Introduction

TERMINOLOGY

Due to the ambiguity regarding this topic, terms asinterpreted in this study are explicitly stated here.

Gay

Gay meaning ‘homosexual’ which became established in the 1960s as the term preferred by homosexual men to describe themselves.

Gay Space

In this study, Gay space is the material/ physical space appropriated by gay males referring to spaces where gay men are present, engage with their ‘community’ and/ or socialize. These constitute gay bars, café’s, pubs, or even neighbourhoods, such as Gay Villages etc.

Queer

An umbrella term for individuals who arenon-heteronormative.

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INTRODUCTION

Soho is an area in the City of Westminster, towards the west end of Central London. It is approximately 2.6 square kilometre in area and is bounded by high streets such as Oxford Street, Regent Street, Shaftesbury Avenue and Charring Cross Road. This area is popularly dubbed as the ‘Gay Village of London’ (Collins, 2004). It has a large concentration of amenities advertised as gay friendly and/or for gay individuals and Queer community (LGBTQ+) specifically for Gay Men. This research explores the history to understand what made Soho and how it evolved. Throughout history the area has undergone a dynamic transformation since its occupation by the early immigrants mainly the French, but also Russians, Jews, Turkish and others from as early as 18th century. They appropriated various streets of Soho such as Poland Street, Greek street, Meard Street, and so on, spatially distributing but also in parts converging their use of space. Soho later became the music hub where young artists lived, worked and performed along Denmark street. Following the arrival of early British youth fashion in the 1950’s along Carnaby Street, Soho become the symbol of modern fashion. (Speiser, 2017) When mapping the different cultures and sub-cultures of Soho, it reveals a spatial organisation where each group seem to have followed a certain spatial clustering. Before its cherished popularity as in the modern day, Soho was home to the immigrants, the discriminated and the poor. Their presence, although faint, are visible through the numerous businesses and shops that were established by them earlier. In brief the ‘anomalies’ that lived in Soho. A common place for the mischievous, the misfits and the irregulars. The transformation of its identity and the ability of space in enabling affordance for multi-cultural manifestation throughout history is the theme of this research in its broad context. In this study, however, gay spaces and appropriation by gay men on Soho will be investigated.

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