The rainbow flags are up along San Jose’s newly inaugurated LGBTQ cultural district, a first for the city.
A one-block stretch of Post St. long associated with LGBTQ culture has been reinaugurated as the "QMunity." Backers like T.J. Bruce, who owns an LGBTQ bar within the district, hopes the city support will spur on more queer-friendly commerce.
"People wonder, is there a 'gayborhood,' a queer quarters, a trans destination?" said Maribel Martinez, Director of County of Santa Clara Office of LGBTQ Affairs. "There are, but they’re dispersed and discrete."
Martinez said that even in the progressive Silicon Valley, many have felt as though they had to hide their queer identity.
"This community gives us a place to belong, a place to dream and more importantly, a place to thrive," she said.
