THE END OF GAY CULTURE

11. August 2009 by admin.

Every summer we visit Rehoboth Beach and other gay-friendly resorts.  It has long attracted gay men and lesbians.  It continues today, but Ed and I have noticed more families like ours.  Mix in more straights and a watered down version emerges.  The gay and lesbian bars are still packed, the inns continue to attract us, but something is different here and in the big cities. 

Provincetown, once exclusively LGBT is attracting more straights.  Property values have risen, and the poorer artist types can no longer afford the summer long rentals and mortgages that made these places so special. 

Look closer and you will see it. 

Gays and lesbians are becoming  more accepted or should I say tolerated in cities all over the country.  Although not fast enough, we are taking small steps toward equality. 

LGBT businesses across the country have been scratching their heads trying to figure out what is going on with their business.  Many blame the economy, internet, DUI laws and more relaxed attitudes towards gays and lesbians or in Pittsburgh’s case, drink taxes. 

Is the decline of gay culture to blame?

Although, I believe the case can be made for all of the excuses above, I believe the end of the gay culture is near.  I guess you can blame it on ourselves. When did this happen?  I never witnessed the revolution.  In my opinion, this is good and bad.  Sadly, the gay culture is disappearing, however it may be because of the gay movement itself.

Gays seem to be everywhere today.  Look no further than TV.  Queer as Folk, The L Word, Will and Grace, Queer Eye, Survivor and the many shows that have gay themes or gay and lesbian characters like True Blood and Six Feet Under.  The list continues to grow.  More positive gay and lesbian characters are popping up on TV all the time.

Non-traditional families like ours continue move to the suburbs.  The more that gays and lesbians seep into main-stream America, the more gay culture will erode.  It’s your decision if this is a good or bad thing.

Can we change this?  Sure, but if I am not mistaken, this is the direction many of us have fought (and dreamed about ) for many years and continue to do so today. 

The gay ghettos may be gone, but we can preserve and perhaps revive gay culture for the generations to come.  Seems to me many a college student feel right at home sucking down Coor’s Light with their straight buds at the local straight niteclub.

In August, I introduced the region to the Buy Gay In The Out Neighborhood program to great success.  By creating and implicating this program, my intention remains to remind not only the youth of gayville, but the older members of our community as while that buying from LGBT and LGBT-friendly businesses that support them creates and maintains options and will save or develope a vibrant LGBT community. 

It’s just a reminder, but perhaps it will save some of these LGBT businesses from the death awaiting them and maybe, just maybe, we can preserve the gay culture.  

Better yet, revive it.

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Tony
www.outonline.com

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