It has been nearly a year since a debate about racial profiling and youth rocked Lakeview last summer, but after months of relative quiet on the issue, a new blog may be refueling old controversy.
"When in Boystown" is a stream of soundless video images with captions that poke fun at Lakeview and gay nightlife. In one post, a group of muscular white guys in briefs has been labeled as "Spin bartenders." In another, a woman is shown texting, the caption says, to avoid talking to "that annoying guy you always see out."
The site's following has grown significantly since it launched in late April—but so has criticism of it.
In addition to jabbing at the everyday, the blog is full of images and captions that appear to play on racial and gender stereotypes. One post labeled with the location of Broadway Youth Center appears to be mocking trans youth of color with an image of a person in a purple wig shouting. Another post, labeled "Miss Ann Sather" (Ann Sather is a local restaurant), depicts a chair collapsing under a large woman. A number of posts depict women of color and gender non-conforming people dancing, gesturing or making obvious facial expressions.
While some argue that the site is funny for its play on common stereotypes, others say it is perpetuating negative images of the community's most marginalized.
Nico Lang, the co-founder of the LGBT In Our Words blog, falls into the latter category.
"I really thought that everyone would see this as problematic, that everyone would see it and say, 'this is really racist,'" said Lang.
In a piece on the Huffington Post, Lang argues that When In Boystown perpetuates racism, transphobia and other shaming images of the LGBTQ community. (Disclosure: Lang's piece referenced old comments made by this reporter on an unrelated issue.)
However, a number of When in Boystown readers have also written to show their support.
Wrote one reader: "You can't make everyone happy, but your [sic] making a straight guy, a trans man, a black lesbian, a gay white man, and a drag queen pee their pants. I believe we cover a good amount of the queer spectrum. It's really sad so many people can't find humor in our actions and the true circus that Boystown could be at times, but we all love it."
Another person commented: "As a gay male I find your site HILARIOUS. This is the sort of thing Boystown needs. We need to learn to laugh at ourselves and not take ourselves so seriously."
The identities of the site's authors are not known, and an interview request was not answered. But the authors have not been entirely unresponsive to complaints.
One person wrote that there was "no denying some of [the posts] are flatly racist" and that Lang's piece made valid points.
The authors responded that they agreed. "We've removed some of the posts that were ruffling the most feathers," they wrote. "However, we don't plan on halting our right to share what we find funny in our community. Have a blessed day."
Lang said they (Lang's preferred pronoun) are realistic about their inability to stop one blog, but feel the blog highlights a widespread issue in Lakeview.
"The realities of racism in the LGBT community and the queer community are the focal point on the conversation," they said. "This website disappears but this racism goes unquestioned."
Lang references a recent Jezebel article in which writer Lindy West argues that jokes only work if they're aimed "up." It's the reason why, West notes, CEOs don't roast janitors at company parties.
Lang believes that the same holds true for Chicago's LGBT community. They point to last summer's controversies as an example.
Following chaos and fighting at Chicago's Pride Parade last year, a group of residents created a Facebook page called "Take Back Boystown." Residents reported that they were experiencing a rise in violent crime. Queer youth of color complained that they were unfairly scapegoated by residents.
Lang said that rather than reviving the argument, they want to use the blog to start a conversation about race in the neighborhood. Lang and others are organizing an event at for that reason in late May, the details of which have yet to be announced.
