Let Us Begin
Sunday
is a very busy day in West Hollywood; school is not in session, and many people
get to enjoy work-free weekends. West Hollywood Park, located directly behind
The Abbey, is in central West Hollywood; south of Santa Monica Blvd. on
Robertson St. Everyday spent in the field, the weather was beautiful; with
temperatures averaging in the mid-eighties and the sun shining. In West
Hollywood Park, it is typical to see many same-sex couples playing in the sand
and on the jungle gym with their children. While in the field, my research
partner and I had met two young brothers playing in the sand. With their father
standing close by, they scurried back and forth kicking up sand and playfully
screaming. Over the screams and laughter on the playground, music and multiple
voices can be heard drifting from The Abbey’s patio out onto the street and
into the park. The smell of food permeates the air. The south sidewalk of the
park often has very heavy foot traffic by mid afternoon; with people coming in
and out of the park, and making their way to The Abbey. Although there are
dispersed groups of lesbians who pass by, the majority of the pedestrians are groups
of gay males. They stroll by, holding hands, exchanging hugs, and occasionally
kissing one another. Everyone seems to have care-free, relaxed attitudes;
laughing as they walk, and taking time in their steps.
These observations lead me to ask, considering same-sex
couples take their children to the playground, hold hands and express their
sexuality openly in public, how do gay residents express their connection to
the neighborhood? What feelings does this particular neighborhood evoke in
them? Does it carry any important meanings in their lives? At the onset of this
project I felt these answers were already quite clear; West Hollywood is known
as the place of Los Angeles’ gay community. It is a place which hosts a heavy
concentration of gay and lesbian residents. It is known to be naturally
accommodating and accepting of this main population. I feel this is a subject
worth examining because the gay community is becoming nationally more
recognized, and accepted, in general. These questions are relevant because
through my fieldwork, I hope to capture what it means for the gay community to
have a specific area which accommodates their lifestyles and allows them to
flourish. This examination may open outsider’s eyes as to why it is essential
to have a place of common belonging and acceptance; especially for a group who
has been discriminated against for so long a time. These questions however, are
especially important for me because I too am gay. Although I do not live in
West Hollywood, this neighborhood is very important and supportive of my
community. I, for this reason, was compelled to investigate West Hollywood and
its residents.
Questions similar to my own, are informed in Setha Low’s
ethnography, “On the Plaza.” Through her fieldwork, Low had examined the social
production and construction of space in San Jose, Costa Rica. Through her
studies, Low attempted to discover the political and cultural significance of
public spaces by focusing on the history of two plazas; Parque Central and
Plaza de la Cultura. Low’s studies incorporated Costa Ricans’ views as to how
theses plazas became a part of their lives and daily routines; what people
think, and what they do while in the plazas. Low’s questions were answered through
a historical understanding of these spaces, behavioral inventories, movement
mapping, and first-person narratives. (Low, 2000) It was through these methods
which enabled Setha Low to gain an understanding of the importance public
spaces play in the lives of people who occupy them.
Methods
The
methods used to answer these questions include the use of behavioral
inventories, movement mapping, and informal/formal interviews. These techniques
helped to produce data that conveyed common trends and common perceptions of
West Hollywood that are held by local residents. My research partner Jonny
Varon and I had gone to our field a total of four times. Our first three trips
took place on Sunday afternoons and evenings, and our final trip on a Saturday
afternoon. We chose three places to study: West Hollywood park, a Starbucks on
Santa Monica Blvd., and The Abbey, (a gay bar and night/club.) We felt these
areas would be appropriate to study considering they are places with heavy foot
traffic, and host vast amounts of people.
