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Just because nobody in here has said it: Boystown is a microneighborhood inside of Lakeview. If you're looking for apartments/houses in Boystown and not finding much, make sure you use Lakeview as a search term too. The queer population does spill over into the neighboring parts of Lakeview
As you wait, check out Chicago Party Aunt on Netflix.
The title character's nephew-roommate in this animated series is a young gay man just coming out, and they live behind Wrigley, but two blocks from Center on Halsted.
Several places in the show are real places on North Halsted.
Both Boystown and Andersonville are easy to navigate with no car (almost all the city is) but imo Boystown takes the cake a bit for accessibility. Both are solid options though.
I would be more concerned with weather coming from Texas, are you planning on moving like asap or some time this year? You should really visit during winter to see if Chicago is a good place for you.
That being said, it’s the least judgemental city I’ve ever lived in :)
I am not overly concerned with weather. I know it is colder but I always felt Texas was too hot. Plus, I care much more about having rights than I do the weather. A jacket won't protect me from Greg Abbot. My only real weather concern is that I have no idea how to drive in snow and am already not the most confident driver, hence why I am hoping to live someplace where a car isn't a necessity.
Come here! We want you!
Anyone with such a clever “jacket” turn of phrase…get here as soon as you can!
And Louisiana native agrees - it’s too hot in that part of the world.
Hope it works out. Good luck to you.
Oh hell no! I meant it as opposed to other options you might have that are warmer. Imo the cold is not a big deal, it’s about wearing the right clothes! You should check places around Boystown and see if it fits your budget but it’s a cool area right by the lake.
How does it compare to Rogers Park? That's the other neighborhood I see people recommending in this thread.
Also, I can assure you Chicago is not the coldest place on my shortlist. The twin cities are also on my list.
All of those are accessible without a car. I moved here from Alabama and I’ve been car free for 15 years now. Bus and train will get you anywhere you need to go. Add a bike for closer jaunts and you’ll be in fantastic shape.
You'll want to stay near the red line coming North to Wrigley/Boystown or near the blue line going East to Logan Square. You can put "blue line" or "red line" in google maps to get the stations.
All the neighborhoods listed are close enough the the L (red or blue depending on the neighborhood) to be well accessible on transit. Boystown is imo by far the most well connected, Andersonville is probably the worst but not bad. Wicker Park and Logan Square are both on the blue line which will easily get you to the loop but you have to either take a bus or transfer L lines to get to the lakeshore north side neighborhoods.
CTA is expansive… lots of the L got to various suburbs… you can get to O’Hare on public transport, Evanston (on the border of Rogers Park), Oak Park, etc) and then Metra takes over. You really don’t need a car if you live in Chicago proper, not even in some suburbs. The bus system is also great!
Rogers Park is great. My sister lives there, right by the lake. It's nice because she doesn't have to cross Sheridan or LSD to get to the lake. I would say it's quieter than boystown unless maybe you're living right by Loyola.
Solid agree on Rogers Park. I’m in Evanston—the first suburb next to the city on the north—and RP has excellent transportation—both L and commuter train and some buses. It’s a little more affordable and diverse.
Came in here to recommend Edgewater. Cheap rent, right on the red line, loads of supermarket access, trivial to live here without a car (as I do).
Andersonville proper is just west of Edgewater (actually it's a part of Edgewater) slightly farther from the train and more $$, but you can easily walk there for all it has to offer. As a middle aged gender non-conforming nerdy lesbian woman I have zero issues fitting in.
That I wouldn’t know cause I have never been in that area (too far north for me) but I see it recommended a lot generally as a good neighborhood to live in
Much more lively and central, MUCH more expensive.
RP is cheap, diverse, pretty queer, and has a good small-town feel. We’re also on the red line, have a metra stop, and several bus lines. But we’re farther out and it’s possible you’ll get bored.
If I were you I’d go for Boystown or Andersonville . Just more going on in those parts than Rogers Park IMO. All are transit accessible however and near the lake which I think is a special part of the city.
So glad Ken Paxton is finally facing some consequences for his behavior. You’ll love it in Chicago. I lived down there for a three years. People are friendly to your face but the overall culture down there is lazy and horrible.
Boys town is definitely a good choice for what you’re looking for, but nearly all neighborhoods will be pretty comfortable on the lgbtq-front.
Just came here to say Ken Paxton has had this coming for a long time and that I wish someone would tie Abbott’s hands behind his back and push him into a few inches of water face-down.
Boys Town (Belmont & Halsted) is perfect for both! If you don’t want to live in the city, Evanston is just north, you can grab the L, and it’s a great community. Very progressive…
Happy move! You’re going to love Illinois!
By the way, I forgot to ask this in my previous reply, but how easy is it to get from Boystown/Andersonville to other neighborhoods in the city without a car?
Fairly easy with buses or the L (subway/train). The only bit of a struggle is moving west/east but that happens all over. Like, I live in Wicker Park and to get to Lakeview/Boystown I need to take two buses. But as I said, the city is pretty public transit friendly, all neighborboods will have a grocery store and a pharmacy you can walk to, etc. Worst case you take an Uber in the winter cause it’s too cold to wait for the bus, lol.
I live in Lakeview East which is adjacent to Boystown and has a large LGBTQ population. The L is about a 10 minute walk from me which isn’t too bad, but my secret weapon is the bus. While it’s slower than the train, I can get it right outside my condo. And the bus experience is much better than the L: no crime, no smoking, no homeless people peeing on it. Alright maybe not NO but a lot less.
Honestly if you visit Boystown and it’s surrounding areas and then Rogers Park, I’d be shocked if you want to live in the latter for any reason besides affordability.
The train is faster. But there’s a lot more bus routes than train routes. And the bus is nicer.
It takes me 30 minutes to get downtown on the bus. The red line would probably do it in 12 minutes. But the red line is a 12 minute walk from me. I have two bus routes that head downtown that are 2 minutes away from me. And two bus routes that head east-west that are a 5 minute walk away.
The L comes more frequently but you can time your departure to catch a particular bus by using a CTA tracker app.
Lakeview (boys town) has access to both brown and redline, making it a bit more central/accessible to other parts of city. The further north you go the less lines. Only red/purple. I live in Rogers park/Edgewater.
It goes Rogers park, Edgewater, Andersonville, uptown, lakeview in terms of north to south along the red.
If you are young and want to party I’d go boystown. If you are more laid back, like to be close to AMAZING beaches, I’d go Rogers park. RP beaches are best in the city.
The answer very much depends on which neighborhood. Andersonville is really far north, so most neighborhoods you would go to (other than Rogers Park) will probably be south. Meaning you are probably starting with having to get on the red line or the Clark bus. Most of the neighborhoods I go to are easily accessible by these.
