Book Talk on The Life and Afterlife of Gay Neighborhoods

Join the Lewis Center for a book talk with Alex Bitterman and Daniel B. Hess, editors of a new book examining the significance of gay neighborhoods, or “gayborhoods”. “The Life and Afterlife of Gay Neighborhoods” looks at critical periods of formation during the gay liberation and freedom movements of the 1960s and 1970s to proven durability through the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and finally a mature plateau since 2000. The book provides a framework for contemplating the future form and function of gay neighborhoods.

The editors will cover the history and future of gayborhoods including changes resulting from gentrification, weakening social stigma, and enhanced rights for LGBTQ+ people. The current “plateau” in the evolution of gay neighborhoods is characterized by generational differences — between baby boomer pioneers and millennials who favor broad inclusivity — signaling various possible trajectories for the future of these important LGBTQ+ urban spaces.

Moderator:

Madeline Brozen, Deputy Director, Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies

Speakers:

Alex Bitterman, Professor of Architecture and Design, Alfred State University of New York 

Daniel B. Hess, Professor and Chair of Urban Planning, University at Buffalo, State University of New York. Hess is a PhD alum of the UCLA Urban Planning department. 

This event is supported by the UCLA Center for the Study of Women, the Williams Institute and the UCLA LGBTQ Campus Resource Center.