Kingdom of Treasure

A Colorful Utopia

Sunny Los Angeles California. Home to the stars. A shopper’s paradise. A place with a perceived reputation of pure glamour. Where dreams come true. Superficial descriptions usually fill the air when people discuss the city of Los Angeles, but on a deeper level this overwhelmingly large city is made up of small communities whom connect with the space, and each other, in profound ways. Somewhere in the middle of chaos a city with a particularly special sense of community is located, the city of West Hollywood. Here is where the gay community in Los Angeles has carved out their own niche, a space in which they can freely express themselves. In this neighborhood people are friendly, outgoing, and often flamboyant in their mannerisms leaving in the air a sense of acceptance.

            I set out, with a research partner, to explore the significance of the city to gay youth because I wanted to understand what made it so special to this group of people. Upon our exploration, we talked to several people who helped us understand what the city meant to them. In fact I interviewed someone very close to me, where I learned that West Hollywood, or WeHo as most refer to it, is an important landmark to people not originally from California. My significant other, Luke Horvath, was raised in Las Vegas Nevada and vividly remembers his first time visiting WeHo.

            “I remember being around West Hollywood and I thought it was really cool and it was very L.A. which was appealing to me,” he recalled.

Although he couldn’t quite recall the precise moment he realized there was a large gay community in the city, one thing really stood out for him (and several of the other people we talked to) the rainbow flags on Santa Monica Boulevard.

“I don’t remember when it was, but I remember I was driving down Santa Monica and seeing the gay flags in the center of the street and being like ‘Oh wow!’ I was actually really surprised because I had never been in an area like that, Vegas doesn’t really have an area like that. It was so clear, so out there, like in your face. It wasn’t hidden.” He explained.

The clarity of the designated area for the gay community was refreshing to him, a sign that this was an area for them to call home. Before moving to the city Luke remembers having a negative impression of the city, thinking that it was pretentious and cold. He admitted this impression might not have been justified because he had never really visited the area, but his perception changed almost immediately after relocating to an apartment in the heart of West Hollywood. The area had a friendly atmosphere and although there are several attractive people he has never felt a strong sense of judgment from anyone.

“There’s no questions, there’s no pressure, there’s no expectations is what I feel like. So anyone could come here that doesn’t want to answer to any expectations or answer any questions. I don’t feel like there’s a pressure to be anything, which is good. It’s refreshing and it relieves any kind of pressure or stress because there’s always expectations, some are big, some are small but I feel like this area has no expectations about how you are supposed to live your life,” said Luke about the attraction to the city and how he feels about having no expectations.

As our discussion came to a close, Luke summed up the significance of the city perfectly by simply reiterating the notion that West Hollywood is a place where there are no expectations. More importantly, he said that even visitors could frequent the area to get away from societal expectations. “Even for a short period of time, a Friday night, it’s just a place where you can feel like you don’t have to be what everyone else thinks you’re supposed to be,” said Luke as we concluded our discussion.

Introduction

            West Hollywood has built a space in the global city of Los Angeles in which their community is based on acceptance and kindness. This carefully drawn out niche has allowed members of the gay community to carve their space in the large physicality that Los Angeles inhabits. It is here that people both part of the gay community and those who are not come to feel a sense of acceptance. This city holds a particularly special importance in the scope of urban development because the neighborhood eloquently illustrates how large global cities are naturally divided into several sub cities that in turn create diverse subcultures. 

            Specifically, the question to be answered is the significance that West Hollywood holds for gay youth. Before I began my research, I had several ideas as to why this city was important to gay youth. First, being a member of the gay community, I knew that West Hollywood was the “gay part” of LA, a hub for gays to migrate to. Second, knowing that this area was the center for the gay community I figured that there was a sense of togetherness considering the unfortunate separation from family that many suffer upon coming out to their families. Lastly, my understanding of the city was due to first hand experience, giving me a clear picture of the community. I knew the city contained a special unspoken connectedness because of the diverse group of people who call the city home or even frequent the area often.

            This research question creates meaningful dialogue about the importance of physical space in relation to its affects on culture, even beyond one specific city. Developing a concrete understanding of the significance of a particular space allows people to reflect on their local environment but also digs at the deeper meaning of subcultures, or networks, that exist in these urban environments. Individuals can foster personal interpretations of physical space in which they identify meaning to the world around them. Furthermore, living in West Hollywood has prompted me to investigate the deeper meaning of the city to gay youth for two reasons; I find the city to be a special place because of the openness and the simple fact that I am a member of the gay community myself.

