Investigating Capitol Hill

as an LGBTQ+ Space
Tyler DeFriece, Natalie Hillerson,
Madeleine Stewart
Honors 212C Spring 2015

Outline
Context
Language
Research Questions
Research Methods
Formation of a Gay Neighborhood
Invasion of Space and Appropriation of LGBTQ+ Culture
Changes in Group Cohesion and Future Implications
Discussion

Context

Language
Queer and LGBTQ+ are sometimes used
interchangeably
Gay has been used to describe the community
colloquially (i.e. gayborhood)

Research Questions
Why is Capitol Hill known as the gay neighborhood of
Seattle?
What factors contribute to making a safe space,
particularly for the LGBTQ+ community?
To what extent is Capitol Hill a safe space for the LGBTQ+
community, and how has this changed?
Investigate: bar scene, gentrification, rise in hate crime
What does the change in Capitol Hill as a safe space mean
for the LGBTQ+ community?

Research Methods
Outside research: news/online articles, published
books
Interviews
Exploration of the neighborhood and resource
centers

Formation of a Gay Neighborhood

History of Capitol Hill

Earliest living spaces specifically for LGBTQ+ people were the
U District and Pioneer Square, and later Capitol Hill.
Capitol Hill emerged as Seattles gay neighborhood in the
late 1970s and early 1980s (Hill 2003).
Capitol Hill is ...where political freedom, economic exchange,
and cultural innovation, as well as open sexuality, developed
together in a self-reinforcing process on the basis of a
common space won by citizens struggling for their freedom. Manuel Castells, quoted in Gay Seattle (Atkins 2003, p.271).

Characteristics of Safe Places for the LGBTQ+ Community

We need a place to go other than straight
places A place to be ourselves (Mandel
2014).
Being surrounded by other queer people is
enough (anon., personal communication,
April 14, 2015).
Access to resources
Being surrounded by other LGBTQ+
people
Physical and emotional safety

LGBTQ+ Safe Spaces in Capitol Hill

Invasion of Space and Appropriation of

LGBTQ+ Culture

Spatial Analysis of Bars: Exterior

[Body and city] are understood as analogues, congruent
counterparts, in which the features, organization, and
characteristics of one are reflected in the other (Grosz 2002).
Capitol Hill gay bars tend to have discreet outward
presentation, even physical barriers
This mirrors the need for discretion and physical safety of
LGBTQ+ bodies
Oppositely, Capitol Hill straight bars tend to have more
vibrant, open exteriors

Spatial Analysis of Bars: Interior

In general, straight bars are more likely to have a theme that
is independent of sexuality
o The Unicorn is carnival themed
o Garage features billiards and a bowling alley
o Grims is steampunk themed
In contrast, the gay bars have no specific theme other than
targeted demographics/subcultures within the queer community
o Neighbors features drag performances
o The Eagle is known for leather attire
o Wild Rose is the only bar that specifically caters to lesbians
and bisexual women

Bars as a Site of Heteronormative Intrusion

LGBTQ+ community is unique because members are not always
born into an inclusive community
Therefore, important for community members to find places that
are queer-normative for a change
However, factors have been challenging this recently:
Changing residential demographics
Woo girl phenomenon
Appropriation of LGBTQ+ culture as hip or non-traditional

Gentrification
Urban changes leading to displacement of occupying
demographics
Contributing factors may manifest as:
o National chain stores buying up local businesses
o Cycle of rent increases as new tenants slowly improve the
condition of housing
o New management changing the target demographic of a
business

Gentrification and Loss of Gay-Owned Businesses

Example 1:
Take Monkey Shines on the corner of Broadway and John, which used to be
the Congo Room, a restaurant where dykes worked and ate. Since it has
become Monkeys, dykes dont work there, most cant afford to eat there, and
dykes dont always get seated there (Atkins 2003, p. 263).
Example 2:
Citywide, the number jumped 52 percent, bringing the total to about 7,500
households. The big exception: Capitol Hill. Seattles gayborhood
experienced a 23 percent drop in same-sex couple households in [20002012] (Balk 2014).

Evolution of Hate Crimes

Capitol Hill is a place to see crazy things, get wasted,
get into fights (anon., personal communication, April 13,
2015).

Effects on Capitol Hill as a Queer Safe Space

Loss of gay-owned businesses loss of ownership of the space
Straight people coming into gay bars bars less of a safe
space, borders on appropriation
Increased occurrence of hate crimes less of a safe space
You dont feel safe [walking home]. That just never was an
issue for years. Now we all take cabs (Mandel 2014).
Gentrification/increase in rent pushes out long-time residents
Capitol Hill to Cap Hill loss of ownership over naming, to an
extent over their space

Changes in Group Cohesion and

Future Implications

Pushback from the LGBTQ+ Community

"This [art] comes from the sentiment that we just dont need
this gayborhood anymore. The idea that gays are totally
liberated, and now can go anywhere, and can also get
married? Bullshit. Try to go kiss your same-sex partner in
Spokane, and lemme know what happens." - John Criscitello,
local artist (Constant 2015).