The
purpose of behavioral inventories is for an observer to record what people do,
how many of them are doing it, as well as the types of people engaging in these
activities. This technique allows the observer to pick up on common trends
found in certain areas. My research partner and I separated behavioral
inventories into two categories: gay males and lesbians. However, assuming the
sexuality of an individual is not always entirely accurate; considering this problem,
we decided to look at whether or not people openly displayed rainbow colors
(the rainbow is indicative of gay pride), the use of accessories (wearing
hats/bandanas, scarves/carrying purses, etc.), evidence of public displays of
affection, and those traveling in groups. The rationale of observing these last
two categories is to indicate the gay populations’ level of comfort they feel
when in West Hollywood; being in a gay-friendly environment, these behaviors
are more common when compared to an area that is not gay-friendly. Behavioral
inventories were taken on every trip to the field, and in every area studied.
On average, my research partner and I would spend twenty-thirty minutes
employing this technique.
The
movement maps, like the behavioral inventories, were separated into gay and
lesbian categories. We marked the movement of gay males in green ink and
lesbians in purple. Movement maps were produced between twenty- thirty minutes.
Throughout our four trips to the field, we did three movement maps of West
Hollywood Park, four at Starbucks, and two in The Abbey. The initial purpose of
movement mapping is to help capture how people move through/use space.
In
regards to informal/formal interviews, Jonny and I had gathered a total of
seven. Four of these were collected from gay males. The remaining three interviews
were from lesbians. The interviews ranged from being quick two-minute
conversations, to thirty minutes in length. We conducted two of our interviews
in West Hollywood Park, three in Starbucks, and one in The Abbey. All of the
interviewees were randomly chosen with the exception of one: Jonny’s boyfriend,
Luke. Although I had expected to collect more data than this, I was unable to
because many people did not care to be interviewed.
Based
on the data collected through these methods, I discovered that in West
Hollywood, the gay community displays themselves very openly; wearing
fashionable accessories, walking around in large groups, and often displaying
affection publicly. These inventories alone further solidified my assumption as
West Hollywood being a special place for the gay community; as is seen in how
open and comfortable they prove to be in public spaces. Additionally, through
the interviews conducted, it became ever more apparent why the gay community
congregates in West Hollywood; with reasons ranging from inspiration to mere
acceptance. The main thing I had learned in the field is that West Hollywood
holds a special place in the hearts of people who experience it. The only
trouble that was had in this project was movement mapping in The Abbey, and
getting interviews. I was surprised to see that many people were skeptical of
being interviewed on why they love this neighborhood. Perhaps this is because
the gay community has continuously been ridiculed and scrutinized for their
lifestyles. However, this is an assumption. Discussing their lives openly is
perhaps still a sensitive subject. With the people I did interview however, I
feel they shared how West Hollywood has positively impacted their lives.
Meanings of West Hollywood
Saturday,
April 21st, 2012: West Hollywood Park: Sandy: Lesbian
I sit down on the grass next to Sandy and we begin
talking about West Hollywood. I asked her what feelings the neighborhood evoked
in her and she responded, smiling; “I love West Hollywood. West Hollywood is
like the only place that I can truly be myself and be accepted in all of L.A.”
She laughed and continued; “It’s the gay Disneyland. It’s just a happy place.
You walk around and everybody is smiling. Everybody is being true to
themselves. And they’re not angry.” Again she laughed and lied down in the
grass. “This is the only place I feel accepted, fully.”
Sunday,
February 19th, 2012: Starbucks: Hasmique: Lesbian
One day, standing in line awaiting bathroom availability,
a woman passed by, smiled, and asked what I was doing (I had my backpack on).
After explaining, and asking if I may ask her some questions, she kindly
agreed. Hasmique is thirty-two years old, and moved to California from Armenia.
I asked her what feelings the neighborhood evokes in her; she smiled and
explained; “It evokes feelings of freedom. It’s seeing people who are living
their lives openly; that people live their lives as they are, as whom they are,
and they express themselves as they are. West Hollywood is a big place where
everyone is a role model for each other. When you see people who live their
lives openly, it is inspiring; because in West Hollywood, you just feel so free
to be who you are.” She leans back and smiles at me. I asked her why West
Hollywood was such a special place. She leans forward; “I think it’s a very
special place. There’s a vibe of comfort, a vibe of freedom, a vibe of warmth.
No matter what gender you are or sexual orientation you are, you feel free to
be here. You are not afraid of being harassed.”