Methods

            In order to conduct thorough research I employed a system utilizing methods of movement mapping, behavior inventories, observational field notes, as well as informal and formal interviews. My research partner, Alex Derse and myself administered this research together. Before our research began we identified three areas to focus on, West Hollywood Park, a Starbucks Coffee shop, and a gay bar and club called The Abbey Food and Bar. A total of four separate visits to these locations took place, three of which were on Sunday afternoons and evenings as well as one visit that occurred on a Saturday afternoon and evening.  It was our intention to choose locales that spoke to the community as a whole, so as to gather data that would solidify our primary objective of defining the significance of the city.

Starbucks in a Nutshell

            This particular Starbucks located on Santa Monica and Westmount, almost perfectly placed in the middle of the city, carries a story of its own. Locals in the city refer to the coffee shop as “gaybucks” due to the prime location as well as those who work in the establishment. When this particular Starbucks is brought up in discussion people also call it “judgment Starbucks” alluding that the gym across the street serves the appetite of gay youth who plant themselves at the outside seating to observe the multitude of men whom utilize the 24-Hour Fitness gym. More than anything, everyone seems to be amused by this urban legend smiling as they recall personal experiences at gaybucks. However, this story provides a more complex understanding of how public space translates a feeling of togetherness through the act of storytelling.

            Starting with movement maps, we created a two-category system where we divided the population of the gay community into gays and lesbians. Marking the direction of gay males in green and the direction of lesbians in purple in intervals of thirty minutes, on average, we constructed a total of nine maps. Three of which were at the park, four conducted at the Starbucks, and two at the Abbey.

            These maps provided concrete evidence that the population of gays and lesbians is unbalanced; there are considerably more gay males than lesbians. Another interesting fact to point out was the mobility at each of the three locations, people were seen on foot traveling to the park, grabbing a bite to eat, lounging in coffee shops, going to and from the gym, enjoying the centrality of their city. Christina, a woman we met while conducting research outside Starbucks discussed her Sunday routine and even took us on a walking tour.

A Day in the Life

            Christina starts her day by parking at the gym, located across from the Starbucks on Santa Monica, where she plans to go work out after running some errands. She crosses the street and walks east on Santa Monica to deposit a check at the bank. She then walks westward back toward the Starbucks to go tanning at a salon located near the coffee shop. After tanning Christina orders her iced green tea from Starbucks, sits outside and sneaks a cigarette. Starbucks, as well as the city of West Hollywood, have prohibited smoking at outside seating areas, but this relatively new guideline is rarely enforced. After enjoying her green tea, and cigarette, she crosses the street to go work out. At this point Christina often heads home, but she says she sometimes goes grocery shopping at the Trader Joe’s west of the Starbucks.

            Christina also provided some meaningful information on the city, discussing her first experience and what the city means for her. She remembers the first time she came to the city to go to a lesbian bar called Truck Stop. “It’s like Coyote Ugly for lesbians,” she explained. “There were girls that looked at me the way that dudes did. So that was it for me, then I moved here,” she recalled. She moved to West Hollywood after her visit to Truck Stop because it was different from being in Santa Monica. “I can walk down the street here and meet a girl the way a straight person would meet a guy. So it’s that, acceptance. Being comfortable.” As we concluded our interview with Christina it was apparent that the city indeed provides a sense of acceptance and freedom for members of the gay community.

            Following our mapping we conducted behavioral inventories in intervals of thirty minutes, on average, as well. Again we divided the gay population into categories of gays and lesbians. We then looked at things like open display of rainbows (a common symbol of the gay community), if people were openly displaying their affection, wearing accessories, and lastly we looked for groups (in which three or more people were considered groups). A total of twelve behavior inventories were conducted in the four times we visited the three locations.

Rainbows

            Here I will provide a little history of why rainbows have become a prominent symbol in the gay community. Use of the rainbow flag started in the 1970’s, as a symbol of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) pride using the colors to reflect the diversity of the LGBT community. Originally designed by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker the flag is now used worldwide and has undergone several revisions. Gilbert even defined the colors using hot pink to denote sexuality, red for life, orange for healing, yellow was sunlight, green was nature, turquoise was magic or art, blue (or indigo) was serenity and harmony, and purple meant spirit. Following the assassination of openly gay City Supervisor Harvey Milk in San Francisco the demand for rainbow flags skyrocketed. In fact the flag gained nationwide publicity in 1989 when West Hollywood resident John Stout sued his landlords for trying to forbid him from hanging the flag on his apartment balcony.

