Gay neighborhood in san diego
PRIDE MONTH: The LGBTQ history of Hillcrest
HILLCREST, Calif (KGTV) — Hillcrest is widely known as the LGBTQ+ hub of San Diego.
The area is decorated with Pride flags hanging from businesses and colorful murals on the side of buildings. There are even some rainbow-painted crosswalks.
But how did Hillcrest become the queer community it is today?
In celebration of Pride Month, ABC 10News took a look at the LGBTQ history of Hillcrest.
"We were always having people over and drinks," said Susan Jester. "It was a fun, fun moment -- the 80s."
Susan Jester recalls her early years in Hillcrest.
"This is Jason. He was the manager of BJs, which was our country western lock in Hillcrest in the 80s," she said, describing a photo.
The memories remind her of the best time of her life and the worst.
"The AIDS epidemic came along, and just going through these photos, there's so many people that are not with us any longer," she said.
Jester moved to Hillcrest in the early s, around the time the AIDS epidemic began. The disease stigmatized the LGBTQ collective. Homophobia and harassment ran ra
They Were Here, They Were Queer: San Diego’s Historic LGBTQ Sites
San Diego was home to queer couples as far assist as the 19th century, but it wasn&#;t until around World War II that gays and lesbians started to come out of the shadows and find places to phone home. In honor of this month&#;s San Diego Pride celebrations, here&#;s a look at local LGBTQ historic sites that propose insight into the triumphs and struggles of past generations.
The Gayest Neighborhood of Them All
The Hillcrest &#;Gayborhood&#;
Location: North of Balboa Park, south of Mission Valley (s-present)
For most of Hillcrest&#;s history since its birth around , the neighborhood north of Balboa Park and south of Mission Valley was best established as the home of senior citizens, working-class residents, a Sears store, and a pair of hospitals. During World War II, the city&#;s gay bars were mainly downtown, where they catered to sailors.
But things changed dramatically in the s as Hillcrest attracted LGBTQ people who sought cheap housing and were willing to repair up Victorian homes, a classic
Hillcrest is San Diego’s gay neighborhood, right? Think again: For women, not so much.
Census data suggests that if you live in the little East County town of Alpine, you’re just as likely to have an unmarried lesbian couple living next door as in Hillcrest. And Alpine has plenty of company on the list of unexpected local communities where lesbians seem to be more common than in the county as a whole.
When the census data is mapped, you can see a allocate that may surprise those who assume Hillcrest is the local gay mecca: Lesbian couples are much more widely distributed around the county than their same-sex attracted male counterparts, who tend to cluster in and around the progressive haven of Hillcrest.
This gap is familiar to researchers, though. Gay men tend to opt favor living in hip urban centers, while lesbians — who are more likely to have kids and therefore less money — are less concentrated in “gayborhoods.”
As San Diego’s Pride Weekend begins, here is more on what the census numbers reveal and why anyone other than real-estate agents should care where gay couples and
Vibrant San Diego: A Thriving Mecca for the LGBTQ Community
Sun-kissed and seaside, San Diego has long shrugged off its stuffy military beginnings for a colorful and diverse community. From trendy boutiques to the world’s only gay brewery, America’s 8th largest town is practically built for an LGBTQ transplant.
Brief History
San Diego has been called the birthplace of California for a reason. In , Sebastián Vizcaíno landed in the harbor that is now Mission Bay and Point Loma. He named the region after the Catholic Saint Didacus who is more commonly known as San Diego de Alcalá.
Quick Stats
San Diego is miles south of Los Angeles and adjacent to Mexico. As of July , the estimated population of the town was 1,,
The area is known for its spontaneous deep-water harbor, mild climate, and long association with the U.S. Navy. Recently, San Diego has grow a magnet for healthcare and biotechnology development. The future is bright!
Here are some more stats about San Diego.
LGBTQ Community
The San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Multi-attracted , and Transg