The main drag is dominated by the overhead tracks of what becomes the subway in Manhattan.
The neighborhood is lively and colorful. Just two blocks to the left or right of the shopping district are neat and spacious brick row houses. We peered into alluring and frightening shops.
We paused before a door into which had been drilled a set of glory holes for a family of very tall, like-minded and slim-hipped quintuplets.
We passed food that was either all too familiar or quite mysterious.
C and BJ were entertained.
Via the subway, Jackson Heights is just twelve minutes from midtown Manhattan. Watch this neighborhood pop. The proto-gays have already begun to arrive.
11 comments:
Jackson Heights has been a center of the lgbt latino community for over two decades. You're just a bit late with the "proto-gays." Julio Rivera was killed there in the early '90's and became a focal point of organizing, leading to the annual Queens LGBT Pride Festival that kicks off pride month here in the city. Did you check out any of the gay bars along "Vaseline Alley?"
I remember Julio, a very handsome man indeed. I tried once to make conversation with Julio, but all I could do was to stutter.
"the proto-gays have arrived'.
tsk tsk. The Vatican goes soft on the 'old' deadly sins and you're boasting with pride 5 seconds later.
Henry,
We are not the proto-gays to whom I refer. They are the ones who have already moved to Jackson Heights and begun to establish the community. Despite our cramped Upper West Side quarters, I doubt we'll be packing up the conestoga any time soon.
So, who won the race? C's car looked muy rapido, but BJ had more horsepower.
(I'm tired, it's the best I could come up with...)
I was told that Jackson Heights was on the verge of becoming the next gay stronghold when I moved in back in 2001. And I was told the same thing when I moved out in 2005. It's a great neighborhood, but I'm not holding my breath.
Why is the rise of a gay neighbourhood ALWAYS preceded by kitch?
Love the pics.
I used to live there. It's had it's time in the sun. Harlem doesn't have a thing to worry about. ;)
Mmmm, Karela! Just don't try to sit on one, ok?
I have lived here in Jackson Heights since 1996 and was told that this is the 2nd largest gay population in NYC after Chelsea. There does seem to be more gays around then the last few years. My building always had a lot of gays & lesbians. Five apartments on my floor have gay tenants.
I stumbled across this page because I entered Jackson Heights in google. I have lived there for almost a year, and I am counting the days until my lease runs out. I am a gay guy who moved there in part because of all the great stuff I read about it, and I must say, I have been higly disappointed. All the gay bars are EXACTLY the same (the are owned by the same people), very few people speak English in the neighorhood and the restaurant choices are limited, unless you like Latino food. I have not been able to locate even ONE English speaking bar/hangout. If you do not speak Spanish, you may not be very comfortable here.
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