A
gay village (also known as a
gay neighborhood,
gay enclave,
gayvenue,
gay ghetto,
gaytto,
gay district,
gay mecca or
gayborhood) is a geographical area with generally recognized boundaries, inhabited or frequented by a large number of
lesbian,
gay,
bisexual, and
transgender (
LGBT) people. Gay villages often contain a number of gay-oriented establishments, such as
gay bars and pubs,
nightclubs,
bathhouses,
restaurants,
boutiques and
bookstores. Among the most famous gay villages are London's
Soho, Birminghams's
Birmingham Gay Village, Toronto's
Church and Wellesley, New York's
Chelsea,
San Francisco's Castro, Madrid's
Chueca, Berlin's
Schöneberg, Manchester's
Canal Street,
Le Marais in Paris and
Melville in
Johannesburg, South Africa.