Sunday,
April 1st, 2012: Starbucks: Steven: Gay male
Steven is in his mid-twenties and moved from Texas to
West Hollywood to pursue his acting career. Jonny and I asked him if he could
recall the first time he visited this neighborhood. Steven crossed his legs; “I
can literally remember driving down Santa Monica, and seeing the lights in the
trees. Like, I can see it in my head. Driving through the neighborhood, like,
this is the West Hollywood. It was really exciting. It’s like a gay designated
area. It’s like, this is a safe place. And there are a lot of us here. Like, I’m
ok on the streets. I also remember seeing the rainbow flag in the middle of
Santa Monica; and I knew I was ok here. I was really excited to see what it was
all about.” West Hollywood indeed holds a very special place in Steven’s heart.
He continued; “People don’t get to look at me sideways here. Anywhere else,
fine. But here, no. You don’t get to sneer. It really comes down to that thing
like; it’s gay first as opposed to gay ok. Because there are lots of places in
the country that are gay ok, but there is only a handful of places like West
Hollywood where it’s gay first. It’s ours. And we welcome you; instead of you
saying, we’re ok with you being here. And there’s an additional safety that
comes from that. It’s not unlike the way African Americans feel about
predominantly African neighborhoods. You know? Because that’s theirs. And we
are the guests. We don’t seek approval down here. You know? We do what we want
to do. Who I am is 100% ok, because I’m the majority here.”
The voices captured in these interviews are all very
important for different reasons. It wasn’t until I began speaking with West
Hollywood residents when I realized this neighborhood serves as more than a
weekend getaway. While interviewing Sandy, she mentioned that West Hollywood
was a “happy place” where “everybody is smiling”; the only place she has ever
felt truly accepted for who she is. Hasmique, on the other hand, kept repeating
how this neighborhood provided her with not only freedom, but inspiration. A
place she can come to and feel liberated and comfortable. Steven expressed
numerous times about how he feels comfortable and safe in West Hollywood. How
who he is “is 100% ok” because he is the majority in this neighborhood. Another
thing I found interesting is that every person interviewed for this project had
come from different parts of the world to reach this special place; ranging
from Texas, to New York, and even Armenia. The occupants of West Hollywood are
a very diverse group of people; all coming from afar, to experience the myriad
feelings this area evokes.
An article reminiscent of these notions is Jane Jacob’s “The
Uses of Sidewalks: Safety.” The author’s main point is that the best way to
keep a neighborhood safe is not to thinly disperse people; but instead, keep us
closer together. City sidewalks function more safely when a lot of people are
around; the eyes of the street if you will. Having restaurants, bars,
boutiques, and shops throughout neighborhoods increases the concentration of
persons. It is when numerous people are in an area which they enjoy, when they
are more likely to have their eyes open, and see all that is going on. (Jacobs,
1961) In other words, through her article, Jacobs presents the notion that
interactions on the streets and throughout neighborhoods create a level of
comfort and a specific vibe that can strengthen a community. Through the neighborhood
of West Hollywood, gay residents are made to feel safe and accepted; based on
their everyday observations and interactions.
Starbucks: Blowing in the Wind
From West Hollywood Park, approximately one mile east
down Santa Monica lays our second site: Starbucks. This coffee house is located
on Santa Monica Blvd. and Westmount Dr. There is a gym directly across the
street which increases foot traffic in the general area. Being a weekend, and
having a nice outside patio, this is where Jonny and I situate. Looking south
onto Santa Monica, we see large concentrations of gay males heading out of the
gym and either coming to Starbucks, or heading west toward local bars. Although
there aren’t as many lesbians in this general area, we occasionally see groups
of girls walking by with their arms over the shoulders of their girlfriends.
Cars are constantly zipping down the boulevard filling the air with incessant
noise.
