Boystown, Chicago

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Boystown is the popular name of a locally recognized neighborhood enclave within Chicago, Illinois. Situated within the formal neighborhood of Lakeview, it is the first officially recognized gay village in the United States^{[citation needed]} as well as the cultural center of one of the largest lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender (LGBT) communities in the nation. Since its unofficial inception -— marked by Chicago's first Gay Pride parade in June of 1970 -— Boystown has grown into a cultural haven for the nearly 300,000 LGBT residents estimated to live within Chicagoland today.

The sector's informal boundaries are generally considered to be West Addison Street to the north, North Lake Shore Drive to the east, West Belmont Avenue to the south, and North Clark Street to the west. These streets correspond to the Chicago grid between blocks 3200 to 3600 north and between blocks 400 to 1000 west, which places Boystown approximately 6 km (4 miles) due north of the Chicago Loop. More generally situated west of Belmont Harbor, north of the esteemed Lakeview East community, and just south of the Chicago Cubs' home base Wrigleyville, Boystown has carved a niche all its own within the urban fabric of Chicago proper.

Famous among day-trippers throughout the Midwest for its colorful nightlife and inviting atmosphere, Boystown is host to a true "round-the-clock" urban experience. It is within walking distance of trendy fashion outlets, Chicago's "Off-Loop" theater district, spectacular architecture, and many wine boutiques, specialty restaurants, and one-of-a-kind shops. Two major train stops fall within Boystown's sorted boundaries, as well as numerous bus lines along routes plentiful with taxicabs, making the full Chicago experience accessible within minutes via mass transit.

North Halsted Street, also known as "Northalsted", is the central hub of this bustling district. It sports Chicago's highest concentration of LGBT-friendly establishments—-an eclectic mix of bars, coffeehouses, and restaurants in accord with the equally eclectic population of local hipsters and open-minded progressives. City planners have designated Northalsted an official pedestrian and bike route following a 1998 community project that resulted in 11 pairs of rainbow-colored abstract Art Deco pylons being erected along the strip. Coupled with the ever-present rainbow flag that is posted upon nearly every entrance encounterd on the Northalsted strip, these pillars also denote the many respectable gay-owned and operated venues that have become hotspots for weekenders throughout the city as well as residents of Boystown.

With Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley agreeing to endorse and host the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago, the city government's general acceptance of the LGBT community is as vibrant as ever, especially in the 44th ward that includes Boystown. Predictably, Chicago's only openly gay alderman—Thomas M. Tunney—represents the area on the Chicago City Council. He is among a family of LGBT-friendly business-people and community leaders who promote the dynamic lifestyle and comradery Boystown locals would argue rivals that of small-town America.