Development of Gay Village
Originally, there were only a handful of establishments located in what is now the Village gai. In the early 1980s, some bars opened along Saint-Catherine Street East, between Berri Street and Papineau Avenue, in Montreal's Centre-Sud area. Eventually, a new generation of gays also moved into the neighbourhood, both anglophone and francophone. Many came from other parts of Quebec. This was encouraged by the creation of a "Quartier Latin" (in English Latin Quarter) dominated by the new campus of the Université du Québec à Montréal.
The phrase "Le Village de l'Est" (the Eastern Village) was coined by one of the original bar owners from then-popular bar/club called K.O.X. in an advertisement. After living in New York City, it was his intention to create a strong vibrant gay community similar to the East Village in New York. The phrase was used as a way to refer to this new community, referring to its eastern geographical location from downtown, as opposed to the traditional west end. Eventually the name shortened to simply "Le Village" by the gay community itself. The success was solidified by the fact that it became both a gay residential and commercial district. But its success reflected the near disappearance of gay businesses from the west of downtown.
By the 1990s, "The Village" had already started its expansion on Amherst Street, with the departure of many antique shops, more gay owned and operated businesses were emerging. At the same time, it had become well-established, and gained political recognition, acceptance by all LGBT persons, and by heterosexuals as well. It has continuously thrived, gaining popularity, the area beautified, the housing renovated. Almost all gay businesses in Montréal are now situated in this area.
Although many gays reside and are also very present in other parts of Montreal, the Gay Village remains the heart of, and service centre for, Montreal's LGBT community. Each year, Sainte-Catherine Street - heart of the Village, is handed out to pedestrians from May to September. This wide outdoor area is offering many terraces, welcome tourists with major events such as Festival International de Montréal en Arts, Fierté Montreal Pride and Divers-Cité's Festival.
Read more about this topic: Gay Village, Montreal, History
Famous quotes containing the words development of, development, gay and/or village:
“As long as fathers rule but do not nurture, as long as mothers nurture but do not rule, the conditions favoring the development of father-daughter incest will prevail.”
—Judith Lewis Herman (b. 1942)
“Fascism, the more it considers and observes the future and the development of humanity, quite apart from political considerations of the moment, believes neither in the possibility nor the utility of perpetual peace.”
—Benito Mussolini (1883–1945)
“Those who in quarrels interpose,
Must often wipe a bloody nose.”
—John Gay (1685–1732)
“Tom was a glittering hero once more—the pet of the old, the envy of the young. His name even went into immortal print, for the village paper magnified him. There were some that believed he would be President, yet, if he escaped hanging.”
—Mark Twain [Samuel Langhorne Clemens] (1835–1910)