The Withering of Queer Space?

WBEZ, the Chicago based media company has a superb webpage with a radio recording, video footage, pictures and detailed analysis exploring the growing issue of violence in Boystown - the LGBT neighbourhood. Read it all here - a must for my law students (who will hopefully read this in the next academic search after searching the blog!).

It comes as the Manchester scene continues to wrestle with growing tensions with the influx of heterosexuals invading the village (excellent research by Moran and Skeggs et al on this). Liverpool seems in long-term debate over greater attempts by the council to promote a queer space as a destination (and with it the potential problems that Manchester faces). In the north -east Newcastle continues to struggle to grow and is all too grim despite the best efforts of some, and would be grateful to face the issues that Liverpool and Manchester face. Middlesbrough appears to have a small but successful queer community, if not the same clear 'village' whilst Sunderland is still no-where, although there continue to be sporadic efforts.

Back in the US, San Francisco's Castro has seen sky-high house prices continue to push out LGBT citizens in favour of richer heterosexuals and as locals there tell me the Castro is struggling economically - the closure of A Different Light bookstore earlier this year being one depressing example.

Together, they show that whilst the problems vary, queer spaces beyond Chicago are facing growing crises of identity and function. The socio-legal change of the last twenty years has brought with it new challenges to our cultural geography; changes that we need to recognise and respond to before it's too late.

Queer Toon to Get a Little Straighter?

I'm sure I've mentioned before that each year I take my students on explorations of queer space, exploring the intersection of space, law and identity. The first one we always go on is down the road to Newcastle and the small 'Pink triangle' or village that is based aroudn the Centre for Life. It's not exactly Canal Street (which has its own problems) but it doesn't say "destination" either. I usually ask my students for the words that they immediately think of when in the space; "dark", "depressing", "run-down", "neglected" seem to come up every year. I've long wished that the council, community and queer businesses would come together to really sort the space out and create somewhere that the LGBTQ community can be proud of. That seems further sunk by the story reported today in the Chronicle that Traflagur Leisure wants to convert an abandoned warehouse into a straight lap Dancing Club - thus severely damaging this queer space.

There has been much academic literature on the impact of these sort of venues and the de-queering of space. We also have lots of personal experiences from Manchester about the damage an influx of straights can have. Anyone who knows anything in the queer community should be declaring firm 'no' to these unwise proposals.

Yet, that isn't happening. The owner of the Eagle and the Yard is described as 'understanding' why the owner of Trafalgar Leisure wouldant to open such a venue. So, no resistance there then. Interestingly, Trafalgar Leisure already has a foothold in the queer space (as noted in the Chronicle piece) as they own Twist, the Baron and Baroness - venues that are mixed but can become predominately gay at night, and the gay club Powerhouse.

Thankfully, the ward councillor, Nick Forbes is fighting the application stating: “My concern is that it would have a big negative impact on the gay village and I’m concerned that it would destroy the concept of a safe area by introducing all sorts of undesirables.” Forbes is a Labour councillor and leader of the Labour group.

I've got no objections to the presence of lap dancing clubs but this isn't the right location - and the focus needs to move to creating a successful and safe village.