On a particular trip to Starbucks, Jonny and I were
sitting on the patio when a gust of wind unexpectedly blew all of our fieldwork
out of my folder. With our papers sweeping down the sidewalk, I stood up and
pointed, yelling, “That’s our project!” Jonny got up and began walking towards
our dispersed papers. As I watched, I noticed that everyone walking down the
sidewalk had stooped down to pick up a couple of them up. Jonny hadn’t bent
down once, and within a minute, all of our papers had been returned to us.
After discussing what had just taken place, Jonny and I realized it was this
specific act of kindness we had experienced which indicates the true sense of
community within West Hollywood.
An analysis regarding this act of kindness can be
critiqued through a brief discussion of Georg Simmel’s “The Metropolis and
Mental Life.” In this article, Simmel tries to explain metropolitan society and
its effects on the individual. In other words, an analysis of how urban
personalities develop. He suggests that within cities, there is so much going
on, that we, as metropolitan persons, become reserved and cold due to feeling
that we need to “preserve” our core by rejecting much of what constantly
bombards us in a city. Although Simmel feels cities help free individuals, he
conveys us as shut off; “metropolitan individuals” if you please. It is the constant
movement we experience within cities which, according to Simmel, creates a
sense of bombardment which must be carefully avoided in order to maintain our
inner-selves. (1948)
Simmel’s analysis caused me to look at the neighborhood I
am studying and led me to ask; is this really true? Are city dwellers cold,
shut-off individuals? After thinking about the progress of my field work, I
would have to disagree with Simmel. When Jonny and I were at Starbucks and that
gust of wind took our project to the street, every person walking down the
sidewalk took time to pick up some of our papers. Had we been in a city of
“indifferent” individuals, I do not see my story ending in the way it had. What
this incident made me realize is that West Hollywood is indeed a very different
neighborhood with a very different type of personality; a place where you can
go, and your burdens, in a sense, are shared with others. This perhaps may be
due to the fact that gays are a discriminated group who feels they must work
together in order to ease the struggles of life. Even if people don’t live in
West Hollywood, they integrate themselves so deeply into the city as to go out
of their way to help perfect strangers. Everybody seems so ready to assist one
another in this area. Is it due to the fact that the gay community yearns so
strongly for support that they project it onto those whom they do not know?
Within a community of minorities who have experienced social/personal
obstacles, perhaps they become more sympathetic, and in turn, more aware of any
act of kindness. This is where Georg Simmel fell short; although he examined
the “metropolitan individual”, he chose to ignore small groups of people within
cities who are not indifferent; minorities. It is the people who have gone
through hardship who first realize, a little bit of help may mean a lot. It is
in West Hollywood where I had witnessed random acts of kindness; both directed
toward me and others as well. People do not always immerse themselves in cities
to become invisible; at times, it appears to be the exact opposite.
The Abbey
The Abbey is located approximately one mile west of
Starbucks, on Santa Monica Blvd. The Abbey, being one of the most well-known
gay bars in this area, seemed an appropriate place to study. Although there are
both many lesbians and gay men here, the majority of the population is male.
The darker it gets outside, the louder the music gets inside. Many people enjoy
the freedom to smoke on The Abbey’s outside patio; whereas the people inside
choose to dance, flirt, or wait in like to get drinks at the bar. Go-Go dancers
occupy the clubs’ stages; twirling around on poles and doing pull-ups on metal
bars hanging from the ceiling. Everyone loves the Go-Go dancers; often standing
directly in front of them, and watching in awe. Walking through The Abbey is it
very common to see gay males and lesbians in large groups, and openly
displaying affection. People are often smiling and laughing; having a gay ol’
time, if you will. Pun intended.
While in The Abbey, many people appeared to be interested
in what Jonny and I were doing with notebooks and rulers in our hands. People
would look at us twice, as if they were seeing things. A drunken man had
approached us, looked at Jonny’s behavioral inventory chart and asked, “Who
won?” Shortly after, an older gay male approached our table because he too, was
curious as to what we were doing. Upon explanation, he smiled, wished us luck,
and was on his way. It was in The Abbey where we also met a man named Felipe.
