Polk Street

Introduction

1960s to 1970s: Polk Street Emerges as a Gay Economic Engine Mom and Pop to Gay Mecca A Citywide Blue-collar Economy Evaporates Blue-collar Heterosexual Taverns and Restaurants “Turn Gay” The Tavern Guild and Imperial Court Commercialized Sex and Economic Uplift Economic Power to Political Power

1960s to 1970s: Queer Sex Work Zones Shift Market Street and Union Square Sex Work Economies Redevelopment Displaces Sex Work Economies “Trade” Sex Work Moves to Polk Street Polk Street Merchants Push Back Police sweeps to social service

Late 1970s to 1990s: Polk Street Sex Work Economy Polk Street Sex Work Economy Polk Street Gay Commercial Health Undermined Gay Bars Go “Hustler” A Polk Street Sex Work Economy Sex Work Economy Breaks Down Dynamics of Polk Street Sex Work Change Polk Street Homelessness

Late 1990s-2008: Dot.com Boom and “Gentrification” Dot.com Boom “Bottom feeder” Bars to Upscale “Metrosexual” Bars Polk Street Homelessness