Gay Today: World

USA's First Official Gay Neighborhood Debuts

By Rex Wockner

Chicago, Illinois -- America has its first official gay neighborhood.

Mayor Richard Daley's $3.2-million rainbow-themed redecoration of the North Halsted Street gay strip is finished.

The modifications include:

Huge retro-futuristic sculptures at each end of the strip welcoming visitors to "Lakeview" (the official name of the neighborhood) and to "Northalsted" (a word created by the Northalsted Merchants Association),

20 Large concrete planters topped with 12-foot-high, iron trellises containing the names of the cross streets,

20 rainbow-ringed, 25-foot-tall, Art Deco, Flash Gordon- esque pylons located mid-block along the length of the entire gay strip.

"This has been a labor of love," Daley said at the project's unveiling. "I knew we were right at the beginning. It's called fairness. I'm thanking you for what you have done [for] North Halsted Street for many, many years -- for the city of Chicago."

When the project was initially proposed -- as part of Daley's Neighborhoods Alive program -- it was controversial. Some straight residents didn't want to live in an officially gay neighborhood and neither did some older gay residents who feared being outed or targeted by bashers.

In addition, some critics said designating the area an official gay ghetto would lower their property values. As a result of the objections, the overtly gay aspects of the design were toned down a little -- but the 20 sets of huge, illuminated rainbow rings clearly remain its focus.

At the height of the controversy, Daley, who has long been very gay-friendly, declared, "I won't let the homophobes run this city!"

Mayor Daley

"I deeply appreciate Mayor Richard Daley's refusal to succumb to those who didn't want the rainbow motif to be included," said Rick Garcia, executive director of the Illinois Federation for Human Rights. "One of the rainbow pylons is directly in front of our office and I love it. When I saw the first installed pylon, I cried."

Forty-fourth Ward Alderman Bernie Hansen, in whose district much of the project lies, told Windy City Times: "I think it's the culmination of a great program to recognize the contribution of the business and leadership of this community over the years. It's the frosting on a beautiful cake."

Gay state Rep. Larry McKeon, D-Chicago, calls the project "terrific."

"It's great to be a part of history," he said.

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