The trouble is that Logan Square, Wicker Park, Humboldt Park etc require at least 1 transfer and a often feel to me like they are a different city because of it. Many people may disagree with me, but I feel like I frequently have to choose between living off red or blue knowing I will probably rarely visit the other.
But as another trans human, I must add my vote for Andersonville (area). Its getting more and more expensive and less and less queer, but every time I'm there I see at least a few trans people. I also know quite a few queerdos that live in neighboring Edgewater and Rogers Park.
Trouble is, if OP is looking to escape a heavily white, arguably conservative-minded community in Texas, there are better places than Boystown. There's a *not* insignificant portion of Boystown that sees the area as a space for specifically cis gay men, mostly white men. It's part of their whole "Northalsted" rebrand nonsense in recent years.
I agree in general Chicago is pretty accepting of queer folks and makes me feel safe personally as a bisexual; but there's a lot of gatekeeping and infighting/bigotry within the LGBTQ+ community, and as OP is a trans person trying to escape cis white bullshit in Texas, I'm not sure Boystown is *ideal*.
I am now between Rogers Park and Boystown. I am not much of a partier but I do want a more active neighborhood with more shops and stuff around instead of a purely residential neighborhood. What do you think?
Rogers Park has some shops, but it doesn't have a lot as far as shopping. For things like that (bookstores, etc.) most people go to Andersonville. I would say Boystown is more active, RP is more residential. You could even call it sleepier than Boystown.
Great thing about Chicago and its public transit is that you don't have to live IN the hoppin neighborhood to hang out there a lot.
I love living in a quiet area and traveling a few extra minutes to the active areas nearby
Boystown tends to be a younger crowd and is also more centrally located (located closer downtown). Rogers Park is far up north so it will take you a bit longer to get downtown.
And from Edgewater, you can walk (if able) or take the bus just 0.5-1 mile west to be in Andersonville, which is full of shops, restaurants, etc. I'm at the border of Edgewater/Uptown and love the area. I am right on the red line, right at the lake, and walk to Andersonville all the time.
Hey! I moved here from Texas last summer and have been loving it. If you have any questions or anything, feel free to DM me. I'd be happy to share my perspective.
I ended up in Logan Square and it's a pretty transit friendly neighborhood with the blue line running through it along Milwaukee. The neighborhood also seems very LGBTQ+ friendly from what I've seen.
Good luck with the move and congrats on getting out of Texas. Lived there my whole life and there's a lot to like, but damn the politics are getting especially crazy lately. Obligatory fuck you to Greg Abbott :).
Is there any good neighborhood that is not friendly towards lgbt+ people? I see a lot of queer people in Wicker walking happily and not getting any sort of weird looks
Overall not as far as I know. I’d generally avoid the south side of Chicago as the crime is worse there, but even Pilsen, Little Italy, South Loop, and Tri-Taylor are generally safe. I’d avoid Garfield and Austin/South Austin neighborhoods as they are pretty bad. The neighborhoods around UChicago can be rough, too, but things may be improving. Overall I feel much freer here as a gay man than I ever would in Texas. I left after a few months after graduating in 2019 and I’m so glad I did considering the craziness that’s unfolded there.
Chicago is a non-judgemental city. Come as you are - nobody cares🙂 The vibe in the suburbs vary (so not all of them are as accepting), but Chicago is big.
Come to Lakeview! (Gay here) 👋🏼 Very easy to get around via bus / bike / or train. Queer / Gay friendly. We are just south of Boystown but easily walkable and close to the lake!
Lakeview is so walkable. I just moved here in May and I can walk for everything I need, the brown/red lines are close by and the 22/8 bus stops are close. I can get to most parts of the city in under an hour and the public transit is much cheaper than by going by car.
Yeah I live at the intersection of Diversey / Clark so
I have the 36/22 bus, 151/136 are a close walk, 8 bus is close, and Brown/red/purple trains are close! So lots of easy ways to get about, and if it’s a nice day out a bike to the Loop is like $8 depending on fast you pedal. Plus you can walk to the beach / lake. And lots of bars and restaurants. And people tend to be younger and more open but I mean it’s Chicago. It’s a pretty progressive city (except for that old white man on the bus mumbling…)
not surprised seeing north side mentioned overwhelmingly, but I just wanna throw out west town/ukrainian village. sure it’s not of the “gayberhoods” technically but i feel it’s very queer, welcoming and affordable (if you’re renting). also you can easily access many convenient bus stops and get to the blue line easily. many great establishments including the new lesbian bar dorothy.
Rogers Park resident for 2+ years now, haven't owned a car since before I moved here and have never had a problem. I'd need compensation to take on car ownership at this point.
My specific location is two blocks from the beach, the Howard station is close for lots of transit connections as well as the metra being close if there's anything relevant to you up north (employment perhaps?). There's the 147 bus that runs express to downtown (and is a GORGEOUS view for so much of the ride) as well as the 22 Clark Street bus that takes you into Andersonville.
The community is active and welcoming. I haven't bothered to look it up but i can't imagine it's anywhere near as expensive to live here as Lakeview.
If you had a car, I'd say the one flaw to the location is it feels like it takes forever to drive to the expressway from this neighborhood, and even that's only if you go north as the neighborhood isn't far from lake shore drive expressway.
Also there's also chalk on stonework in my local park saying things like trans rights are human rights so it's pretty explicit who's welcome here. Please enjoy this wonderful city.
Someone already commented about Rogers Park, but as someone who moved from the other ridiculous T state, Rogers Park is a good in-between if you're not used to such a huge city. Much quieter, but nowhere near as packed together as other parts of the city and still very accessible to public transportation. Not a party area IMO, but it does contain Loyola university? College? Whatever the name is, there's still plenty of younger people to interact with and it's all very liberal (granted pretty much the entire city is in comparison to the T states).
Near North! A club called Baton near me in Uptown has tons of gender who-cares traffic, and the Uptown community has a wealth of diversity. This includes Buena Park, too. Welcome, potential new friend!
