Thursday, February 21
City Conversations: Planning for Queer Communities
Time: 12:30-1:30pm
Place: Room 2270, Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings St.
Cost: Free
The lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and transgender (LGBQT) community tends to feel more accepted in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland than in most other parts of Canada. All along the west coast, LGBQTs tend to cluster in identifiable communities— West Hollywood, the Castro, and Vancouver’s own West End.
But are we seeing the demise of the “gaybourhood?” What special needs does the LGBQT community have? How should (and do) cities, Metro Vancouver and the province plan for them? What are the opportunities and challenges of planning LGBQT-specific spaces? How do the intended recipients of this planning participate in developing queer-specific and friendly spaces, and how can these spaces generate a more diverse understanding of their users?
