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Read the press release here.

Boystown Voted Best Gay Neighborhood in World by LGBT Travel Magazine

By Serena Dai | January 2, 2014 12:02pm
 Men dressed as cowboys kiss as their float rolls through the Pride Parade.
Men dressed as cowboys kiss as their float rolls through the Pride Parade.
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DNAinfo/Justin Barbin

BOYSTOWN — Boystown's national reputation seems to be fully intact. Readers of a gay travel magazine just voted it the world's "incomparable gay neighborhood."

Last year, some locals worried about Boystown's need for an economic boost, even pushing one record store to bounce to Andersonville because "the boys don't come here anymore."

But readers of Out Traveler, a magazine with the tagline "The standard of gay travel," voted Boystown the best gayborhood in the world in 2013, beating out West Hollywood's Boystown, San Francisco's The Mission, Madrid's Chueca and Barcelona's Eixample. 

The Mission won runner-up to Lakeview's Boystown.

The magazine said Boystown was "friendly" and less "sceney" than gay districts in other cities. It also cited Hydrate's remodeling, Chicago SketchFest's LGBT-inclusive aspect, the Pride celebration, Market Days and the possibility of a LGBT-focused hotel as Boystown bonuses.

"The neighborhood has everything you could want," the magazine website said, "bars, clubs, restaurants, architecture, walkability, its own 'L' stop and now marriage equality."

Awards also were given for "hottest gay beach," "sultriest place on earth," "best hotel chain" and "best adventure getaway."