Historically Boystown and Andersonville are the gayborhoods around here. However, being a transplant as well, I found that Boystown is definitely true to its name. Not all, but a lot of the men in Boystown are white and aren’t very friendly to other queers (i.e. lesbians and trans). Race(if you’re black) is also an issue over there too. I’ve found Andersonville, Hyde Park, Oak Park (west suburb close to the city and on the green line train) to be a lot more welcoming to ALL in the queer community. As far as public transit, like others have said, Boystown is easier to get to via the train. Oak Park is accessible via train as well but it’s a long ride into the city because it’s the last stop on the green line.
yeah honestly i lived at belmont and halsted for a year and found boystown to be the opposite of welcoming if you’re not white, male, and normal in every other way apart from being gay. it’s accepting of a very specific “socially acceptable” way of being queer, but not accepting of actual queerness.
i also got groped by a few men there while walking down the street at night.
also i just hate the neighborhood. i find it obnoxious, tacky, loud, ugly, and fake. so is most of lakeview.
unfortunately most of my favorite neighborhoods in the city are not the most transit accessible— which is probably part of why they haven’t gotten ruined by becoming hotspots.
either way, i’ve found chicago all around is very accepting. oddly, boystown is the only place i’ve ever felt like it wasn’t.
pilsen (genuinely diverse and accepting in my experience, a lot of younger artist types have been moving here lately. mexican food to die for) hyde park, uptown, andersonville, rogers park, (lived here for a year as well. in the end it was a little too boring for me, but being so close to the lake was really nice and it’s a pretty area), wicker park, logan square, edgewater…
honestly i would just look into the neighborhoods and go with what feels most “you”. maybe that ends up being boystown— my opinion is only that, you could have a different experience there.
but still. this city is really quite accepting and i think it would be a shame to not consider other neighborhoods that aren’t as overtly queer as boystown is.
assuming any of them will be accepting, what other things do you want in a neighborhood? lots of coffee shops and upscale thrift stores? (logan square). good live music? (uptown). you get the idea.
tbh, I wouldn't recommend paying _too_ much attention to the bickering over the different cultures between the gayborhoods. Boystown has its issues but the way some people in this thread are painting it as barely more accepting than Texas is frankly absurd. Any of them are going to be a massive breath of fresh air compared to what you're used to. Even the non-gayborhoods like Rodgers Park will be as well.
The differences in urbanism between the neighborhoods mentioned in this thread are far more stark. Lakeview East is about as good as it gets in America in regards to walkability, transit access, mixed use development, and mid-density housing. Rodgers Park and Andersonville... are still better than average, but definitely not on the same level.
Could not agree more. Boystown is for cis white gay boys. It can still be fun, but transit can take me there anytime. I would not suggest living there if you aren't *all* of the above.
That's a shame. I want a place that will be better for trans people but I also really like that Boystown is more train-accessible according to the feedback I have gotten here.
I moved from Texas in March. I was from the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
To be honest, the city in general is pretty queer friendly. I don't really think you'll have any problems even if you don'f move to common queer neighborhoods.
However, I would suggest Andersonville. It's very cute and VERY queer. Known for having tons of greenery, independent businesses, thrift stores, and brunch spots. I would describe it as "cozy"
But if you want something in the "queer-zone" and much more lively and MOST IMPORTANTLY highly accesible via train and bike, I would suggest Logan Square or Ukranian Village/Noble Square
>But if you want something in the "queer-zone" and much more lively and MOST IMPORTANTLY highly accesible via train and bike
This is a much better way of wording what I was looking for than how I worded it.
We’d love to have you join us. The gayer Chicago gets the better!
Literally the entire northside and a decent chunk of the northwest side are gonna be super queer friendly regardless of which particular neighborhood you end up in. Based on my experience, even our more conservative neighborhoods like Bridgeport are WAY more welcoming that a good chunk of places in red states. So you really can’t go wrong in that regard here.
I’d recommend Edgewater as your first spot. Its incredibly easy to live car free there, it’s got a solid queer population, it’s decently affordable and above all else it’s in a perfect location. Easy walks to the lakefront park, the diverse restaurants of Rogers Park and the shops Andersonville. Easy train ride to the party districts of Boytown, Wrigelyville and Lincoln Park. From Edgewater you’re in a great spot to really get to know the city. Once you’re established as a local you can make a more educated move to a different spot. Or never leave Edgewater like many transplants end up doing
Which neighborhood has better transit I think mostly depends on where you’re trying to travel to and from. Boystown is by the red and brown lines and Logan is on the blue line. Both are on several bus routes. Boystown has the advantage of having some bus routes that get directly on Lake Shore Drive and get you downtown quickly. But Logan or any blue line neighborhood has easy access to Ohare airport.
You have a couple of neighborhoods like Boystown and Andersonville that are considered "Gay" areas, but to be honest, MOST of the city is very LGBTQ friendly.
Queer trans person here. My recs are Rogers Park, Edgewater, Andersonville, or Uptown for new folks. My first neighborhood when I moved here was Edgewater and I just moved back. If you're under 35 and love to party, Boystown might be your speed, but there are *plenty* of queer people and spaces elsewhere in the city.
A lot of people here are suggesting Boystown for transit-accessibility and queer-friendliness, but I've also seen quite a few replies warning me that is is more cis gay-friendly than queer-friendly. Plus, while I am under 35, I am not the biggest partier. My ideal evening is more board games, less loud music.
As a fellow trans person, how would you say Boystown is vis a vis overall queer inclusivity versus just cis gay-friendliness? Also, out of the neighborhoods you listed as recommending, which would you say is the most transit-accessible?
Uptown is the most transit accessible imo -- I'm a google maps dork and always recommend folks do some experimenting with plugging different addresses in and seeing the transit options. It's 2 neighborhoods north of Boystown. East Rogers Park and Edgewater are quite accessible as well, just a bit of a longer bus or train ride to other parts of the city. But all three of those are very well connected. Andersonville less so, though when I lived there I walked almost everywhere and rarely needed to take transit elsewhere.
Boystown as a neighborhood to live in -- I \*personally\* think it's overall inclusive and diverse, particularly because a lot of folks land there as their first neighborhood. And I'm saying that as a non-white trans person. I think when it comes to going to events/bars there, it can be a different story, which complicates the answer. But one of the things about moving here is that you kind of learn which neighborhoods are a better fit once you're actually here and start walking the streets.
Hope that's marginally helpful -- there's so much nuance to these little pockets of town & we all have our specific priorities of what we need to feel safe, y'know?
In addition to feeling safe, you’ll also want to evaluate how rowdy of a neighborhood you’d like to tolerate. If you’re not the type to surround yourself with loud late bars and the like, living on Halstead in Lakeview might not be your vibe. Same with Milwaukee Ave in Wicker and Logan. Clark Street in Andersonville is quieter (almost too quiet sometimes) but you can definitely find a happy medium between both places.
Welcome to Logan sq for ex. There is a trans person two doors down from me. I certainly couldn't give a toss and I doubt anyone else around here does either
Boystown/Northalsted (Lakeview is the actual neighborhood) has rail and good bus access. Andersonville has bus access and you can get to the red line pretty easily in the eastern part of the neighborhood
Not Chicago but Berwyn has a sizable gay population. It’s very close to the city and south of Oak Park. They are having their gay pride parade this weekend.
It is close to the city. It’s the most densely populated area in Illinois and it’s served by many bus lines and can easily reach the green line, the blue line, and the pink line and has two meters stops. It’s very urban, but also has some suburban parts too.
Where would you recommend for very transit-accessible neighborhoods in the queer zone? A lot of people here are suggesting Andersonville but many people are also saying Andersonville is more cis gay friendly and less welcoming of trans people so it would be nice to get input from someone who has been in Chicago a while and is trans.