            Another technique we used to study the three locations was observational field notes, in which we observed our surroundings in the most objective approach possible. We garnered a total of seven individual field notes; three of which were taken at the park, three at the Starbucks, and two at the Abbey (quite a difficult task to take notes in a crowded bar).

            These notes, and my memory, bring me to a specific observation I recall from our research at the Abbey. This high-energy bar and club is a place where people enjoy being out with friends and large networks of peers. I noticed that beyond the loud music and dancing, people didn’t move around too much but rather grouped together and enjoyed themselves. Outside the simple notion of enjoying themselves, the groups of people were friendly to strangers. On one particular night when I was observing the area a man came up to me, obviously a few drinks in, to ask what I was doing. The comfort level with regards to strangers is quite different in West Hollywood; there is openness that somehow gives people the ability to let their guard down.

            Finally, the two of us participated in a total of seven interviews; four gay men and three lesbians. Some interviews lasted only two minutes while others lasted as long as thirty minutes, on average. One interview I conducted was with my significant other, as detailed above. Two other subjects were interviewed in West Hollywood Park, we met three of our subjects at Starbucks, and we talked briefly to one man at the Abbey.

A Brief History of the Abbey

            One night while Alex and I were sitting at the Abbey enjoying drinks after conducting some research we noticed an older gentleman glancing our way. We noticed that he was alone, an uncommon phenomenon in a bar. Unsure of his intentions, ten minutes go by to which he walks over to us. “Hi, I’m Phillipe,” he says. After we introduce ourselves Alex dives right in by asking him about West Hollywood. He then tells us a lengthy story about his first time to Disneyland, which to this day we don’t fully understand. This story came after Alex asked him about his first time in the city, perhaps he was a little intoxicated. Nonetheless we were able to steer the conversation in the right direction to which we learned a little about the history of the Abbey. Phillipe told us that the bar and club used to be a simple bakery and coffee shop. Pointing to the northern side of the bar where the bakery is, he explained that it was much smaller. We then learned a little bit about him but soon after he decided to go to another bar, still alone!

            Through this system of data collection an insightful message of appreciation for physical space was gained. Gay youth feel comfortable in the city of West Hollywood, they act without thinking often displaying affection and traveling in groups. Accessorizing themselves with jewelry and messenger bags these individuals feel free to express themselves however they please.

A Lesbian Perspective

On one of our first visits to the field Alex and I met a woman named Hasmik, here’s a great little story! The two of us were sitting outside, conducting our research while sipping coffee and of course at some point we would both have to pee. Alex was first, so she walks in to use the restroom as I sit continuing to take some field notes. Finally Alex returns, with a new friend who she introduces me to, Hasmik. Apparently the openness of the city sparked Hasmik to ask Alex what she was doing in the city, her [Alex’s] backpack gave the impression that she wasn’t just hanging out. We then stood outside Starbucks talking to our new friend for quite some time, and Alex jotted down her number to plan a time to sit down and interview her.

Ironically Hasmik’s first visit to West Hollywood was to raid the library for books to help her in a women’s gender class she was taking. Two things she remembers most were all the rainbow flags and the men she noticed everywhere. In regards to feelings the city produces, she said that mostly feelings of freedom are felt. She then discussed how everyone in West Hollywood is a role model for each other by simply being open to being who you are, wherever you are, especially for people who don’t have that. “When you see people who live their lives openly it is inspiring,” she said. This raises a particularly noteworthy element of the community that wasn’t otherwise discussed. The concept of role modeling for each other opens a new avenue of significance to the urban atmosphere of West Hollywood. Here we see that there is indeed openness as well as a freedom of expression, but that is taken further by the idea that others are inspired by these fundamental aspects of this urban culture.

Inspiration in the Form of Surveillance

            Surveillance is a natural behavior that enables people to keep an eye on their immediate surroundings. Cities are larger scale surroundings that can benefit from a communal observation where safety is constantly being protected through the interaction of strangers. Jane Jacobs discussed the ways in which urban culture can provide cities a sense of safety by creating streets that people frequent. Placing all forms of business, from laundry facilities to bars, will establish a constant motion of people on the sidewalks of their cities. Positively utilizing public space, the bustling streets of West Hollywood exemplify the point Jacobs is making.

