Where is the Gay Village in New York City?
Honey Davenport by Davide Laffe
If you ask more than one New Yorker what is the Gay Village or the Gay Neighborhood of the city, you will probably hear different answers. NYC has one of the largest LGBTQ+ populations in the United States, and there are different neighborhoods highly frequented by queer people. In terms of bars and commercial establishments, West Village, Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen can all be considered “gay villages”.
West Village
The West Village is historically known as the birthplace of new avant-garde movements, whether political, artistic, or cultural. It was once the core of the bohemian lifestyle in the United States, and it’s the epicenter of the LGBTQ+ life in New York City. The neighborhood, geographically located in the western section of Greenwich Village, is packed with gay-friendly bars and historical LGBTQ+ landmarks that you should visit - including The Stonewall Inn, Julius, and Cubbyhole.
Fun Fact: Although it’s located in a historical queer neighborhood, Gay Street in West Village does not reference the LGBTQ+ community. The name came from R. Gay, who lived in the area back in 1775.
Hell’s Kitchen
Hell’s Kitchen has one of the greatest concentrations of LGBTQIA people in New York City. The neighborhood was elected one of the most gay-friendly by a Census promoted by Localize.City in 2018. In the 80s and 90s, HK went through a drastic transformation, welcoming new Broadway theaters, actors, studios, and LGBTQ-owned establishments. Nowadays, the area is the main destination for queer people in the city. You will find bars like Industry, The Ritz, and The Q there.
Chelsea
Back in the 80s, Chelsea was the main area for queer entertainment in New York City. For the past decades, most gay bars migrated to different zip codes with lower rent prices, but the neighborhood still has some iconic options for the LGBTQ+ community like REBAR.
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In 2022, the NYC Dyke March’s theme is D4T: Dykes for Trans Liberation, focusing on T4T (trans for trans) relationships and love in a year when the trans community is being heavily targeted by right-wing groups and members of congress all over the United States.