, a demographer and senior research fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles.
At the same time, cities not widely considered gay meccas have seen a sharp increase in same-sex couples. Among them: Fort Worth; El Paso; Albuquerque; Louisville, Ky.; and Virginia Beach, according to census figures and extrapolations by Dr. Gates for The New York Times.

“Twenty years ago, ( or thirty years ago ) if you were gay and lived in rural Kansas, you went to San Francisco or New York,” he said. “Now you can just go to Kansas City."



from The New York Times

rest of article :

HERE



******

except for Medium Rare Records, I avoid that entire area whenever I can. It couldn't possibly be more different than it was 25 years ago. Homeless people, drugs, frequent late night violence (not just on holidays), no parking, rents few can afford, faceless chain stores and probably worse of all, a bar whose owner has been accused of using discriminatory admission practices to keep out women and minorites, placing gay racism on the FRONT PAGE of the San Francisco Chronicle on gay pride day. Some community...

[QUINNY]

Originally Posted by SandraDee

I think this is a growing trend as gays get slightly more assimilated into mainstream society. This means that the once vibrant gay 'ghettos' become watered down & less relevant. It's happening here in the UK & I certainly notice it here in Manchester where it's a case of 'spot the gay person' in this city's 'gay village' at times now that the city centre is full of hen parties, students, yuppies, suburban couples etc. all wanting a night out in this part of town while the gays seem to be moving out to Cheshire & Lancashire & making their own entertainment.

Sorta makes me wonder whether or not (some) Gays really want to be part of mainstream society? If not, then what has all the Gay Liberation militancy been about, that we've all had to suffer over the past 20 odd years?

IMO: Ghettos/enclaves are NEVER a good idea, no matter what. That's why sooo many minorities around the globe struggle to become accepted. It makes all of them easier targets for all types of 'isms.

Now, at last, we might all be able to get on with our lives.

[BrunoRepublic]

Originally Posted by QUINNY

...what has all the Gay Liberation militancy been about, that we've all had to suffer over the past 20 odd years?

"That we've all had to suffer over the past 20 odd years?"

You make it sound like the struggle for gay rights has involved widespread bombings, kidnappings, and economic hardship.

Do you seriously think that having to skip past a few articles on the news or avoid a few protests constitutes suffering?

I had no idea that "inconvenience" was now synonymous with "suffering".

[SandraDee]

Originally Posted by QUINNY

Sorta makes me wonder whether or not (some) Gays really want to be part of mainstream society? If not, then what has all the Gay Liberation militancy been about, that we've all had to suffer over the past 20 odd years?

OK I'll bite! I don't think I'm in a position to speak on behalf of all gay people but speaking for myself I always saw gay liberation as fighting for the same rights as straight people but not necessarily being part of mainstream society. The same goes for all other minority groups - they deserve the same rights as the majority, it's just basic human rights isn't it? Sorry you had to suffer Quimmy; sorry to come across arrogant ('cos I know I'm bound to be accused of it ) but I actually feel that most straight people have actually benefitted from the gay liberation movement; straight people nowadays seem much more comfortable with all aspects of sexuality, don't you feel?

[Simon White]

Passing over Quinny's post (except to say I'm not sure you're even worth the effort of a reaction Quinny, your very post itself says it all) I just read the full article from The New York Times.

It presents a number of different points and maybe all is not as the shortened version Remicks has posted makes it appear. I think anyone with an interest should definitely read the whole article. Selection is a dangerous thing close to propaganda.

My question is... what exactly does any of this prove other, than time moves on, things change ? The Castro existed for a reason..hasn't that reason gone...and actually isn't that a good thing ?


I have a picture of me striding up Castro Street from about 1991 - 16 years ago ! I must find it. I think the street must have been way past it's best even by then though.

[SandraDee]

Originally Posted by Simon White

isn't that a good thing ?

It is in some ways but not in others IMO. Like I said I know I don't speak for all gays but I feel that the changes aren't all for the better. To quote the Pet Shop Boys (who I think nicked the quote from someone else) '....sometimes the solution is worse than the problem....'

[buckaroo]

There seems to be a weird dynamic going on. I don't know if it's worldwide or not, but it's seems that while less heteros are getting married in the UK, more gay people are getting married. I wonder if this is because it's a relatively new and exciting thing to do, as it's become legal. Sort of like a child playing all of christmas day with their new toys, until the novelty wears off. We've also had a few gay divorces too. But dare I say it ... assimilation/acceptance can be a bad thing in this respect: Once it is perceived that certain minorities have made it, certain laws are deemed unecessary. Isn't that the case in America, where civil rights laws have/may be abolished, because there a more black judges, lawyers, middle class, etc. This doesn't mean that things are perfect for everyone.