2007 Gay Parade Pride Seattle
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Marketplace finds lesbians an attractive, but elusive, niche
The list of hubs of gay male culture is familiar: the Castro in San Francisco, Chelsea and Fire Island in New York, and West Hollywood and Palm Springs in Southern California, among others. Those places have high concentrations of both gay men and businesses that cater to them. For lesbians, no equally high-profile neighborhoods exist, and the businesses that do are disappearing. In Alameda County, where Oakland has more lesbian couples per capita than any other major city in the United States, two bookstores that catered to women and lesbians have shut their doors in the past few years. This spring, two lesbian magazines headquartered in San Francisco ceased publication; the final sale of their assets was announced last week. There are only two bars in the city that cater to lesbian clientele.
No gay pride at protest
There were dozens of banners, demanding everything from an end to racial profiling to free chocolate and tampons, but a common theme running through the protesters was against government control over their lives and rights.
There was not, however, any protesters present to highlight issues for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT).
Nor was there any representation from the main political parties, though this is little surprise as merely talking to Brian Haw has been seen in the past as problematic for Westminster types.
The only political party represented was the Monster Raving Loony party.
Protest organisations such as Greenpeace were represented, with both serious and satirical protesters present.
In light of the serious protesters that made up the majority it is surprising that no LGBT protesters were present.
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