Beyond the Gayborhood

Abstract

This chapter examines why the residential repertoire of gays and lesbians has changed in recent years. Drawing on a comprehensive archive of more than 600 media reports, it takes a look at those lesbian and gay residents who live in gayborhoods, those who once did but have since moved out, and those who reject them outright. Like all news reporting, and judging from some dramatic headlines, journalists who write about gayborhoods contend with their own preconceptions and drama. It is possible that they consciously or unconsciously interview residents whose proclamations of gayborhood demise make for a captivating pitch. The chapter uses the perspectives of the media to elucidate how the assimilation of sexual minorities is affecting where they choose to live, and how those decisions can change the significance of gayborhoods across the country. These perspectives offer important insights on the lived realities of urban change in America.