[debut!] Tales from a Twink

Gay Babies crying "Gimme More"

by Barbieboy07

[Barbie's bio
visit Barbie's World]

More than Britney Spears' last hit, "gimme more" is what we need to demand from ourselves and our community leaders.

Queer kids in Chicago have a lot to look forward to when we turn 21, Lakeview's famous night clubs and bars, and not to mention all of Chicago's premiere drag queens and club kids. Don't feel to bad for us, we do have some awesome venues and organizations as well. We've got 18+ clubs like Sangria's on the west side of Chicago, and Zero Gravity in Naperville. (though Z.G. doesn't market specifically to LGBT teens, many gay kids go there and can feel comfortable in its environment). Thanks to LGBT20 empowerment center, the Center on Halsted we have peer groups discussing everything from trouble at home to safe sex practices, and we even had a prom back in June for gay kids from all over the city.

There are however many things that gay babies don't yet have. Drag queens in general don't come to the 18+ clubs, and a many that do are horribly lack luster. Even with organizations like the Center on Halsted and great interactive podcasts like the Feast Of Fools, it feels like gay teens don't have the same sense of community that our older counterparts do. What we are truly missing is a voice, a voice that transcends age, gender and race so we can become a integral part of the community.

Just being in Lakeview instantly washes away the phobia some of us may have in our own neighborhoods, and gives us a self esteem boost...

Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood is affectionately nicknamed "Boystown" by residents in the city, but more than that it is considered "Gay Mecca" by the LGBT youth in the city and surrounding suburbs. Night clubs and gay bars litter North Halsted avenue and surrounding streets. From Spin on Belmont to Circuit on Addison, Halsted is the place to be if you're over 21! Just being in Lakeview instantly washes away the phobia some of us may have in our own neighborhoods, and gives us a self esteem boost that rivals taking cocaine. Gay adults have lots of great venues to choose from in Lakeview and Andersonville but so do teens!


Teens (18+) not only have great clubs like Sangrias/RadioStar, Club Dulce and Zero Gravity, but also amazing community organizations that actually care. The Center On Halsted (located at 3656 N. Halsted) has been supporting the LGBT community for a very long time (formerly as Horizons.) Not only do they have groups and programs for people of ALL ages, but they also offer mental and sexual health sessions with real health care professionals. There are also organizations that are more gender specific. Steamworks Gym (and bathhouse) located on 3246 N. Halsted is a great place for guys 18+ to go workout and possibly hookup with other members.

Steamworks is a great place to meet guys, it's a very comfortable environment and most importantly SAFE. They have a zero tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol, and there are several boxes located all around for lubed and non-lubed condoms. Besides dancing, personal fitness and sex (a gay man's bread and butter) there are a few openly gay friendly restaurants. To name one without sounding too much like a commercial, Hamburger Mary's located on 5400 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood is a fantastic and fun restaurant that has so much more than great food. Every Sunday is karaoke night, and on Thursdays they have performances from Tina Torch, Regina Upright and others.There are many other venues and organizations that appeal and market themselves to gay youth, though not many gay youths feel the need to interact with the rest of the community.

Has the internet disabled us so much that we are afraid to venture away from our living rooms and volunteer in our communities, attend forums and discuss the problems that our community faces?

I've felt for awhile that a lot of younger gay people don't have a strong sense of community. Many gay teens are either segregated due to race, socioeconomic standing or misconceptions about the other letters in the LGBT soup of sexuality. Is something wrong with us? Has the internet disabled us so much that we are afraid to venture away from our living rooms and volunteer in our communities, attend forums and discuss the problems that our community faces?

I'm a big supporter of leaving one's comfort zone and discovering new things and experiences and I try to attend as many community forums and stay as informed about things that affect our people as I can. I've noticed I am normally the youngest person there, and it doesn't look good for the baby gays. When we don't support and and participate in our community it seems like we don't care, and I know thats not true, many young gay people care very much about our issues. Something that we need more than anything else is to establish a relationship with our LGBT community leaders and advocates. We need to start singing in the streets!

"Gimme more" gay venues
"Gimme more" classes on gay history
"Gimme more" gay youth sports teams
"Gimme more" movie nights @ the center (feat. John Waters/Warhol films)
"Gimme more" community fundraisers
(like cute twinks in shorts washing cars)
"Gimme more" drag performances
"Gimme more" community forums
"Gimme more" community involvement

"Gimme more" outspoken gay kids who give a damn

[LifeLube is thrilled to share Barbieboy07's experience and perspective - and his Tales from a Twink is a new, regular feature on the blog. Let Barbie, and us, know what you think!]