Culture Clash in Chicago's Boystown Section

Lakeview's Center on Halsted is a haven for GLBTQ youth, and its programs and services attract teens from across the city. But while the Center's staff is pleased to see such a high turnout from West and South Side youth, some neighborhood residents are less enthusiastic.

The Center moved into its current building on Waveland Ave. and Halsted St. in 2007. At the time, the Boystown location seemed like an ideal spot for the community center's GLBTQ-focused programs. The Center offers various workshops for youth between the ages of 13 and 24, including culinary arts courses, art classes, counseling sessions, STD and HIV/AIDS prevention seminars and morning breakfasts for homeless young adults.