Chicago’s Boystown could get a new name if community activists are successful. The city’s LGBTQ neighborhood is the only one with a gender name in America.
The name was given to the area by the local business association in the 1990s. The organization’s board of directors, the Northalsted Business Alliance, is made up of all men.
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The name started out as a joke, but over time it became the standard name for the neighborhood at a time when gay people dominated the area. Activists say Boystown’s name and the band’s lineup proves it still is.
Signs on the streets of the neighborhood indicate that the neighborhood is “for boys”.
“As we grow and reconsider all of our roles in perpetuating bigotry, we ask this council to reflect on the growing number of incidents in our LGBTQ spaces,” a petition to the council reads. “One form of bigotry perpetuates another.”
The area has struggled with issues of racism and transphobia over the years.
Last year, a gay bar was forced to overturn a racist ban on rap music in a bid to push away black customers. A recent protest march in solidarity with black transgender people did not have the support of local activists, who said they were “symbolized” by “white-owned businesses and institutions in Chicago that have historically supported the fight against blackness and transphobia in queer. and the trans community, and across the city. “
“Many of our transgender brothers and sisters need to visit the Halsted Center to utilize the necessary resources,” the petition continues. “A lot of them have experienced transphobia in the North Halsted area. Our LGBTQ brothers and sisters of color seeking inclusive bars have faced racism. Many women visiting and working in North Halsted businesses have faced sexism. »
“North Halsted businesses and their board have tokenized people where practical for their profits or image, while marketing their businesses only to gay men.”
Most American gay neighborhoods are named after the neighborhood they are in, such as the Castro, West Hollywood, Greenwich Village, or Montrose.
To update: The business leaders agreed to consider renaming Chicago’s LGBTQ neighborhood Boystown, saying, “This process will likely take a few months as we listen to community feedback and engage in broad-based efforts. scale beyond a simple name change, but a commitment to learning how to ensure the neighborhood progresses as an inclusive and welcoming neighborhood for all. »
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