Marketing the Gay Tacoma

As we begin to further explore concepts of community in Tacoma, this topic arose:  What can Tacoma do to attract and keep more gays?  It’s not so much that the gay community isn’t here.  It’s just that so much of the gay community leaves as soon as it can.  An Exit133 reader sent us an email recently stating:

The city has failed. BIG F. Most people have read the studies about gays in cities. Most people know that gays have more money to spend (many without kids), Gays are pioneers in gentrifying neighborhoods. The city and downtown need to advertise and welcome them more.  Seattle has it down, Portland has it, most large cities have it down and look at them. Tacoma does not. The gay pride festival is not advertised by the city, not even on the event calendar. No gay flags are hung on the street light poles. The gay bars are not very attractive. The city needs to become more gay friendly and see what follows. More families, more singles, more money to downtown. 

From RealtyTimes.com

One of the communities that has repeatedly shown success with community-initiated gentrification is the gay and lesbian community. Much of the success experienced by the gay and lesbian community has been attributed to a typically higher than average disposable income, more free time to explore creative talents, and the traditionally tight community bonds. In the recent past, the gay and lesbian community have adopted areas where there is a high elder constituency with properties in decay. The selection of these areas has to do with a perceived sense of safety, the typically ornate architecture of older homes, and the ability for the lower income gays and lesbians to reside within the community. Since the 1960’s the gay and lesbian community has successfully gentrified communities throughout the nation without the immediate negative impacts as other forms of gentrification.

Here’s One More Article for you to consider. 

So where are our opportunities?  Does it take an active city to promote a gay friendly city or does it come from the heart of the community?  I don’t know the answers and I don’t know how other cities have approached this, do you?