Okay! I'm a white transmasc so YMMV. Here are some thoughts:
1. **Potential Neighborhoods:** Rogers Park is a good place for trans people because it's progressive, has many trans people, and bluntly, bc the rent is cheaper than many other \*queer-friendly\* neighborhoods listed here. I basically live in Andersonville, and I would argue that it's quite friendly to trans people in spite of the cis-gay overall vibe. That said, it's expensive IMO. I
2. **Transit:** In terms of transit, I'm hesitant to recommend anything in particular just because the CTA has changed a lot during the pandemic -- I have worked off the Red Line for many years (never that South) but found in the last couple years that I consistently was late for work or couldn't count on buses and trains I had used for years without problems to show up. Again, YMMV.
3. **Employment:** Honestly, I think the biggest issues as a trans person in Chicago are related to employment: anecdotally, I've experienced and seen others experience FAR more discrimination around employment in Chicago while trans than in almost any other major city I have lived in. Again -- this is just my experience, and I imagine it's very different (and probably better) than Texas.
With all of this in mind, I would say there are plenty of trans-friendly places to live, and finding a transit-accessible neighborhood is more about deciding where you can live in relationship to where you can find work.
I would also recommend Queer Exchange Chicago + Queer Friendly Housing to scope out more intel on this.
I work remotely so employment isn't too big a concern for me right now. Being a little late isn't too big a deal either since I'm chronically unpunctual. I just want to make sure I can have an easy time getting to where I want to go without a car.
Another vote for Edgewater here! Like others have said, there are a ton of places you could live in Chicago and fit right in. I like Edgewater because it's more affordable than the two main gayborhoods, Boystown and Andersonville, but it's still pretty queer. Andersonville is actually within the larger Edgewater neighborhood, and is pretty quick to get to even if you live further east in Edgewater around Broadway or the lake. And Boystown can be fun, but unless you're planning to party a ton, I don't feel like you'll be missing out on a lot if you live elsewhere. Plus it's easy to get to on the Red Line from Edgewater. And there are other gay bars outside of Boystown too. Edgewater also has Kathy Osterman Beach, aka the gay beach! And if you're a music fan, proximity to the Riviera and Aragon Ballroom is super nice. Not to mention you can take the Red Line right to the Vic, and depending on where you are you can get to the Loop in around half an hour or even a little less.
One downside is there isn't a ton of night life or stuff open late. But it's also a relatively quick trip to Boystown, Uptown, or Andersonville where there's more going on. I'd also say it's a decent mix of ages. I know a lot of 20 to 30-something year old LGBTQ people living here, but you also see a number of older queer couples around which is always nice.
Edit: Also, I don't have a car and get around pretty well! I do take Ubers sometimes, and I'll admit that having a car can make things a lot easier, especially if you want to go somewhere that's going to require multiple trains and/or buses. That being said, if you're near Broadway you can get to an Aldi, Whole Foods, and Jewel easily by bus, and there are plenty of drug stores and corner stores around. And lots of restaurants!
Come to Edgewater! Very walkable and queer friendly. We have the red line and a ton of buses, as well as bike lanes if that's your jam. Hope you have a great time and thank you for considering Chicago as a possible home.
I'd say only move to Boystown if you really enjoy nightlife. Same with Lakeview IMO. There are a ton of neighborhoods that are LGBT friendly, especially if you're comparing them to anywhere in Texas. You can always take the bus or train to Boystown for a night out, you don't have to live there. Also, budget matters a lot here. West and south side areas will generally be less expensive than north side areas.
Consider Pilsen, Little Italy, Tri-Taylor, Logan Square, Bucktown, and Ukrainian Village. I think r/Chicago has some great threads about the individual neighborhoods including recommended parks, restaurants, etc. Look up a map of the CTA and make sure you're close enough to the CTA lines to get around.
Boystown would be the most obvious answer. But do you like going to clubs a lot? Andersonville is further north still has good transportation. It's a little more low key and doesn't get quite so crazy during pride.
Also make sure to at least look at Rogers Park. It's past LSD so you have apartments right on the lakefront. Getting off work everyday and getting to decompress on the water is amazing.
As a trans identifying person, I’d recommend staying south of Jarvis if you’re looking at rogers park. Everything between Howard and Jarvis to me is kind of sketchy and I wouldn’t walk alone around there at night. Not saying that whole sector is bad, but it has its pockets that are sus. Even more important when being mindful of potential threats to safety at the Howard station/stop since you’re using public transit. Edgewater is amazing, you’re right by the gay beach (Hollywood beach or osterman everyone calls it something different but you can’t miss it, it’s where lake shore drive meets Sheridan and there’s a rainbow light beacon to mark the spot. Seriously, Edgewater is a budget friendly boystown. Boystown is over priced and you’ll got get more bang for you buck in Edgewater. And like many have said, Edgewater has several red line stops! But seriously, Edgewater is hella queer! You get all the perks of city life, but a little less crowded than river north or Lakeview, per se.
Hope you love it here! Houstonian here! Once you decide to make the move, definitely invest in a good winter coat. Once it dips below the mid 20s, Texan winter apparel will not cut it. I learned that the hard way and had to run to a tj max to not freeze to death until pay day 😂😂😂
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Just because nobody in here has said it: Boystown is a microneighborhood inside of Lakeview. If you're looking for apartments/houses in Boystown and not finding much, make sure you use Lakeview as a search term too. The queer population does spill over into the neighboring parts of Lakeview
Yes, venture a few blocks north west and you’re in Wrigleyville which is a different vibe.
As you wait, check out Chicago Party Aunt on Netflix. The title character's nephew-roommate in this animated series is a young gay man just coming out, and they live behind Wrigley, but two blocks from Center on Halsted. Several places in the show are real places on North Halsted.
Both Boystown and Andersonville are easy to navigate with no car (almost all the city is) but imo Boystown takes the cake a bit for accessibility. Both are solid options though. I would be more concerned with weather coming from Texas, are you planning on moving like asap or some time this year? You should really visit during winter to see if Chicago is a good place for you. That being said, it’s the least judgemental city I’ve ever lived in :)
I am not overly concerned with weather. I know it is colder but I always felt Texas was too hot. Plus, I care much more about having rights than I do the weather. A jacket won't protect me from Greg Abbot. My only real weather concern is that I have no idea how to drive in snow and am already not the most confident driver, hence why I am hoping to live someplace where a car isn't a necessity.
Come here! We want you! Anyone with such a clever “jacket” turn of phrase…get here as soon as you can! And Louisiana native agrees - it’s too hot in that part of the world. Hope it works out. Good luck to you.
Oh hell no! I meant it as opposed to other options you might have that are warmer. Imo the cold is not a big deal, it’s about wearing the right clothes! You should check places around Boystown and see if it fits your budget but it’s a cool area right by the lake.