Although he now lives in Arizona, he told us he still visits his old home and
comes to The Abbey for old time’s sake. Felipe had told us about how he used to
come here when it was just a coffee shop as a place to meet men, flirt, and
potentially have somebody to bring home for the night. He talked to us for
nearly an hour, occasionally spilling his mixed drink onto my shoe; every time,
he would touch my shoulder and say “I’m sorry.” Whether people are coming to
The Abbey for their first time, or to relive old memories, it is a very popular
place with a long history.
The Abbey, being one of many gay bars in West Hollywood,
seems to signify cultural institutions which support the gay community. West
Hollywood is not significant in that it solely provides a concentration of
tolerant people, or people who reflect the like interests of one another; there
are buildings in this neighborhood that communicate the idea of community.
Although not everyone in West Hollywood may find themselves in The Abbey, the
sheer presence of a long-standing gay bar asserts the community’s history. It
is through structures such as these which constantly remind the gay community
that they are welcome and supported here.
Wrapping it all up
Allen Scott’s article, “The Internal Production Space of
the Metropolis” (1990) entails a compelling analysis of how production units
tend to agglomerate in a general region in order to maintain efficient, mass
production. Of the examples Scott provides is gun manufacturing in England, the
shoe industry in London, and clothing production in New York. Of these
examples, a common theme was present; once capitalism took hold and
subcontractors were brought into the picture, businesses’ began not to
manufacture whole goods in one place, but would send them to multiple shops
instead. Scott analyzes how it was essential for businesses’ of similar
function to be close to one another in order to get work done faster and to
communicate in organized manners. Although these agglomerations of business
took place in the core of cities, they eventually moved to the outskirts in
order to make more money; the rent was cheaper, and it was in the outskirts of
cities where cheap labor was found. Nonetheless, although these agglomerations
were decentralized, they were decentralized together; still sharing a common
area with one another in order to accomplish their subcontracted goals.
(Chapter 5)
I mention this article because I find it interesting that
workers with like competence are drawn to the same areas for employment.
However, Scott’s article fails to mention why people may gather in areas for
purposes aside from production and a way to make money. Many anthropological
works choose to analyze the production of cities. This mentality ignores the
construction of cities; the constructive focus of cities is important because
people move to neighborhoods for reasons aside from work and convenience; to be
a part of a community. West Hollywood serves as an area where gay people can
congregate peacefully and without fear of judgment. It becomes apparent that
West Hollywood means more to the gay community than a place to work and simply
have fun. Being a city which hosts predominantly gay inhabitants, it is
essential for this community to have a place that makes them feel safe, lets
them know they are accepted, and serves as a place of inspiration. It is
oppressed groups such as the gay community who have been deprived of such
liberating feelings for so long. It is no surprise that once a city like West
Hollywood is discovered, it grows in both strength and size; a city respected
by its occupants, and a city which respects them as well.
West Hollywood, located in Los Angeles County, is the one
area known specifically to support large concentrations of the gay community.
For reasons given such as support, safety, inspiration, and a sense of common
belonging, it becomes clear that this neighborhood is an important social space
for the gay community; an area where they can go outside and walk down the
street with no fear of rejection or harassment. Although through my research, I
had not found out specifically why people convey such outward kindness here,
through my interviews I had drawn a realistic conclusion; with a community who
reaches out to be recognized, and yearns for support, it only seems natural
that they too, would offer a helping-hand to someone who appeared to need it.
West Hollywood is a gay neighborhood; it’s an area, in other words, that truly
is their own.
Works
Cited
Jacobs,
Jane, 1961 “The Uses of Sidewalks:
Safety” in The Death and Life of Great American Cities New
York: Jonathan Cape, 39-51 (CSUN closed
reserves)
Low,
Setha, 2000, On the Plaza: The Politics of Public Space and Culture.
Austin, TX: Texas University Press.
Simmel, George, 1948, “The Metropolis and Mental Life”
In Social Sciences III, Selections and Selected Readings, Edward Shils, ed. Vol
2. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago
University Press
Scott,
Allen J., 1990 “The Internal Production of Space” in Metropolis: From the
Division of Labor to Urban Form Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
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