An unfortunate reality for many young children involves bullying, where safety is immediately cast aside. Overwhelmingly, gay youth tend to be the target of severe bullying, leaving these young adults to grow up with a sense of helplessness. Adulthood for this victimized group then becomes centered around a search for acceptance from strangers, in which the primary goal is to retain personal safety. The community of West Hollywood is in many ways a large family unit that provides a sense of safety among strangers, hence the underlying message of acceptance. This sense of safety enables people to utilize urban space more positively and ultimately contributes to the profound significance of the physical environment. Frequently making use of public space, the streets of West Hollywood are often filled with pedestrians. Their use of this space then translates to a personal appreciation of local physicalities.

In the same vein of spatial significance comes unique cultural significance demonstrated by the way people interact. In many ways the people of West Hollywood personify feelings of happiness, smiling at strangers is a common occurrence. Largely populated with gay youth, the community is a diverse group of people who in some form are connected because they contribute to the unique urban culture, a culture dedicated in part to the cultivation of self worth. These principles of acceptance and self worth create a family like community in which the concept of observing surroundings is common. Urban culture blossoms when city streets are filled with strangers who are invested in the safety of each other, a point Jacobs brings to light.

Building upon the notion of observation, the openness of West Hollywood often inspires strangers to freely express themselves. As Hasmik discussed, people become role models for each other especially when they don’t have a strong sense of self. In order to inspire freedom of expression, a person must be noticed thereby confirming that people are evaluating their surroundings. Simultaneously, the streets of West Hollywood are safe        public spaces where strangers observe each other to gain security in terms of safety as well as self-expression.

The Power of Physical Locale

As cities flourish, the urbanization process sometimes creates unforeseen problems for the citizens of the expanding community. Many times class struggles arise as the populous becomes separated by the development of modern industries in the surrounding areas. Manuel Castells conceives of cities as Network Societies, where the flows of information, for example, have more power than a specific space. He also discusses how these flows, or networks, sometimes exclude certain populations, leading to class struggles. Although it is argued that the flows through contemporary neighborhoods have more power than that of any specific space, perhaps the concept of space can be examined in a more complex frame of thought. Contrary to Castells’ conception of cities, physical environment provides a strong foundation for the eclectic citizens of Los Angeles. Castells argues that modernization creates a flow through cities in which a network is created, however this creation of networks forms a division among citizens. Interestingly, from a different angle, this division allows these citizens to gravitate towards each other creating distinct communities.

The network of West Hollywood, for instance, channels gay youth in remarkably special ways. First, by harboring resources, such as health and support centers, members of the gay community feel a connection to the urban space. Secondly, by facilitating social relations through eateries, coffee shops and bars and nightclubs West Hollywood contains attractions that are targeted at gay youth. Lastly, by nurturing a sense of acceptance illustrated by the friendliness in the community gay youth gravitate towards the city of West Hollywood. With this concrete example of how the modernization of Los Angeles responded to the flows of information by creating individual networks, it is easy to see that physical environment embodies as much power as the movement through the space.  

The power of space is an important element when examining the significance of a town for a particular group of people. The division, created by networks, gives people the opportunity to come together to create individual neighborhoods where they feel they are surrounded by their peers. My interview with Luke showcases how space can serve as a symbol of power to a group of people. Recall Luke’s anecdote that dealt with his first time driving down Santa Monica Boulevard, this perfectly emphasizes the way physical environment can be, and was for him, as crucial as moving through that environment. Rainbow flags rooted in the middle of the main street in West Hollywood are symbols of deep significance, underlining the intimate connection to this space for gay youth. They choose to frequent the area because a congregation of their peers is there, but perhaps blending the aspects of the physical relevance and personal significance is where an advantageous lesson of spatial power lies.

Conclusion

Large global cities like Los Angeles naturally divide into smaller sub cities, or networks, resulting in the birth of modern cultures. Physical space has become the material embodiment of the unique urban culture of West Hollywood by channeling gay youth. By connecting with the spirit of the city, the gay community perpetuates a cultural ideal centered on principles of acceptance and self worth. Material environment affects urban culture, demonstrated by the comfort gay youth posses in West Hollywood. My research uncovered an insightful message of appreciation for physical space, indicating that these youth feel so comfortable they often act without thinking. More specifically, these individuals express themselves more vibrantly as well as display affection for one another in a more public manner. Freedom gives this community a strong foundation to which the physical area is strongly rooted in the cultural ideals. Rainbow flags placed on the main street of the city also prove to be an intimate connection gay youth attribute to the urban space.   

Works Cited

Castells, Manuel 1997, “An Introduction to the Information Age” from City 2 (7): 6-16

Jacobs, J. (1961). The Uses of Sidewalks: Safety. The Death and Life of Great American

Cities (pp. 29-41). New York: Random House.