Questions about Lesbian Gentrification of Park Slope?

canyontothesky

SlopeDuder said:

When I first moved here it was not uncommon to see girls walking on the sidewalk holding hands. I can't remember the last time I've seen that. The only thing reminding me that this used to be a haven for lesbians is Ginger's bar on 5th and Im not sure who goes in there its always empty when I go past.

Um, have you not walked down 7th ave on a weekend, especially Sunday, and/or have you recently gone blind? lol

tpaperny

Most of the LGBTQ people I know who got priced out of Park Slope and moved to Prospect Heights or Crown Heights are people of color. That's an interesting dynamic to note, I think. Sadly, a very queer friendly bar in Crown Heights, Starlite Lounge, closed about a year ago. It was replaced by a Metro PCS. Depressing.

Park Slope is probably the whitest its been in decades.

tpaperny

Most of the LGBTQ people I know who got priced out of Park Slope and moved to Prospect Heights or Crown Heights are people of color. That's an interesting dynamic to note, I think. Sadly, a very queer friendly bar in Crown Heights, Starlite Lounge, closed about a year ago. It was replaced by a Metro PCS. Depressing.

Park Slope is probably the whitest its been in decades.

maggiepc

have you tried this: http://www.lesbianherstoryarchives.org/

bklynbks

I am a Lesbian, and have lived in PS since 1971. Bought my house in 1977. In the 1970s PS was "redlined" by the banks and it was impossible to buy property then. While I remained, many many of my friends moved out of PS, as years when on, as they were able to get more for their money in other areas. Paradoxically, (excuse spelling) in the '70s Gay men would not step a foot in PS, and in recent years they have moved here in droves. In short, Lesbians can afford (mostly)to live where they want, and no longer have to live in the PS "ghetto".

csenn

I am doing a lot of research at the herstory archives mainly for more of a historical sense. Right now I am looking to get more of a communal sense and to interview individuals. Do the lesbians in Park Slope in present consider themselves part of a Park Slope lesbian community?

prodigalson

in the '70s Gay men would not step a foot in PS, and in recent years they have moved here in droves

I remember reading an article in the Village Voice in the early 1980s which discussed this topic. Back then the writer acknowledged that PS had a lesbian community since the 70s which was accepted by the community. Then, in the early 80s gay men moved in and that's when gayness became a problem for neighborhood residents. The bigoted types did not display open hostility when gays were exclusively female. But when male gays moved in the bigots openly displayed their hate for gays of both genders. Gradually the neighborhood changed so that more open minded people moved there. Of course, this meant gentrification, higher rents, more pricey restaurants and shops. But it also meant a loss of lifelong residents. Thus, we have to take the good and the bad. But that's change for ya.

Check the Voice archives to see if you can find this article as it may provide the info you are looking for.

idlewild

I'm not sure where the info about "Gay men not setting foot in PS during the '70s" comes from. Considering a good chunk of the 70s Park Slope real estate market was handled by gay realtors who lived in Park Slope. I mean, am I remembering incorrectly? I recall seeing gay clientele in places like Minsky's, Snooky's & Ding's? I also remember quite a few business's owned by gay men during the 70's (the names escape me & I moved to PS in '75) If anything, the only group of people I remember being hassled were the Sun Myung Moon deciphels, living on 1st Street between 7th & 6th Aves.