When I graduated high school, I pretty much sprinted across the Mason-Dixon Line. I had planned for years to get the hell out of Dodge-or rather, Tennessee-in order to live in a place that was more "colorful." The city I had in mind was Chicago, and specifically Boystown.
During my first visit to the neighborhood, I was overwhelmed by the packed bars. I remember walking into the Center on Halsted-the Midwest's largest LGBT community center-and asking a friend, "Was this really built for us?"
I also remember the first time another gay man playfully whistled at me as I walked down the street-and I didn't feel my heart quicken with anxiety, but instead felt a smile cross my face. It was the first time this had happened on a street when I knew it wasn't done in hopes to bully or embarrass me like I'd grown used to back home.
This was my kind of city.
Then again ... not everyone agrees Chicago is all that gay. The Windy City didn't even make the glittery Top 25 list of America's gayest cities that was released last week by LGBT magazine The Advocate.
Excuse me?! This is the city where I saw my first Gay Pride Parade, and ended up shaking the hand of Mayor Emanuel. Where I am from, I could never imagine my mayor ever showing up to a Pride Parade, let alone making the social rounds.
Should we take The Advocate's list seriously? Should Boystown and Andersonville pack up their rainbow flags and hand them off to cities that are on The Advocate's list, such as Salem, Ore. (No. 14), and Providence, R.I. (No. 12)?
No, they shouldn't.
As the magazine's editor in chief, Matthew Breen, told RedEye, his list "deliberately defied expectations" by scoring cities on criteria such as the number of roller derby leagues and gay rugby teams based there. (That's in addition, of course, to more traditional criteria such as LGBT elected officials, marriage equality and "Glee" concerts.)
Still, that won't stop me from defending Chicago's gayness.
Take, for example, Peoria (population: 115,000), which clocked in at No. 21 as the only Illinois city to make The Advocate's list. Well, according to a 2006 study by UCLA's Williams Institute, Chicago has the third-largest LGBT population by city at more than 114,000.
Who's gayer now, Peoria?
Beyond that fun fact, Chicago is home to Boystown, the first officially recognized gay village in the country. Chicago also is home to President Obama, the first sitting president to support same-sex marriage. And don't forget: Oprah Winfrey has roots here. She isn't gay, but the gays do love her. Especially me.
Last year, the Human Rights Campaign released its first Municipal Equality Index, a report analyzing LGBT policies, equalities and inclusion. Chicago scored a 95 out of a possible 100 points, a solid A. Tacoma, No. 1 on The Advocate's list, didn't even get scored. Pow.
So Chicago didn't make The Advocate's list. Fine. At the end of the day, no matter what, Chicago is windy and big and gay. And that's what I love about it. (Emphasis on the gay. )
p.s. I love you, Oprah. Like, a lot.
Zach Stafford is a RedEye special contributor.
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