A city's gays defy conservatives

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As the US religious right mobilises, gay activists plan a freedom zone in its heartland. Paul Harris reports from Spokane, Washington state

Sunday February 27, 2005
The Observer

The Odyssey youth centre is hidden behind an unmarked door on an anonymous site near downtown Spokane. Nothing betrays its purpose to the outside world.

Inside, gay teenagers lounge on sofas, shoot pool, flirt and surf the internet. Here, behind closed doors in the heart of conservative 'redder than red' America, they feel safer when hidden. 'One day I hope that our youth don't have to come here in secret through the back door,' said Laurel Kelly, Odyssey's executive director.

In Spokane that day might be soon. Activists have embarked on a radical plan to create a gay business district in the heart of the city. It is a controversial idea in a region known mainly for political conservatism and the growing presence of evangelical Christians. But the idea's backers are determined. 'Bring it on. Spokane won't change without confrontation,' said Bonnie Aspen, a gay businesswoman and one of the scheme's architects.

Such an upfront move is part of a wider national response by gay groups in America in the wake of an election in which gay issues, such as same-sex marriage, came to the fore. In an effort to maximise turnout among conservative and evangelical voters, same-sex marriage ballots were held in 11 states during last November's election. All voted against them.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1426309,00.html

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1. Interesting

I'm not sure what would constitute a gay business district. In Seattle we had Capitol Hill, which was largely considered "gay friendly" but I was there dozens of times before I even knew that was its reputation - and that was only because I started to hear jokes about it. Nobody I knew shopped there any more or less than anywhere else.

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2. Usually business spending increases in those areas

it is rather amazing that when gay businesses open and offer an array of interesting products and services, people tend to visit and enjoy the district. Despite the wishes of the christian impersonaters, no one wants a "religious" bookstore on every city corner.

I'm all for this kind of district - and expect more and more of these to appear across the country as gays feel more ostracization through the horrific rhetoric thrust upon them by the Right. As with most neighborhoods that gays have renovated, they only add to the property values and the attraction of the city.