The Castro: The Rise of a Gay Communy - FoundSF

castro valley gay community

Vibrant and eclectic, the Castro/Upper Market neighborhood is an ternatnally known symbol of gay eedom, a top tourist statn full of stylish shops an

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THE CASTRO, SAN FRANCIS GAY DISTRICT

Castro Valley is Gay - Castro Valley, CA - A ank discsn of homosexualy Castro Valley. * castro valley gay community *

San Francis has bee synonymo wh gay culture.

The Castro, which has been the cy's center of LGBTQ activism and culture, the heart of the gay muny arguably one of the Francis has bee synonymo wh gay culture. The Castro, which has been the cy's center of LGBTQ activism and culture, the heart of the gay muny arguably one of the iendlit ci the USA, is an unual, yet unmissable experience. At the entry to this gay area fli a huge rabow flag on Harvey Milk Plaza.

As you will walk through the neighborhood, you will notice bronze siwalk plaqu: this walk of fame lled the Rabow Honor Walk honors Lbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgenr, and Queer dividuals who have ma a signifint difference to society.

CASTRO VALLEY IS GAY

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Walkg around the Castro, you'll enunter many lorful characters, and get a real feel for the special ambiance San Francis's gay area offers. Beg San Francis's gay district, The Castro is full of exclively gay shops, such as Do Your Mother Know (4141 18th Street), and lots of queer clothg stor.

Once you’ve regaed your strength, make way to some of the bt gay bars and clubs San Francis, where there's somethg for everyone. Fally, make your way to Dolor Park, where gays, hippi, and tourists enjoy the breathtakg view of San Francis.

GAY CASTRO VALLEY (ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA)

The Castro, a televisn documentary, chronicl the dramatic saga of a muny that has bee an ternatnal symbol of gay liberatn. * castro valley gay community *

Photos: Crawford Barton, Gay and Lbian Historil Society of Northern California. Many across the Uned Stat nsir San Francis to be a “Gay Mec” due to s large gay muny loted primarily the Castro District as well as the cy’s relatively liberal attu towards sex. ” A shift me durg World War II, when many soldiers me to San Francis and formed gay relatnships.

The soldiers then stayed the cy after beg discharged for homosexualy. In the 1950s, Beat Culture epted San Francis and notorly rebelled agast middle class valu, th aligng self wh homosexualy and helped brg gay culture to mastream attentn.

In the mid to late 1950s, groups such as the Dghters of Bilis and the Mattache Society were born, as well as the Tavern Guild, which was the first openly gay bs associatn. By 1969, there were 50 gay anizatns San Francis, and by 1973 there were 800. Unfortunately, the anti-gay feelgs of the greater Uned Stat reached San Francis the late 70s, which were followed by the assassatn of Mayor Mosne and Harvey Milk and the Whe Night Rt as well as the AIDS epimic of the 1980s.

IS THE CASTRO GETTG LS GAY?

All of the events have led to a work of self-help anizatns as well as a vibrant and strong gay muny the Castro and San Francis.

EUREKA VALLEY (CASTRO STREET) GAY COMMUNY

Homosexuals across Ameri nsir San Francis a "Gay Mec" thanks to the rise of the distctive gay muny, primarily the Castro District, centered at the tersectn of Castro and 18th Streets, a block om upper Market Street. Some timate that there are as many as 100, 000 gay men and lbians San Francis, out of a total populatn of approximately 750, 000. The Castro wasn't always a gay neighborhood.

This was also te San Francis, but thanks to several cinc, SF also beme home to thoands of gays, and the Castro is the district which they cid to spend their money, put down roots and make a home.

World War II provid a big impet for the velopment of San Francis's gay muny. One and a half ln soldiers, 10%+ of which were homosexual, were able to fd each other more easily the margal districts of San Francis. Thoands were discharged by the ary for homosexualy and were released San Francis.

LGBTQ+ AFFIRMG THERAPISTS CASTRO VALLEY, CA

The Black Cat Cafe on Montgomery Street beme home to a gay drag revue starrg Jose Sarria. Sarria was born San Francis and performed each Sunday afternoon for fifteen years to full ho of 250 or more, g his role as Madam Butterfly to sermonize about homosexual rights and leadg a sg-along of "God Save the Nelly Queens. Durg the 1950s San Francis also spawned the Beat Culture, which shared spac and attus wh the cipient gay culture.

Allen Gsberg, himself gay, wrote Howl and fought obsceny charg 1957. The beats exprsed a basic rejectn of Amerin middle class valu, pecially the fay and suburbanism, which cid closely wh early gay attus. Of urse, n be argued that a good al of gay culture tri to emulate middle class Ameri and s valu, helpg homosexualy to bee more mastream and ls stigmatized.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* CASTRO VALLEY GAY COMMUNITY

The Castro, San Francis Gay District - Where to stay, what to do .

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