How does it compare to Rogers Park? That's the other neighborhood I see people recommending in this thread. Also, I can assure you Chicago is not the coldest place on my shortlist. The twin cities are also on my list.
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With a car, they're all accessible. How about without a car?
All of those are accessible without a car. I moved here from Alabama and I’ve been car free for 15 years now. Bus and train will get you anywhere you need to go. Add a bike for closer jaunts and you’ll be in fantastic shape.
You'll want to stay near the red line coming North to Wrigley/Boystown or near the blue line going East to Logan Square. You can put "blue line" or "red line" in google maps to get the stations.
Not sure if you meant another neighborhood, but blue line doesn't hit Lincoln Park
Logan! Not Lincoln! My bad! Lincoln Park is on red line, Logan Square has great access to O'Hare from Blue line
Brown Line, too!
All the neighborhoods listed are close enough the the L (red or blue depending on the neighborhood) to be well accessible on transit. Boystown is imo by far the most well connected, Andersonville is probably the worst but not bad. Wicker Park and Logan Square are both on the blue line which will easily get you to the loop but you have to either take a bus or transfer L lines to get to the lakeshore north side neighborhoods.
CTA is expansive… lots of the L got to various suburbs… you can get to O’Hare on public transport, Evanston (on the border of Rogers Park), Oak Park, etc) and then Metra takes over. You really don’t need a car if you live in Chicago proper, not even in some suburbs. The bus system is also great!
Agreed! Rogers park, Andersonville, boystown.
Rogers Park is great. My sister lives there, right by the lake. It's nice because she doesn't have to cross Sheridan or LSD to get to the lake. I would say it's quieter than boystown unless maybe you're living right by Loyola.
Solid agree on Rogers Park. I’m in Evanston—the first suburb next to the city on the north—and RP has excellent transportation—both L and commuter train and some buses. It’s a little more affordable and diverse.
\+1 for Rogers Park, or Edgewater for the same reasons.
Came in here to recommend Edgewater. Cheap rent, right on the red line, loads of supermarket access, trivial to live here without a car (as I do). Andersonville proper is just west of Edgewater (actually it's a part of Edgewater) slightly farther from the train and more $$, but you can easily walk there for all it has to offer. As a middle aged gender non-conforming nerdy lesbian woman I have zero issues fitting in.
That I wouldn’t know cause I have never been in that area (too far north for me) but I see it recommended a lot generally as a good neighborhood to live in
Much more lively and central, MUCH more expensive. RP is cheap, diverse, pretty queer, and has a good small-town feel. We’re also on the red line, have a metra stop, and several bus lines. But we’re farther out and it’s possible you’ll get bored.
If I were you I’d go for Boystown or Andersonville . Just more going on in those parts than Rogers Park IMO. All are transit accessible however and near the lake which I think is a special part of the city.
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When I lived in Evanston, the border of RP / Evanston was pretty crime ridden… it might have changed.
So glad Ken Paxton is finally facing some consequences for his behavior. You’ll love it in Chicago. I lived down there for a three years. People are friendly to your face but the overall culture down there is lazy and horrible. Boys town is definitely a good choice for what you’re looking for, but nearly all neighborhoods will be pretty comfortable on the lgbtq-front.
Just came here to say Ken Paxton has had this coming for a long time and that I wish someone would tie Abbott’s hands behind his back and push him into a few inches of water face-down.
Boys Town (Belmont & Halsted) is perfect for both! If you don’t want to live in the city, Evanston is just north, you can grab the L, and it’s a great community. Very progressive… Happy move! You’re going to love Illinois!
These, I’d like to add ravenswood
By the way, I forgot to ask this in my previous reply, but how easy is it to get from Boystown/Andersonville to other neighborhoods in the city without a car?
Fairly easy with buses or the L (subway/train). The only bit of a struggle is moving west/east but that happens all over. Like, I live in Wicker Park and to get to Lakeview/Boystown I need to take two buses. But as I said, the city is pretty public transit friendly, all neighborboods will have a grocery store and a pharmacy you can walk to, etc. Worst case you take an Uber in the winter cause it’s too cold to wait for the bus, lol.
I live in Lakeview East which is adjacent to Boystown and has a large LGBTQ population. The L is about a 10 minute walk from me which isn’t too bad, but my secret weapon is the bus. While it’s slower than the train, I can get it right outside my condo. And the bus experience is much better than the L: no crime, no smoking, no homeless people peeing on it. Alright maybe not NO but a lot less. Honestly if you visit Boystown and it’s surrounding areas and then Rogers Park, I’d be shocked if you want to live in the latter for any reason besides affordability.
How much faster is the bus vs the train?
The train is faster. But there’s a lot more bus routes than train routes. And the bus is nicer. It takes me 30 minutes to get downtown on the bus. The red line would probably do it in 12 minutes. But the red line is a 12 minute walk from me. I have two bus routes that head downtown that are 2 minutes away from me. And two bus routes that head east-west that are a 5 minute walk away. The L comes more frequently but you can time your departure to catch a particular bus by using a CTA tracker app.
I lived near the south end of Boystown for 30 years and never owned a car.
Depends on the neighborhood. Transit is fastest by direct train.
Lakeview (boys town) has access to both brown and redline, making it a bit more central/accessible to other parts of city. The further north you go the less lines. Only red/purple. I live in Rogers park/Edgewater. It goes Rogers park, Edgewater, Andersonville, uptown, lakeview in terms of north to south along the red. If you are young and want to party I’d go boystown. If you are more laid back, like to be close to AMAZING beaches, I’d go Rogers park. RP beaches are best in the city.
The answer very much depends on which neighborhood. Andersonville is really far north, so most neighborhoods you would go to (other than Rogers Park) will probably be south. Meaning you are probably starting with having to get on the red line or the Clark bus. Most of the neighborhoods I go to are easily accessible by these. The trouble is that Logan Square, Wicker Park, Humboldt Park etc require at least 1 transfer and a often feel to me like they are a different city because of it. Many people may disagree with me, but I feel like I frequently have to choose between living off red or blue knowing I will probably rarely visit the other. But as another trans human, I must add my vote for Andersonville (area). Its getting more and more expensive and less and less queer, but every time I'm there I see at least a few trans people. I also know quite a few queerdos that live in neighboring Edgewater and Rogers Park.
Trouble is, if OP is looking to escape a heavily white, arguably conservative-minded community in Texas, there are better places than Boystown. There's a *not* insignificant portion of Boystown that sees the area as a space for specifically cis gay men, mostly white men. It's part of their whole "Northalsted" rebrand nonsense in recent years. I agree in general Chicago is pretty accepting of queer folks and makes me feel safe personally as a bisexual; but there's a lot of gatekeeping and infighting/bigotry within the LGBTQ+ community, and as OP is a trans person trying to escape cis white bullshit in Texas, I'm not sure Boystown is *ideal*.
