Chicago, also well-known as The Windy City, is a vibrant, beautiful midwestern city nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan. It is an international hub of culture, commerce, and creativity, and it has so much to offer, including many resources specifically for the LGBTQ+ community. Some of those resources include:
- The Center on Halsted: The Center on Halsted is a true pillar of Chicago’s LGBTQ community. Declaring itself the Midwest’s most comprehensive LGBTQ community center, The Center on Halsted truly strives to provide a wide variety of resources, services, and opportunities for connection for the LGBTQ community in the greater Chicago area.
- The Center on Halsted Youth: The Center on Halsted’s youth program, originally known as Gay Horizons, was founded in 1978 and has been serving the LGBTQ youth of the greater Chicago area ever since. The Center offers resources, education, event-planning, and opportunities for youth to connect and build community.
- PFLAG Chicago: PFLAG Chicago is the city’s local chapter of the national PFLAG organization, which is the largest grassroots organization of its kind in the country. PFLAG is well-known for its mission of supporting LGBTQ+ people, friends, family, and allies across the country in a wide variety of ways. With 500 chapters and more than 200,000 members in the United States, PFLAG plays a critical role in providing advocacy, support, and resources to the LGBTQ+ community.
- Illinois LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce: The Illinois LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce is a very valuable and active part of Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community. The group has the mission of promoting an environment in which LGBTQ+ business owners can thrive, grow, and feel connected to the community. The group is excellent at promoting its members and providing plenty of opportunities to promote their businesses, products, and services.
- Howard Brown Health: Howard Brown Health is one of the primary providers of medical care to the Chicago community, and its LGBTQ+ Services branch exists specifically to serve the medical needs of Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community.
- Broadway Youth Center: The mission of the Broadway Youth Center is to improve the quality of life of LGBTQ youth in the greater Chicago area. The Center specifically focuses on youth who are homeless or underserved, to offer youth-centered integrated health care, social services, and other resources.
Chicago’s Best Neighborhoods
Without a doubt, Chicago has much to offer its LGBTQ+ community, and those resources reach the LGBTQ+ neighborhoods throughout the city. While there are many wonderful neighborhoods in Chicago to choose from, a few of the most popular with the LGBTQ+ community include:
- Boystown: The Boystown neighborhood in Chicago is home to one of the largest LGBTQ communities in the Midwest. The bustling neighborhood in West Lakeview has been hosting the Chicago Pride Parade since 1971 and is full of charming boutiques, cool coffee shops, and trendy clubs. Boystown also has the award-winning Legacy Walk and boasts the world’s only outdoor LGBTQ history museum. The neighborhood is bordered by tree-lined Halsted Street on the north side of the city and is home to comedy clubs, theaters, and a young and vibrant nightlife. The median sale price of homes in Lakeview over the last year was around $440,000.
- Andersonville: Labeled “Girlstown” in the 90s due to a vibrant lesbian population, Andersonville is a thriving LGBTQ community that’s nestled between Edgewater and Uptown. The neighborhood is located on the north side of the city with most of the action taking place between Clark Street and Ashland Avenue. The area is known for its 19th-century row houses and European architecture. The community also has a Swedish heritage with the Swedish American Museum being a main cultural attraction. This also means the neighborhood is full of delectable bakeries and cute cafes. The median price of homes listed right now in Andersonville is $562,000.
- Pilsen: In the past, the Pilsen neighborhood has been known as the center of the Latino community in Chicago. It’s now an up-and-coming LGBTQ community that’s welcoming to all. The urban enclave sits a little southwest of downtown, just below Little Italy and the Near West Side. The long history is written in the neo-bohemian buildings, upscale lofts, and colorful murals. Pilsen is an artsy area full of eclectic eateries, diverse crowds, boutiques, and bars. The median list price of homes currently for sale in Pilsen is around $549,000.
Regardless of which neighborhood ends up being most appealing to you, one thing is certain – you’ll need the help of a realtor who knows and loves that community to help you find the home you love, and that’s truly the best fit for you. At www.GayRealEstate.com, we’re here to help you do exactly that.
Contact a Chicago Gay Realtor Today
It’s no secret that Chicago is a city with so much to offer its LGBTQ community. Whether you live in Chicago already and you’re thinking of moving to a new home, or if you’re planning to relocate to the area to enjoy all that Chicago has to offer, at www.GayRealEstate.com, we’re here for you. We would love to help you take the first step toward finding an agent who knows and loves the community, and who can help you find a home and a neighborhood you’ll love. We’re proud to have a network of the best realtors in Chicago, and we would love to help connect you with one today. Contact a Chicago gay realtor today for a free, no-obligation consultation!