Effects of Assimilation/Acceptance on Group Cohesion

More acceptance leads to more intermingling and less stigma, but this
means the loss of segregated lesbian/queer spaces that served as safe
spaces (anon., personal communication, April 13, 2015).

Spaces Needed by the LGBTQ+ Community

Spaces for: youth, elderly, substance-free

Written Sources
5 reasons for Capitol Hills hate crime spike. (2014, August 27). Capitol Hill Seattle Blog. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
Atkins, G. (2003). Gay Seattle: Stories of Exile and Belonging. University of Washington Press.
Balk, G. (2014, July 31). Map: Is Seattles gayborhood vanishing? The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
Cohen, B. (2014, March 13). The Q-Patrol returns amid LGBTQ-targeted crimes on Capitol Hill OutWatch. Capitol
Hill Seattle Blog. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
Constant, P. (2015, January 28). #CapHillPSA Joins the Growing Public Art Response to Capitol Hill's Affluent Asshole
Invasion. The Stranger. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
Grosz, E. (2002). Bodies-Cities (G. Bridge & S. Watson, Eds.). The Blackwell City Reader, 297-303.
Hill, C. (2003, November 28). Queer History in Seattle, Part 2: After Stonewall. Retrieved May 3, 2015, from
http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=4266
Mandel, E. (2014, April 4). Pike/Pines booming bar scene comes at a price for gay nightlife. Capitol Hill Seattle Blog.
Retrieved May 3, 2015.
O, K. (2015, February 27). The "Woo Girls" Street Artist Is Not Hiding from Anyone. The Stranger. Retrieved May 3,
2015.
Wooldridge, E. (2014, August 27). As Capitol Hill deweirds, LGBTQ hate crime takes off. CrossCut.com. Retrieved May
3, 2015.

Image Sources
Context: Google Maps, http://elieaston.com/desktop-the-trouble-with-tony/
LGBTQ+ Safe Spaces in Capitol Hill:
http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2014/12/the-longest-running-lesbian-bar-in-the-country-the-wildrose-celebrates-30-years-on-capit
ol-hill/
Bars: Exterior: http://www.exploringseattle.com/2011/12/unicorn-love.html, http://www.bobmeyers.com/gay_barsSeattle.htm,
http://www.autobatterybar.com/wp-content/themes/autobattery-2/images/image1.jpg,
http://www.stonerarchitects.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/pony1.jpg
Bars: Interior: https://irs2.4sqi.net/img/general/600x600/8685544_IXxcVDtUBcq9Bx4sYVvb3IIwMEiJxF-UoY_nnpnaGJ4.jpg,
http://best.king5.com/purr-cocktail-lounge/biz/125154
Bars as a Site of Heteronormative Invasion:
http://www.thestranger.com/imager/b/slideshow/21792738/90ab/crisatello-woo-CLICK.jpg
Gentrification: http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2013/06/reminder-pride-flag-ceremony-at-city-hall/
Evolution of Hate Crimes: http://theseattlelesbian.com/neighbours-nightclub-new-years-eve-gasoline-fire/,
http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2014/03/the-q-patrol-returns-amid-lgbtq-targeted-crimes-on-capitol-hill/
Pushback from the LGBTQ+ community: http://www.thestranger.com/binary/1537/art-click.jpg,
http://www.redbubble.com/people/criscitello/works/12647142-bash-back?p=t-shirt,
http://www.thestranger.com/imager/b/slideshow/21798834/9560/jc-came.jpg
Effects of Assimilation/Acceptance on Group Cohesion:
http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2015/01/capitol-hill-pride-festival-to-add-rally-broadway-parade-in-2015/
All other images not listed here were taken by the creators of this project.

Interview Sources
Interview 1: Resident Interview (anonymous, April 13, 2015)
Interview 2: Resident Interview (anonymous, April 14, 2015)
Interview 3: Lambert House Members (Lambert House Community, April
23, 2015)
Interview 4: Community Members/Volunteers from Gay City (Anonymous
Community Members - not representing Gay City, April 25, 2015)
Interview 5: LGBTQ+ Liaison from Seattle Police Department (James
Ritter, April 25, 2015)
Interview 6: LGBTQ Allyship (Representative of LGBTQ Allyship, April 30,
2015)