Vancouver tops for gay tourism

[Vancouverite]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

in response to some posts about the lack of gay clubs:

I think gay people (aside from vancouver having a liberal accepting attitude) like to come to vancouver for the same reasons everyone else likes coming to vancouver, because its beutiful. everything from whistler to vancouver island, this region offers a lot of things to do. I dont think how many gay clubs there are or how vibrant davie street is is that important. I and alot of my buddies have visited vancouver (before I moved here) and what kind of gay bars there were here never factored in to us coming here.

but the real question is have you become smug since arriving?

[baggab]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

I disagree, most people when they go out go downtown, at least of the people I know. Local scenes are pretty hurting in the burbs, and unless you are going to a specifically ethnic venue, there is little reason. All i can think of that is any good outside of downtown/brodway is standard (blowing money at the casino) and apparently roosters, although that is not really my scene. Mirage fell off bigtime.

When you go out in Vancouver it is definetly not only the whities downtown, it is quite diverse.

and Sponge, i dont think it is zoning, becuase celebrities (the biggest gay bar in Vancouver for those non-locals) is on davie, so there must be another reason.

The diversity, for the most part that you're seeing, are usually foreign exchange students or people from Vancouver/Burnaby that downtown is filled with.

Most people from the burbs stay in the burbs, it's partly because of the minimal public transportation provided to them at those hours. You'll obviously see some people, but I assure you it's minimal for the most part. People that I talk to from Coquitlam, White Rock, Ladner and Surrey generally have a strong dislike to travelling to Vancouver... possibly because they have to do it 5 days a week and they deal with the large amount of car crashes that clog the main arteries every week.

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

When you go out in Vancouver it is definetly not only the whities downtown, it is quite diverse.

hahah, whities? good to know the downtown also has the blackies and the brownies.

[smasher000]

Its not like Vancouver has good straight bars. They close too early, and there isnt THAT much variety..

[freeweed]

Can't think of a more appropriate thread for this, so for those that haven't heard yet:

Government motion on same-sex marriage is defeated
Last Updated: Thursday, December 7, 2006 | 3:31 PM ET
CBC News

A motion to reopen the same-sex marriage debate was easily defeated in Parliament on Thursday, as expected.

MPs voted 175-123 against the controversial motion tabled by the ruling Conservatives.

The motion had asked the government to introduce legislation to restore the traditional definition of marriage without affecting civil unions and while respecting existing same-sex marriages.

The motion never had much hope of passing, as the Bloc Québécois and the NDP were forcing their members to vote against it.

Liberals were allowed to vote freely on the matter, but most members were expected to oppose the motion.

The vote should put an end to parliamentary wrangling about same-sex marriage, at least for now. Prime Minister Stephen Harper had said a vote to defeat the motion would settle the matter.

The vote stems from an election promise, to hold a free vote, that Harper made before his Conservative government took power in January.

Same-sex marriage became legal in Canada last year, when the Liberal government passed Bill C-38 in response to a series of court rulings that said gays had the right to marry.

The bill passed 158-133.

Thirty-two Liberals voted against it, while 95 supported it. Only three Conservatives voted in favour of it.

Liberals called this most recent motion hollow because, even if it had passed, it would not have struck down the right of gays to marry.

Most constitutional lawyers have said the only way the Tories could change the law would be to invoke the notwithstanding clause of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, something Harper has said he would not do.

Before Thursday's vote, Liberal MP Bill Graham called the motion a roundabout procedure.

"[It's] a manoeuvre that takes us nowhere; it's not designed to," he said. "It is designed to divide the House, divide the members of the House and divide the Canadian population on an issue that has been settled."

Interesting to note that with this "free" vote that Harper has been going on about for months now, the numbers were actually MORE supportive of SSM.

Can we finally put this chestnut to bed, and move on to issues that actually matter (and are actually the government's business)?

[Rusty van Reddick]

Two of the 12 conservative MPs who voted against the bill (ie supporting same sex marriage) are Calgary MPs: My MP, Lee Richardson of Calgary Centre, and Jim Prentice, MP for Calgary Centre-North. Prentice was one of the 3 cons to support the original SSM bill.

[agrant]

Originally Posted by Vancouverite

but the real question is have you become smug since arriving?

[Jammon]

I think this seems to be an issue of rivalry more than smugness. Personally, I find Toronto to be the most smug community, I often wonder why they still consider themselves Canadian! After all, they have an NBA team, and seem intent on gaining an NFL team, and let's not forget their venture into the MLS. Most of these things will remain a pipe dream to most Canadian cities. From my experinece, Torontonians tend to shit on Winnipeggers, and Monrealers often make fun of TO. There is a huge rivalry between those two cities. Winnipeg has a rivalry with most of Saskatchewan, in particular, Regina- while Calgary and Vancouver always seem to have the same issues. This is just pure generalziations, but I have noticed it more than once in my lifetime. I'd have to say that Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg seem to always be lumped together- maybe that's why we all tend to be more tolerant towards each other's communities. I can't remember the last time I heard anyone from Cowtown, or Deadmonton, bash Winterpeg. LOL!