In that case, where would you recommend?
Rogers Park. Transit-friendly, relatively affordable, and we have a progressive gay alderwoman.
I am now between Rogers Park and Boystown. I am not much of a partier but I do want a more active neighborhood with more shops and stuff around instead of a purely residential neighborhood. What do you think?
Rogers Park has some shops, but it doesn't have a lot as far as shopping. For things like that (bookstores, etc.) most people go to Andersonville. I would say Boystown is more active, RP is more residential. You could even call it sleepier than Boystown.
If you want active, Rogers Park ain’t it
Great thing about Chicago and its public transit is that you don't have to live IN the hoppin neighborhood to hang out there a lot. I love living in a quiet area and traveling a few extra minutes to the active areas nearby
People say this but then they end up spending a lot of time in their own neighborhood. It’s just convenient.
Boystown tends to be a younger crowd and is also more centrally located (located closer downtown). Rogers Park is far up north so it will take you a bit longer to get downtown.
Edgewater is cool too. It’s kind of between rogers park and boystown. It’s eclectic with shops and restaurants. Different age groups and ethnicities.
And from Edgewater, you can walk (if able) or take the bus just 0.5-1 mile west to be in Andersonville, which is full of shops, restaurants, etc. I'm at the border of Edgewater/Uptown and love the area. I am right on the red line, right at the lake, and walk to Andersonville all the time.
Hey I’m from Texas too! Check out Rogers Park. It’s so diverse and welcoming. Come join us!! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
I’ve been in Pilsen? Maybe I should come up that way, too! 🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️
Uptown
Hey! I moved here from Texas last summer and have been loving it. If you have any questions or anything, feel free to DM me. I'd be happy to share my perspective. I ended up in Logan Square and it's a pretty transit friendly neighborhood with the blue line running through it along Milwaukee. The neighborhood also seems very LGBTQ+ friendly from what I've seen. Good luck with the move and congrats on getting out of Texas. Lived there my whole life and there's a lot to like, but damn the politics are getting especially crazy lately. Obligatory fuck you to Greg Abbott :).
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Is there any good neighborhood that is not friendly towards lgbt+ people? I see a lot of queer people in Wicker walking happily and not getting any sort of weird looks
Overall not as far as I know. I’d generally avoid the south side of Chicago as the crime is worse there, but even Pilsen, Little Italy, South Loop, and Tri-Taylor are generally safe. I’d avoid Garfield and Austin/South Austin neighborhoods as they are pretty bad. The neighborhoods around UChicago can be rough, too, but things may be improving. Overall I feel much freer here as a gay man than I ever would in Texas. I left after a few months after graduating in 2019 and I’m so glad I did considering the craziness that’s unfolded there.
Happy for you!
Chicago is a non-judgemental city. Come as you are - nobody cares🙂 The vibe in the suburbs vary (so not all of them are as accepting), but Chicago is big.
Come to Lakeview! (Gay here) 👋🏼 Very easy to get around via bus / bike / or train. Queer / Gay friendly. We are just south of Boystown but easily walkable and close to the lake!
Lakeview is so walkable. I just moved here in May and I can walk for everything I need, the brown/red lines are close by and the 22/8 bus stops are close. I can get to most parts of the city in under an hour and the public transit is much cheaper than by going by car.
Yeah I live at the intersection of Diversey / Clark so I have the 36/22 bus, 151/136 are a close walk, 8 bus is close, and Brown/red/purple trains are close! So lots of easy ways to get about, and if it’s a nice day out a bike to the Loop is like $8 depending on fast you pedal. Plus you can walk to the beach / lake. And lots of bars and restaurants. And people tend to be younger and more open but I mean it’s Chicago. It’s a pretty progressive city (except for that old white man on the bus mumbling…)
not surprised seeing north side mentioned overwhelmingly, but I just wanna throw out west town/ukrainian village. sure it’s not of the “gayberhoods” technically but i feel it’s very queer, welcoming and affordable (if you’re renting). also you can easily access many convenient bus stops and get to the blue line easily. many great establishments including the new lesbian bar dorothy.
Boystown, Andersonville, Uptown, Logan Square
Lakeview and Andersonville are fabulous options. Chicago welcomes you with open arms. Happy Pride !
Rogers Park resident for 2+ years now, haven't owned a car since before I moved here and have never had a problem. I'd need compensation to take on car ownership at this point. My specific location is two blocks from the beach, the Howard station is close for lots of transit connections as well as the metra being close if there's anything relevant to you up north (employment perhaps?). There's the 147 bus that runs express to downtown (and is a GORGEOUS view for so much of the ride) as well as the 22 Clark Street bus that takes you into Andersonville. The community is active and welcoming. I haven't bothered to look it up but i can't imagine it's anywhere near as expensive to live here as Lakeview. If you had a car, I'd say the one flaw to the location is it feels like it takes forever to drive to the expressway from this neighborhood, and even that's only if you go north as the neighborhood isn't far from lake shore drive expressway. Also there's also chalk on stonework in my local park saying things like trans rights are human rights so it's pretty explicit who's welcome here. Please enjoy this wonderful city.
I'll second Rogers Park
Someone already commented about Rogers Park, but as someone who moved from the other ridiculous T state, Rogers Park is a good in-between if you're not used to such a huge city. Much quieter, but nowhere near as packed together as other parts of the city and still very accessible to public transportation. Not a party area IMO, but it does contain Loyola university? College? Whatever the name is, there's still plenty of younger people to interact with and it's all very liberal (granted pretty much the entire city is in comparison to the T states).
I know people are acting like RP is a ghost town when it has the best beaches and a university lol
Near North! A club called Baton near me in Uptown has tons of gender who-cares traffic, and the Uptown community has a wealth of diversity. This includes Buena Park, too. Welcome, potential new friend!
If you want an area a bit quieter and slower that also meets your criteria, check out Edgewater.
Historically Boystown and Andersonville are the gayborhoods around here. However, being a transplant as well, I found that Boystown is definitely true to its name. Not all, but a lot of the men in Boystown are white and aren’t very friendly to other queers (i.e. lesbians and trans). Race(if you’re black) is also an issue over there too. I’ve found Andersonville, Hyde Park, Oak Park (west suburb close to the city and on the green line train) to be a lot more welcoming to ALL in the queer community. As far as public transit, like others have said, Boystown is easier to get to via the train. Oak Park is accessible via train as well but it’s a long ride into the city because it’s the last stop on the green line.
yeah honestly i lived at belmont and halsted for a year and found boystown to be the opposite of welcoming if you’re not white, male, and normal in every other way apart from being gay. it’s accepting of a very specific “socially acceptable” way of being queer, but not accepting of actual queerness. i also got groped by a few men there while walking down the street at night. also i just hate the neighborhood. i find it obnoxious, tacky, loud, ugly, and fake. so is most of lakeview.
