New York has often been regarded as the “Gay Capital of The World.” But is it? It's one of the most famous metropolises on the planet, sure. Not to mention among the most diverse. And while society here is more open and liberal compared to other American cities, is it actually great to be gay in New York? The answer is yes, it is! From its long queer history to its awesome Pride Month celebrations today, the LGBTQ+ community has long been an integral part of Manhattan. Here, gays, lesbians, transgender & non-binary folks can live in a safe space, find many job opportunities, and enjoy the awesome nightlife.
The Most Diverse City
It's no secret that New York is a diverse city. When
Moovaz broke it down, they say that the population included 42.73% white people, 24.31% African-Americans, 14.09 % Asians, and 14.75% other races. So if you ever
move to New York yourself, you'll be part of a very colorful group of people. But what does that have to do with being gay in this city? Well, with such diversity in races and cultures comes diversity in beliefs and ideologies. This has allowed the Big Apple to be more accepting of the LGBTQ+ community, going so far as to embrace them openly.
A Historically Queer City
A huge part of why it's great to be gay in New York is that the city itself has been historically queer. Countless prominent members of the LGBTQ+ community were born and bred in this city. And of course, it's also the birthplace of the Pride movement. The 1969 Stonewall Inn riots gave rise to the queer community. It was then that gays, lesbians, transgender & non-binary individuals started flaunting their truths and fighting for their rights. For a city to have changed the way, not just the country but the entire world to see the LGBTQ+ community in a new light, it'll definitely be a haven for its members too!
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ ThePhotoCat
A Safe Space for LGBTQ+
This is actually very important! Say what you will about
New York City's crime rates and the like, but for members of the LGBTQ+ community, this is a safe space for them. It's here where gay and lesbian couples can go out and about with barely any people batting an eye. It's here where transgender people can dress based on their gender identity and face little to no objections. And it's here where even young LGBTQ+ youth can find groups to hang out with. Though the city was never this accepting in the past, it has certainly gone a long way since then!
A Bevy of Queer-Friendly Neighborhoods
Just how much is the Big Apple a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community? There are a good number of
neighborhoods in New York that are famously gay-friendly! There's Greenwich Village, for example, which has been regarded as one of the finest queer capitals in the world. It's home to the iconic Stonewall Inn, after all. The Chelsea district, also known as Hell's Kitchen, on the other hand, flourishes with multiple LGBTQ+-owned businesses. And Park Slope is notably a lesbian-friendly area too. From businesses to residences, these members of the community have long thrived in this neighborhood.
Many Job Opportunities
As one of the biggest and most central business districts in the world, many people who moved to New York City did so for work. That includes the LGBTQ+ community too. Even when the rest of the world didn't know what to do with the community, the Big Apple has long offered various job opportunities for them. Stereotypically, they're mostly within the fields of fashion, entertainment, advertising, culinary, and the service industry. But over the past few decades, even the corporate world in New York, which is among the most cutthroat of them all, had slowly but surely embraced the community.
An Awesome Gay Nightlife
Arguably the best part about being gay in New York City is the nightlife. It's almost as if the city's nightlife scene was tailored to the LGBTQ+ community! And it's no surprise that many of them are even owned by members of the community too. Take the drag bars, for example, With places like Barracuda Lounge and Industry, there are countless places to
watch drag shows in New York. These bars were where some of the most famous drag queens from RuPaul's Drag Rave got their start. If you're a fan of Bob The Drag Queen, Monét X Change, Peppermint, and more, you ought to check these places out!
Lots of Shopping
It's almost stereotypical to think that gays love to shop but there is some truth and more depth to that. As mentioned earlier, fashion was and still is one of the few industries that not only employed openly-LGBTQ+ employees but even valued them. They even held high positions within various companies in the field. So it's no surprise that gays love fashion and love to shop. As does the trans community too. Shopping for clothes that fit their gender identities is a form of liberation and a point of pride for them. It's a manifestation of their right to exist.
The Biggest Pride Month Celebration
As the birthplace of the movement.
Pride Month in New York is something else! It's not far-fetched to say that the city holds the biggest celebration in the world. From its iconic parade to various events that lead up to it, you can bet that the entire Big Apple is painted with rainbow colors every June. Some would argue that it's too commercialized, seeing as New York is a notoriously capitalist metropolis. And though they do have a point, it also goes to show how businesses now see the value in the movement.
There's no denying that it's great to be gay in New York City! The Big Apple might just even be the best place for the LGBTQ+ community in more ways than one! Here, you can be queer and still live your best life!