[westcoast604]

Gay tourism is high for the same reasons straight tourism is high in this city. For its surroundings, climate, and lifestyle. What also helps is how laid back this city is, in that you can go pretty much anywhere being openly gay in public without ridicule or harassment. Vancouver generally has a very open minded and progressive attitude towards diversity, including sexuality.

As for the gay bars, it has certainly improved in recent years with the opening of Celebrities and 1181. Both are high quality, very modern venues with rotating A-list DJ's, music, and nights that are comparable to any large city in North America. Sure there are indeed better gay clubs in Montreal, New York etc, but that does not denounce what we have. It is picking up, trust me! There is a bar for every type. It's common place to see flamoyent themed drag queens full of colour walking up the street any night of the week. The city is certainly not repressed when it comes to gay nightlife.

Also, the fact that our gay district is adjacent to beaches on English Bay, with clean cut westcoast style buildings and the supurb landscaping (by Canadian standards) really sets a tone here that you don't find in Montreal or Toronto. The pink bus stops help too. Davie Street is second to only Commercial Drive in Vancouver for heart and soul.

[ssiguy]

Davie St itself is a dump with ugly 1970s commerical buildings. Toronto's Church St ia a beautiful area of old Victorian homes.
Montreal's gay community is also in a slummy eastside location.

Vancouver is a liberal city but still has the nickname "no fun city" and its not for nothing. Vancouver's gay bar scene is pretty pathetic. Vancouver's scene is obvious because it is almost all in the WestEnd. Toronto and Montreal are beyond the ghetto mentality and just more generally relaxed.
All cities have their gay ghettos but the more mature and progressive ones are the ones who haved moved beyond that because they don't need their ghettos to revolve around.
Cities with massive ghettos are often the ones where gays in general don't feel comfortable outside their little area.
The little ghettos evolved for community and safety in numbers. More liberal cities still, and always will, have them but going or living in them is no longer a requirement to feel part of the larger community. They no longer need that security becuase they feel welcome thruout the whole city.

[westcoast604]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

Davie St itself is a dump with ugly 1970s commerical buildings. Toronto's Church St ia a beautiful area of old Victorian homes.
Montreal's gay community is also in a slummy eastside location.

Vancouver is a liberal city but still has the nickname "no fun city" and its not for nothing. Vancouver's gay bar scene is pretty pathetic. Vancouver's scene is obvious because it is almost all in the WestEnd. Toronto and Montreal are beyond the ghetto mentality and just more generally relaxed.
All cities have their gay ghettos but the more mature and progressive ones are the ones who haved moved beyond that because they don't need their ghettos to revolve around.
Cities with massive ghettos are often the ones where gays in general don't feel comfortable outside their little area.
The little ghettos evolved for community and safety in numbers. More liberal cities still, and always will, have them but going or living in them is no longer a requirement to feel part of the larger community. They no longer need that security becuase they feel welcome thruout the whole city.

^ I would consider Church St a dump over Davie anyday. Last time I was there (June) the streets were literally lined with garbage bags 2 feet high on both sides of the road for blocks, trash everywhere, cracked broken concrete sidewalks, and everything was a miserable brown brick colour. The gay bars I went to on that street were also very dated inside. But really it is all a matter of taste right? I happen to like the style of Vancouver over that of Ontario. Personally I would consider most urban areas in Ontario a dump. But that is just my opinion. Clearly not yours, so lets not bring your biased tastes to the table.

Vancouver's gay scene is hardly restricted to Davie street there are gay/bi/straight mixed club nights all over the city. Shine, Club 23, the Anza Club, Tokyo Lounge to name a few that aren't near Davie Street. I don't think anyone in the gay community feels the need to revolve around Davie Street anyone. The times have changed and there is no need to stay in one little area.