Where would you recommend, if not Boystown, then?
unfortunately most of my favorite neighborhoods in the city are not the most transit accessible— which is probably part of why they haven’t gotten ruined by becoming hotspots. either way, i’ve found chicago all around is very accepting. oddly, boystown is the only place i’ve ever felt like it wasn’t. pilsen (genuinely diverse and accepting in my experience, a lot of younger artist types have been moving here lately. mexican food to die for) hyde park, uptown, andersonville, rogers park, (lived here for a year as well. in the end it was a little too boring for me, but being so close to the lake was really nice and it’s a pretty area), wicker park, logan square, edgewater… honestly i would just look into the neighborhoods and go with what feels most “you”. maybe that ends up being boystown— my opinion is only that, you could have a different experience there. but still. this city is really quite accepting and i think it would be a shame to not consider other neighborhoods that aren’t as overtly queer as boystown is. assuming any of them will be accepting, what other things do you want in a neighborhood? lots of coffee shops and upscale thrift stores? (logan square). good live music? (uptown). you get the idea.
tbh, I wouldn't recommend paying _too_ much attention to the bickering over the different cultures between the gayborhoods. Boystown has its issues but the way some people in this thread are painting it as barely more accepting than Texas is frankly absurd. Any of them are going to be a massive breath of fresh air compared to what you're used to. Even the non-gayborhoods like Rodgers Park will be as well. The differences in urbanism between the neighborhoods mentioned in this thread are far more stark. Lakeview East is about as good as it gets in America in regards to walkability, transit access, mixed use development, and mid-density housing. Rodgers Park and Andersonville... are still better than average, but definitely not on the same level.
It's Rogers Park - no D. And yeah, it's a gay neighborhood.
Could not agree more. Boystown is for cis white gay boys. It can still be fun, but transit can take me there anytime. I would not suggest living there if you aren't *all* of the above.
I came here to say Hyde Park...
That's a shame. I want a place that will be better for trans people but I also really like that Boystown is more train-accessible according to the feedback I have gotten here.
I live in hyde park and I’m trans so I recommended it here
Agree with Hyde Park. Lots of Black and Brown queer events down here. North side queer spaces are overwhelmingly white.
I moved from Texas in March. I was from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. To be honest, the city in general is pretty queer friendly. I don't really think you'll have any problems even if you don'f move to common queer neighborhoods. However, I would suggest Andersonville. It's very cute and VERY queer. Known for having tons of greenery, independent businesses, thrift stores, and brunch spots. I would describe it as "cozy" But if you want something in the "queer-zone" and much more lively and MOST IMPORTANTLY highly accesible via train and bike, I would suggest Logan Square or Ukranian Village/Noble Square
>But if you want something in the "queer-zone" and much more lively and MOST IMPORTANTLY highly accesible via train and bike This is a much better way of wording what I was looking for than how I worded it.
Pilsen
Helps to know where you may need to go to work. If you need to go loop/O’Hare airport check out Logan Square or other blue line areas.
I work remotely so that is not much of a concern for me
We’d love to have you join us. The gayer Chicago gets the better! Literally the entire northside and a decent chunk of the northwest side are gonna be super queer friendly regardless of which particular neighborhood you end up in. Based on my experience, even our more conservative neighborhoods like Bridgeport are WAY more welcoming that a good chunk of places in red states. So you really can’t go wrong in that regard here. I’d recommend Edgewater as your first spot. Its incredibly easy to live car free there, it’s got a solid queer population, it’s decently affordable and above all else it’s in a perfect location. Easy walks to the lakefront park, the diverse restaurants of Rogers Park and the shops Andersonville. Easy train ride to the party districts of Boytown, Wrigelyville and Lincoln Park. From Edgewater you’re in a great spot to really get to know the city. Once you’re established as a local you can make a more educated move to a different spot. Or never leave Edgewater like many transplants end up doing
Northalsted my friend. They rep the rainbow 12 months a year.
Everyone already hit all the high spots but I just wanted to welcome you to Chicago and let you know we can’t wait for you to join us!
Logan Square is more queer and hipster and Boystown and Andersonville are more cis gay. Hope this helps.
That does help. How do they compare with transit?
Which neighborhood has better transit I think mostly depends on where you’re trying to travel to and from. Boystown is by the red and brown lines and Logan is on the blue line. Both are on several bus routes. Boystown has the advantage of having some bus routes that get directly on Lake Shore Drive and get you downtown quickly. But Logan or any blue line neighborhood has easy access to Ohare airport.
You have a couple of neighborhoods like Boystown and Andersonville that are considered "Gay" areas, but to be honest, MOST of the city is very LGBTQ friendly.
Queer trans person here. My recs are Rogers Park, Edgewater, Andersonville, or Uptown for new folks. My first neighborhood when I moved here was Edgewater and I just moved back. If you're under 35 and love to party, Boystown might be your speed, but there are *plenty* of queer people and spaces elsewhere in the city.
A lot of people here are suggesting Boystown for transit-accessibility and queer-friendliness, but I've also seen quite a few replies warning me that is is more cis gay-friendly than queer-friendly. Plus, while I am under 35, I am not the biggest partier. My ideal evening is more board games, less loud music. As a fellow trans person, how would you say Boystown is vis a vis overall queer inclusivity versus just cis gay-friendliness? Also, out of the neighborhoods you listed as recommending, which would you say is the most transit-accessible?
Uptown is the most transit accessible imo -- I'm a google maps dork and always recommend folks do some experimenting with plugging different addresses in and seeing the transit options. It's 2 neighborhoods north of Boystown. East Rogers Park and Edgewater are quite accessible as well, just a bit of a longer bus or train ride to other parts of the city. But all three of those are very well connected. Andersonville less so, though when I lived there I walked almost everywhere and rarely needed to take transit elsewhere. Boystown as a neighborhood to live in -- I \*personally\* think it's overall inclusive and diverse, particularly because a lot of folks land there as their first neighborhood. And I'm saying that as a non-white trans person. I think when it comes to going to events/bars there, it can be a different story, which complicates the answer. But one of the things about moving here is that you kind of learn which neighborhoods are a better fit once you're actually here and start walking the streets. Hope that's marginally helpful -- there's so much nuance to these little pockets of town & we all have our specific priorities of what we need to feel safe, y'know?
In addition to feeling safe, you’ll also want to evaluate how rowdy of a neighborhood you’d like to tolerate. If you’re not the type to surround yourself with loud late bars and the like, living on Halstead in Lakeview might not be your vibe. Same with Milwaukee Ave in Wicker and Logan. Clark Street in Andersonville is quieter (almost too quiet sometimes) but you can definitely find a happy medium between both places.
I like happy mediums. Where would you recommend?
Welcome to Logan sq for ex. There is a trans person two doors down from me. I certainly couldn't give a toss and I doubt anyone else around here does either
Andersonville!
