In the 1980s and 90s, the decaying shipping warehouses of Manhattan’s West Village were a world entirely of their own.
For thousands of marginalized queer youth, trans women, and outcasts pushed to the fringes of the city, the rotting timber and pitch-black labyrinths of Piers 45, 46, and 50 offered a vital sanctuary.
It was the cradle of the underground ballroom scene and a place of unapologetic freedom.
But the dark hides everyone equally.
In this episode of Homocidal Tendency, we step off the cobblestones of West Street and into the shadows to explore how the ultimate haven became a hunting ground.
We unpack the deeply atmospheric and terrifying history of an era where unchecked predators, roving gangs, and police apathy turned the waterfront into a literal trap, and how the city eventually paved over the history of the people who fought to survive there.
In this episode, we cover:
Resources & Visuals:
To truly understand the monolithic scale and raw atmosphere of the waterfront, you have to see it. Head over to our social media to view the incredible, gritty photography of the era, including works by artists like Alvin Baltrop.
https://linktr.ee/HomocidalTendency
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Stay out of the dark.
