Gay Ghetto

Abstract

Gay people have claimed that there exist within major cities "gay ghettos", neighborhoods housing large numbers of homosexual men and women as well as gathering places where homosexual behavior is generally accepted, and have designated as such certain sections of Boston, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles (Aiken, 1976, p. 27; Altman, 1971, p. 42; Brill, 1976, p. 27; Chicago Gay Liberation, 1970, pp. 3-4; Kantrowitz, 1975, p. 48; Nassberg, 1970, p. 1; Russo, 1976, p. 47; Shilts, 1977, p. 20; Whitmore, 1975, p. 45; Whittman, 1972, pp. 167-168). Sociologists have picked up the term, using it repeatedly in research (e.g., Humprheys, 1972a, pp. 80-81; Weinberg & Williams, 1974, p. 43). Typically, however, these authors offer no observations to support their use of the phrase. This paper analyzes the validity of "gay ghetto" as a sociological construct, limiting discussion to the male homosexual community.