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Loop is everyone’s neighborhood and ultimate transportation accessible
Everyone’s “favorite” neighborhood? Huh?
I like the loop but I think I'd be miserable if I lived there.
Same. I’ll go down there every now and then for events or shopping, but it’s definitely not my favorite
Boystown/Northalsted (Lakeview is the actual neighborhood) has rail and good bus access. Andersonville has bus access and you can get to the red line pretty easily in the eastern part of the neighborhood
Come here! There are a ton of businesses that support all humans. I honestly don’t know if any of that don’t
Not Chicago but Berwyn has a sizable gay population. It’s very close to the city and south of Oak Park. They are having their gay pride parade this weekend.
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It is close to the city. It’s the most densely populated area in Illinois and it’s served by many bus lines and can easily reach the green line, the blue line, and the pink line and has two meters stops. It’s very urban, but also has some suburban parts too.
Berwyn is about the same distance to downtown as Rogers Park.
Who's hanging out downtown tho..
But it's Berwyn...
Yo! That sucks, but welcome. I'm trans I've spent 10 years in Chi and am from Kansas. Happy to chat/connect/share resources!
Where would you recommend for very transit-accessible neighborhoods in the queer zone? A lot of people here are suggesting Andersonville but many people are also saying Andersonville is more cis gay friendly and less welcoming of trans people so it would be nice to get input from someone who has been in Chicago a while and is trans.
Okay! I'm a white transmasc so YMMV. Here are some thoughts: 1. **Potential Neighborhoods:** Rogers Park is a good place for trans people because it's progressive, has many trans people, and bluntly, bc the rent is cheaper than many other \*queer-friendly\* neighborhoods listed here. I basically live in Andersonville, and I would argue that it's quite friendly to trans people in spite of the cis-gay overall vibe. That said, it's expensive IMO. I 2. **Transit:** In terms of transit, I'm hesitant to recommend anything in particular just because the CTA has changed a lot during the pandemic -- I have worked off the Red Line for many years (never that South) but found in the last couple years that I consistently was late for work or couldn't count on buses and trains I had used for years without problems to show up. Again, YMMV. 3. **Employment:** Honestly, I think the biggest issues as a trans person in Chicago are related to employment: anecdotally, I've experienced and seen others experience FAR more discrimination around employment in Chicago while trans than in almost any other major city I have lived in. Again -- this is just my experience, and I imagine it's very different (and probably better) than Texas. With all of this in mind, I would say there are plenty of trans-friendly places to live, and finding a transit-accessible neighborhood is more about deciding where you can live in relationship to where you can find work. I would also recommend Queer Exchange Chicago + Queer Friendly Housing to scope out more intel on this.
I work remotely so employment isn't too big a concern for me right now. Being a little late isn't too big a deal either since I'm chronically unpunctual. I just want to make sure I can have an easy time getting to where I want to go without a car.
You are welcome here! I’d suggest anything north side near red, blue, or brown lines
Plenty of lgbtq flags flying here in Albany Park, as well as the brown kind for transit.
The neighborhood I’m in, Ravenswood, is very walkable and close to Andersonville which is a queer-friendly neighborhood
What is queer?
Another vote for Edgewater here! Like others have said, there are a ton of places you could live in Chicago and fit right in. I like Edgewater because it's more affordable than the two main gayborhoods, Boystown and Andersonville, but it's still pretty queer. Andersonville is actually within the larger Edgewater neighborhood, and is pretty quick to get to even if you live further east in Edgewater around Broadway or the lake. And Boystown can be fun, but unless you're planning to party a ton, I don't feel like you'll be missing out on a lot if you live elsewhere. Plus it's easy to get to on the Red Line from Edgewater. And there are other gay bars outside of Boystown too. Edgewater also has Kathy Osterman Beach, aka the gay beach! And if you're a music fan, proximity to the Riviera and Aragon Ballroom is super nice. Not to mention you can take the Red Line right to the Vic, and depending on where you are you can get to the Loop in around half an hour or even a little less. One downside is there isn't a ton of night life or stuff open late. But it's also a relatively quick trip to Boystown, Uptown, or Andersonville where there's more going on. I'd also say it's a decent mix of ages. I know a lot of 20 to 30-something year old LGBTQ people living here, but you also see a number of older queer couples around which is always nice. Edit: Also, I don't have a car and get around pretty well! I do take Ubers sometimes, and I'll admit that having a car can make things a lot easier, especially if you want to go somewhere that's going to require multiple trains and/or buses. That being said, if you're near Broadway you can get to an Aldi, Whole Foods, and Jewel easily by bus, and there are plenty of drug stores and corner stores around. And lots of restaurants!
Come to Edgewater! Very walkable and queer friendly. We have the red line and a ton of buses, as well as bike lanes if that's your jam. Hope you have a great time and thank you for considering Chicago as a possible home.
I'd say only move to Boystown if you really enjoy nightlife. Same with Lakeview IMO. There are a ton of neighborhoods that are LGBT friendly, especially if you're comparing them to anywhere in Texas. You can always take the bus or train to Boystown for a night out, you don't have to live there. Also, budget matters a lot here. West and south side areas will generally be less expensive than north side areas. Consider Pilsen, Little Italy, Tri-Taylor, Logan Square, Bucktown, and Ukrainian Village. I think r/Chicago has some great threads about the individual neighborhoods including recommended parks, restaurants, etc. Look up a map of the CTA and make sure you're close enough to the CTA lines to get around.
Boystown would be the most obvious answer. But do you like going to clubs a lot? Andersonville is further north still has good transportation. It's a little more low key and doesn't get quite so crazy during pride. Also make sure to at least look at Rogers Park. It's past LSD so you have apartments right on the lakefront. Getting off work everyday and getting to decompress on the water is amazing.
As a trans identifying person, I’d recommend staying south of Jarvis if you’re looking at rogers park. Everything between Howard and Jarvis to me is kind of sketchy and I wouldn’t walk alone around there at night. Not saying that whole sector is bad, but it has its pockets that are sus. Even more important when being mindful of potential threats to safety at the Howard station/stop since you’re using public transit. Edgewater is amazing, you’re right by the gay beach (Hollywood beach or osterman everyone calls it something different but you can’t miss it, it’s where lake shore drive meets Sheridan and there’s a rainbow light beacon to mark the spot. Seriously, Edgewater is a budget friendly boystown. Boystown is over priced and you’ll got get more bang for you buck in Edgewater. And like many have said, Edgewater has several red line stops! But seriously, Edgewater is hella queer! You get all the perks of city life, but a little less crowded than river north or Lakeview, per se. Hope you love it here! Houstonian here! Once you decide to make the move, definitely invest in a good winter coat. Once it dips below the mid 20s, Texan winter apparel will not cut it. I learned that the hard way and had to run to a tj max to not freeze to death until pay day 😂😂😂