As a member of America's gay youth it's never been about finding a neighborhood with low paying retail jobs and bushes to have sex under. I think that's kind of insulting actually. I think as a people we strive for much more than low paying retail jobs and I don't know a single person who wants to have sex in public... What if you have to pee in the middle of it?

I think more than anything it's been about finding neighborhoods where we can be the only residents. If the gay population was accepted in neighborhoods all over town then there never would have been a "gay ghetto." So for years gay people have been shunned and discriminated against. Obviously it's still not a perfect world or a nation that has justice and equality for all. So I think more than anything it's about being in a safe place where there are no drunk straight guys, annoying double decker limousine baby carriages or straight women who think we've been waiting around all day to go shopping with them... I suppose a drunk straight guy or two wouldn't be the worst thing in the world but certainly no double decker limousine baby carriages or straight women who want to go shopping.

My point is that it's not likely the increasing rents that drive away gay people from the once predominately gay neighborhoods. It's the straight people. Not that gay people hate straight people, but at the end of the day... I think a lot of us would just like to be on our own.

I agree with the person above. Im not looking for a place to live thats full of bathhouses, places to screw in public or anything like that. I just want to live in a part of seattle thats not to expensive like the hill where it is so filthy, crime ridden and full of homeless people constantly asking for money and others leaving needles on the ground everywhere. It's ridiculous to live on the hill and pay such high rent when it is always dirty and doesnt get taken care of like west seattle or greenlake, etc.
I just want somewhere that is clean, people are friendly, there is still a gay community and gay bar or two, somewhere that you're not constantly being asked for money or witnessing drug deals in broad daylight and nobody cares. For the city of seattle, this shouldnt be to hard to find...but it is. I don't understand it. And why is it that gay bars are not full of gay people anymore? There are so many other bars in this city, why is it that every straight person has to take over the gay bars or clubs? Im not saying I dont like peeps that are straight, most of my friends are. But it would be nice to have somewhere to go and hang out where you arent being hit on by a "mostly straight girl", or being asked to be a third by a straight couple. For a city that has one of the largest gay communities in the country, it sure doesnt seem as queer friendly as you would think.

I dont like the fact though that this article makes it sound like all we are looking for is somewhere to fuck...not really a good way to portray the gay community of seattle, at least not for me. I like getting on like anyone else, but i can do it at home.

Oh and by the way, the 2 places you listed in west seattle..how come i cant find them anywhere? the pagoda room and the lizard lounge..cant find one thing on either one online. does anyone know if they're still around or anything about them?

Funny we are reading this in 2010 and it looks like it was written in 1999. west Seattle has opened and closed a gay bar in that time.

LOL, The Lizzard Lounge closed in 2005 when the owner took off. I'm John, was the DJ there.

um. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator, what cost $449 in 1990 would cost $788 in 2010, due to inflation alone. So if anything rents are a bit cheaper, no?

LOL - On reflection, it looks like West Seattle won this bout!