[Taller Better]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

i

i don't know if its the zoning laws or what that makes vancouvers gay village so lacklustre - i don't think they can put any clubs along davie street - just smaller lounge type places and they don't scream "gay" the way they do in other places - ie manly posters and such - they usually end up pretty mixed

They weren't always lame. In the 70's, the West End was a hopping gay village, and bar life was thriving. Ask any of the old timers. It just kind of withered and died, but I have good memories of when it was in full swing. Vancouver's liquour laws were amongst the most antiquated in Canada, and it was very difficult to open a bar before 9pm. Only a handful of tavern/restaurants were able to. I think this fact caused coffee shops like Starbucks to become such an integral part of Vancouver- they were open in the afternoon. The liquour laws have loosened up now, though, since Expo. I know a lot of gay guys in Vancouver are not at all happy with the bar scene, as I have seen the issue thoroughly discussed over and over on a gay chatsite. I think the worst one I was in was PumpJacks. It was bustin' out with 'tude. I think that people have to remember that when they are sarcastic and diss a total stranger when he tells them he is from Toronto, it is really no different than repeating a bunch of racist cliches to the person beside you because you noticed he is black. Why people actually take pride in doing that, and claim it is their right is completely beyond me. It will not make you, or your city, look very good.

[QUOTE=Jammon;2496076]I think this seems to be an issue of rivalry more than smugness. Personally, I find Toronto to be the most smug community, I often wonder why they still consider themselves Canadian! After all, they have an NBA team, and seem intent on gaining an NFL team, and let's not forget their venture into the MLS. Most of these things will remain a pipe dream to most Canadian cities. From my experinece, Torontonians tend to shit on Winnipeggers, and Monrealers often make fun of TO. There is a huge rivalry between those two cities. Winnipeg has a rivalry with most of Saskatchewan, in particular, Regina- while Calgary and Vancouver always seem to have the same issues. This is just pure generalziations, but I have noticed it more than once in my lifetime. I'd have to say that Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg seem to always be lumped together- maybe that's why we all tend to be more tolerant towards each other's communities. I can't remember the last time I heard anyone from Cowtown, or Deadmonton, bash Winterpeg. LOL![/QUOTE]

Wow. You're kidding. I had no idea any of this was going on. You're joking, right?

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by Taller Better

I'd have to say that Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg seem to always be lumped together- maybe that's why we all tend to be more tolerant towards each other's communities. I can't remember the last time I heard anyone from Cowtown, or Deadmonton, bash Winterpeg. LOL!

Wow. You're kidding. I had no idea any of this was going on. You're joking, right?

No kidding. People in Winnipeg are far from tolerant about Calgary

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

Davie St itself is a dump with ugly 1970s commerical buildings. .

I agree. There are a handful of buildings like the building celebrities is in that’s worth keeping, everything else could just be bulldozed such as the gas stations, shoppers drugmart, that ugly grocery store with the Rogers video beside it just to name a few. I don’t understand why there hasn’t been any substantial development west of Hornby in ~30 years. I am just not a fan of that area it’s depressing and embarrassing.

[Kilgore Trout]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

Montreal's gay community is also in a slummy eastside location.

"slummy eastside location"?

ah yes, starbucks, american apparel, overpriced trendy restaurants, supperclubs, restored victorian buildings, crowded sidewalks... all staples of a slum.

[Taller Better]

Montreal's gay village used to be right downtown, on Peel and the surrounding area. In the very early 70's there was a notorious Police raid of a multi floor gay club called "Buds". The raid revealed a lot of **ahem** embarassing facts that the City officials were not anxious to have happen downtown again (the "Police" type of local tabloids had a heyday). So, they cooked up a scheme to move the gay 'problem' as it then was, out of the downtown core. They offered tax incentives for any gay bar to move to what was quite a run down area of town, about a mile or so east of the core. This area is what we now know of as the Montreal village. There are many excellent clubs/shops/restaurants in the village, but the area itself is still run down by most people's evaluation. It is NOT a slum, but it is still a fairly poor part of town, wouldn't you agree Kilgour? By the way, you have my sympathy that one of those wretched American Apparel stores opened in your village. We keep waiting for it to close in ours. At this time tomorrow I will be on Ste Catherine's right in the heart of the village!!

[ncvwgtiboi]

I'm gay and I'll be a tourist in Vancouver this weekend...my first time there. Clubbing is fun, but the real reason I am coming is to check out your mass transit system and get some skiiing in at Whistler. Looking forward to it.

[mezzanine]

Yeah, Davie is lagging behind the rest of downtown. The new renos to the Sandman Inn are nice, with the Kin's Farm Market and Cob's Bakery, but they should NUKE the Money Mart and Liquor store at Bute.

In the 1970s, Davie was very dodgy - prostitution (male and female) was open and trick pads abundant in the whole area before it was pushed to the east in the 80s.

[Greco Roman]

Originally Posted by WHISTLERINMUSKOKA

On this board it's pretty apparent which city would win the smug award most of the time. Yes I'm aware Toronto has its fare share of smugness as does Vancouver, Montreal and so on, but they all pale in comparison to the city I'm talking about.

Hmmmm......could it be.....................CALGARY!

[Hot Rod]

Originally Posted by Albertaboy

Hmmmm......could it be.....................CALGARY!

Ding. Ding. Ding.

We have a winner!