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Though most of the action occurs along Ashland Ave and Clark St. Nestled between Uptown and Edgewater, Andersonville can be found on the north side of the city. Though it’s always been a diverse neighborhood, Andersonville was unofficially dubbed “Girlstown” in the 1990s due to a flourishing lesbian community. With so many options, it’s hard to choose one, and it’s not uncommon for partygoers to try out multiple establishments in one night. A few local favorites are Sidetrack, Replay, and Progress Bar. You can’t go wrong with any of the many bars and clubs found along Halsted St. The Chicago Diner is one of the city’s oldest vegan restaurants, where you’ll find award-winning milkshakes and burgers that are so good you’ll never tell the difference.įor nightlife, Boystown is the place to be any night of the week. Novelty shop Beatnix has everything from drag costumes and vintage clothing to gag gifts and other knick-knacks. Places to visit in BoystownĪs the top visited Chicago gay neighborhood, Boystown doesn’t disappoint when it comes to things to do. The community also hosts an annual street festival called Market Days, which features a concert lineup of prominent LGBTQ artists and booths filled with food, drinks, and crafts. It’s one of the largest pride celebrations in the world, with over a million in attendance each year. Events in Boystownīoystown is the official home of the Chicago Pride Parade.
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Since the 1970s, this area has been a center of acceptance and free expression where the Chicago LGBTQ community thrives. Visitors to this vibrant, walkable neighborhood will find themselves greeted by rainbow-colored posts that line the streets.
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There’s no mistaking Boystown for anywhere else. The original and most frequented Chicago gay neighborhood, Boystown stretches along Halsted Street on the north side of the city. NerdWallet even lists Chicago as the 10 th most gay-friendly city in the US. But keep in mind that practically everywhere in the city is a safe bet for LGBTQ acceptance. The neighborhoods listed here are known for being the best gay areas in Chicago. Whether you’re searching for thriving nightlife or underground culture, check out the best gay neighborhoods that Chicago has to offer. In comments to Block Club Chicago after the march, local activist Jae Rice added that Northalsted is “one of the most oppressive neighborhoods toward LGBTQ Black folks in all of Chicago.” “You’re able to hide under a mask of queerness and queer oppression while simultaneously perpetuating white supremacy and anti-Blackness,” Rice said.As the largest city in the Midwest, Chicago is a hub for people of all different backgrounds.
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“The same way years ago, y’all wanted to say that you would ‘take back Boystown from South Side trash?’” Coulee asked. Shea Couleé of RuPaul’s Drag Race fame referenced “Take Back Boystown,” a racist online campaign dating back to 2011 that called for greater policing to rid the neighborhood of homeless queer youth, in a speech at the event. At last June’s Drag March for Change, members of the Black LGBTQ+ community called out racism in queer spaces. They wrote that business leaders in Northhalsted “have cultivated a community on their historic street that is mostly made up of cis, white, and male patrons and employees,” whether consciously or unconsciously.Ĭamp is by no means the only one pushing back against the neighborhood’s exclusionary legacy.