The first recorded gay establishment in North America was Montrealer Moise Tellier’s apple and cake shop on Craig Street (now
Saint Antoine Street) in 1869. In addition to a small scene in
Old Montreal, specifically
Champs de Mars, there were traditionally two concentrations of establishments where gays were welcomed (by the 1970s, these had become openly gay businesses), which mirrored Montreal's more language-segregated culture. By the 1950s,
Dominion Square (now
Dorchester Square) was seen as an area where men could meet and cruise and the centrally located Dominion Square Tavern was known as a place where gays could meet (it still exists today, but has lost its gay clientele). By the late 1960s and early 1970s, many gay-owned or gay-open businesses existed and it became the city's main gay concentration, though it was still relatively marginal and kept discreet. The businesses consisted mainly of clubs where men could dance.
The Main The Main, the strip of businesses on
Saint-Laurent Boulevard and east along
Saint Catherine Street East, an area which was known as the
red-light district of sexual services and businesses. The east had a more
francophone clientele. Here, the businesses consisted mainly of taverns, often featuring
drag shows.
Closure of gay businesses in the past The businesses in these two areas came under regular repression, particularly before Montreal's
Expo 67 World's Fair and the
Olympic Games in 1976. The Aquarius Sauna on
Crescent Street was raided in February 1975, followed by six gay and lesbian bars in October 1975, the "Les Bains Clubs" on January 23, 1976 and the Cristal Sauna on February 11, 1976. Because of the increased police repression, the Gay Coalition Against Repression was formed and hosted what was then the largest gay demonstration in Canada on July 19, 1976. In mid-March 1987, the 456 Sauna (formerly the historical Neptune Sauna), the "Taureau d'Or", "Studio 1", "Club Stork", "le Jilly's" and many other businesses were raided and a number of owners had to shut down after dubious accusations that led to a number of owners and clients being arrested.
Development of the Gay Village Originally, there were only a handful of establishments located in what is now the Gay Village. In the early 1980s, some bars opened along
Saint-Catherine Street East, between
Berri Street and
Papineau Avenue, in Montreal's
Centre-Sud area. Eventually, a new generation of gays also moved into the neighbourhood, both
anglophone and francophone, including many came from other parts of Quebec. This was encouraged by the creation of a "
Latin Quarter" in the vicinity of the campus. The name ('the East Village') was coined in an advertisement by one of the owners of K.O.X., a very popular bar/club at the time. After having lived in
New York City, it was his intention to create a strong vibrant gay community similar to the
East Village in Manhattan. The name was created to differentiate itself from the traditional downtown scene. Eventually, the name became known simply as
The Village and it became Montreal's main gay residential and commercial district. However, its success also caused the near-disappearance of gay businesses from other areas of the city. By the 1990s, the Village began expanding along Amherst (now Atateken) Street, with the departure of many antique shops and the emergence of more gay-owned and gay-operated businesses. By this time, the Village had become well established, gaining political recognition and acceptance by the
LGBT community as well as by heterosexuals. By gaining popularity, the area has generally thrived, having been beautified and having housing renovated. Almost all gay businesses in Montreal are now located in this area. , the city's main LGBT-oriented
bookstore, moved to the village in 2001, from its prior location on Saint-Laurent, but closed in 2002 due to declining sales. Although many
LGBTQ individuals reside and are very present in other parts of Montreal, the Gay Village remains the heart of Montreal's LGBT community. Every summer, St. Catherine Street becomes a pedestrian mall that is decked out with many pink balls strung overhead. Many bars and restaurants provide outdoor terraces for their patrons at this time. Major events that are held in the Village include (Montreal's Pride festival) and . ==See also==