GregAs a senoir member of the gay community living in the Gay Village of Montreal, Québec, I simply say we are here and we aren’t going any where any time soon. It is as likely that gay neighborhoods disappear as it is for Chinatown in San Francisco to turn into a high rise yuppyville. We have a history and a culture that inspires the younger generation to freely express themselves as gay people. There will always be discrimination and we will always have to defend ourselves. We need our visibility, even if it ruffles the feathers of some straights and a few auto repressive gays.What is evident is the aging members in many of the “gayborhoods”. Years ago, at he founding of the Gay Village, most residents were in their twenties or thirties. Now, decades later, there are gray-haired grand-dads who used to take part in the open expressions of gayness, or in demonstrations demanding equal rights. Now we sit at side-walk cafés watching the young’uns strut their stuff with a tad of nostalgia for the “good old days” when police raids made us bold, militant ass kickers.Now, who has a good idea for setting up old age homes for gays and lesbians? Just imagine having to go back into the closet at 75 because you are forced to take refuge in some straight nursing home where they won’t let you kiss your 80 yr old boyfriend.Be well,
GregAs a senoir member of the gay community living in the Gay Village of Montreal, Québec, I simply say we are here and we aren’t going any where any time soon. It is as likely that gay neighborhoods disappear as it is for Chinatown in San Francisco to turn into a high rise yuppyville. We have a history and a culture that inspires the younger generation to freely express themselves as gay people. There will always be discrimination and we will always have to defend ourselves. We need our visibility, even if it ruffles the feathers of some straights and a few auto repressive gays.What is evident is the aging members in many of the “gayborhoods”. Years ago, at he founding of the Gay Village, most residents were in their twenties or thirties. Now, decades later, there are gray-haired grand-dads who used to take part in the open expressions of gayness, or in demonstrations demanding equal rights. Now we sit at side-walk cafés watching the young’uns strut their stuff with a tad of nostalgia for the “good old days” when police raids made us bold, militant ass kickers.Now, who has a good idea for setting up old age homes for gays and lesbians? Just imagine having to go back into the closet at 75 because you are forced to take refuge in some straight nursing home where they won’t let you kiss your 80 yr old boyfriend.Be well,