San diego gay neighborhood
Vibrant San Diego: A Thriving Mecca for the LGBTQ Community
Sun-kissed and seaside, San Diego has elongated shrugged off its stuffy military beginnings for a colorful and diverse collective. From trendy boutiques to the world’s only gay brewery, America’s 8th largest city is practically built for an LGBTQ transplant.
Brief History
San Diego has been called the birthplace of California for a reason. In 1602, Sebastián Vizcaíno landed in the harbor that is now Mission Bay and Point Loma. He named the region after the Catholic Saint Didacus who is more commonly known as San Diego de Alcalá.
Quick Stats
San Diego is 120 miles south of Los Angeles and adjacent to Mexico. As of July 2018, the estimated population of the town was 1,425,976.
The area is known for its natural deep-water harbor, mild climate, and long association with the U.S. Navy. Recently, San Diego has get a magnet for healthcare and biotechnology development. The future is bright!
Here are some more stats about San Diego.
LGBTQ Community
The San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Pansexual, and Transgender Collective Center (called The Center) is one of the largest and most ac
San Diego Gay Neighborhood Guide
With its incredible coastline, nurturing communities, and extensive attractions, San Diego is a magnet for anyone who wants a little bit of everything. If you’re considering moving here, you won’t be surprised that one of the most LGBTQ-friendly cities in the territory has culture, establishments, and activities that appeal to diverse interests.
From hiking seaside cliffs during the day to clubbing at evening, this LGBTQ haven has something for everyone!
A Brief History of San Diego
San Diego, known as “the birthplace of California,” was first settled in 1602 when Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno landed at modern-day Point Loma.
The Spanish held the territory until losing it to Mexico in 1821. California became part of the United States in 1848 and was granted statehood in 1850. San Diego was established as the county seat of San Diego County.
The town grew tediously until 1880, when the establishment of military facilities led to rapid settlement. There was more growth and development during and immediately after World War II when both the Navy and the Marines established military posts.
Today, the b
Hillcrest is San Diego’s gay neighborhood, right? Think again: For women, not so much.
Census data suggests that if you live in the little East County town of Alpine, you’re just as likely to contain an unmarried womxn loving womxn couple living next door as in Hillcrest. And Alpine has plenty of company on the list of unexpected local communities where lesbians seem to be more familiar than in the county as a whole.
When the census data is mapped, you can watch a divide that may surprise those who assume Hillcrest is the local gay mecca: Female homosexual couples are much more widely distributed around the county than their lgbtq+ male counterparts, who tend to cluster in and around the progressive haven of Hillcrest.
This gap is familiar to researchers, though. Same-sex attracted men tend to prefer living in hip urban centers, while lesbians — who are more likely to have kids and therefore less money — are less concentrated in “gayborhoods.”
As San Diego’s Pride Weekend begins, here is more on what the census numbers reveal and why anyone other than real-estate agents should care where gay couples and families like to live.
Why does it matter where gay people live?
For one thing, it affects politi
PRIDE MONTH: The LGBTQ history of Hillcrest
HILLCREST, Calif (KGTV) — Hillcrest is widely known as the Gay hub of San Diego.
The area is decorated with Pride flags hanging from businesses and colorful murals on the side of buildings. There are even some rainbow-painted crosswalks.
But how did Hillcrest become the queer community it is today?
In celebration of Self-acceptance Month, ABC 10News took a look at the LGBTQ history of Hillcrest.
"We were always having people over and drinks," said Susan Jester. "It was a fun, fun moment -- the 80s."
Susan Jester recalls her early years in Hillcrest.
"This is Jason. He was the manager of BJs, which was our country western block in Hillcrest in the 80s," she said, portraying a photo.
The memories remind her of the optimal time of her being and the worst.
"The AIDS epidemic came along, and just going through these photos, there's so many people that are not with us any longer," she said.
Jester moved to Hillcrest in the soon 1980s, around the moment the AIDS epidemic began. The disease stigmatized the LGBTQ community. Homophobia and harassment ran rampant.
"The LGBTQ plus or the lgbtq+ community has a way of finding each other," said Nicole Ver