Is Austin Tx gay friendly? (Houston, Dallas: lofts, co-op, lawyers)

[mrsengle]

We are the gay mecca of the Soutwest. Seriously!

[johnrex62]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

Austin is EXTREMELY liberal...and is the most liberal city in Texas.

They're so liberal that a homeless cross-dresser is allowed free rein right in the middle of the downtown area. They don't even bother to try to restrict his movement and weird activities.

So you shouldn't have any problems finding gays or anything else in Austin!

A few years back I read that San Antonio has the second highest population of gays in the US. I have observerd much more activity in Austin than I ever did in San Antonio. I cannot think of a single business in San Antonio that expressly markets to the gay community, while there are numerous here in Austin. I got an inspection sticker for my car at a shop that had oral condoms in a bowl in the waiting area amid numerous lifestyle magazines and pamplets. If that is not open and accepting, I don't know what else to say.

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

I read somewhere recently (maybe in the statesman) that some gays were complaining that Austin is so tolerant and accepting of different types of people that they don't have a place of their own. In other words, there are no strictly gay neighborhoods (they called them "gayborboods" in the article) or sections of Austin that are "gay only" like there are in many other U.S. cities. Presumably because if you're gay and want to live in Circle C for example, it's not a problem. Your neighbors will be cool and won't really care that your gay. Thus, unlike some U.S. cities, gay people don't have to congregate in "their" part of town to feel safe and accepted, so they're spread all over Austin.

So, when gay people come to Austin and want to head out to the "gay areas", there really are none since everybody is welcome everywhere. Of course there are gay bars, but the people quoted in the article seemed to be lamenting the fact that there are not entire contiguous blocks or streets in Austin where they can have a nightlife stroll to various different gay bars and clubs that are "all gay, all the time".

I have to admit I found this odd. Almost like reverse discrimination.

Austin is so accepting/tolerant of different lifestyles and cultures that everyone can blend together and get along, and somehow that's a bad thing? I'm missing something here.

I have a black friend who moved to Dallas for a similar reason. There are no affluent "black areas" in Austin and he wanted his kids to go to school with and be around successful black families that share his values. In Austin, he was always the only black guy at the business lunches and other gatherings. In Dallas, he has a full black community to belong to and it's all black families in his neighborhood.

I guess humans, for the most part, really do want to be around and hang out with people like ourselves. We seem to hold different groups to different standards though. I know "white flight" people in Atlanta who've moved 50 miles north of town to be in the "all white" suburbs. I think of them as somewhat racist, but I don't think of my black friend who moved to Dallas in the same way for doing the exactly the same thing.

I don't think is that tolerant as you seem to think. It's still TEXAS after all! When i was a UT student, i saw several examples of intolerance towards gays including bottle throwing at a gay float in the annual longhorn parade. It is hardly a city where two gay men would feel comfortable about holding hands down congress avenue. There is comfort about being among so many of one's own, where you're not judged and can let your guard down. San Antonio has no "gay ghetto" either which is a major disappointment.

[tashina]

I agree that I haven't seen much of a gay "scene" here in Austin. I am straight, but lived on Castro Street in San Francisco (and was a librarian at the library there that had the only gay book collection in the country at the time) and on 5th Ave (Hillcrest) in San Diego. I was quite used to gay parades, women holding hands, guys in leather gear, etc.

I haven't seen a bit of that here. We have a couple of gay men that live in the house behind ours and they came from California and seem happy here, but they are the only gay couple I've noticed in 2 years here. But then I live in the suburbs now, not in a hip area.

[twange]

My wife's uncle is gay and his partner is born and bred in Austin. When he relocated to Austin from Columbus, Ohio I couldn't really understand why he would move to Texas. Stereotypes are hard to break. That was before I knew anything about Austin. .

I think the fact that this conversation comes up is good for Austin...at least it's getting on the radar. Of course it's not San Fran, but hey, no place is like San Francisco in that regard.

I live in Lakewood, Ohio a city long known for having one of the largest gay populations per capita but I rarely see businesses/clubs etc...outwardly expressing their "gayness". They are there to be sure, just not marketed as such. So maybe Austin has more of a scene than meets the eye. A perception vs reality thing.

I think places like that are rare in the U.S.

[rjohnsonjr70]

I work graveyards at the Sheraton downtown so you can come and see for yourself. Any time I venture out into Austin, I am usually called the 'F' word by the end of it all. People stare, whisper and act as if they've seen an alien. Central and South Austin are much better, but it still happens. I am flamboyant, but never in your face gay. I wasn't raised that way. My family all lives in town and I wouldn't want to reflect badly on them. Nevertheless, I am consistently harassed everytime I go anywhere. I constantly hear that Austin is so gay friendly, but maybe you have to be like Lance Bass, a straight acting gay or SAG, and not a *** or flamboyant acting gay. It truly boggles my mind. I walk the streets of Manhattan and it's like I am completely invisible. The anonymity is blissful. I would have moved by now, but cannot afford to. And like I said this is my home and my family is here. It even happens at work with the overnight valet who refuses to speak to me. I can only assume it's because I am so obviously gay. No pity here please, I can handle my own. I am trying to win him over with kindness and show that gays are people, too. Wish me luck! Also, my very gay friend just moved to conservative Rochester, MN. He says he still gets the stares, but the people there don't verbalize the way they did in Austin. Finally, I am constantly telling my friend that Dubai isn't such a bad place to live (he's trying to come over to the United States). He always says that at the end of the day Dubai is still in the Middle East. In the same vein, at the end of the day Austin is still in Texas. Oh well.

[artsyguy]

I didn't think Lance Bass is straight acting. He looks really gay to me

Anyways, there is NOT much of a gay scene here in Austin,Texas. The Austin "Gay scene" is hyped up and way overrated.

I do not get harassed or get faced with problems at all from the straight community. Although I've seen some bi/liberal straight people try to be uppity towards me which is a big no-no (I'd understand uppity from conservatives but not liberals), but no harassment or major issues though.

The problem is gays here are pretty ashamed of their gayness. Very little pride and very little openness. So, as a gay person you wouldn't really find people to date or be friends with that are gay. There are WAY too many issues blocking gays from enjoying each others company.

YOu will find some interesting gay dance clubs/bars where the crowd is sometimes friendly and fun, othertimes the crowds are lame, weird, and sometimes even a bit sinister.

Aside from Austin, I've heard Houston has a large gay community. And Dallas for sure has a very large gay community. Dallas is a gay paradise! Believe me, you will see men holding hands in certain parts of Dallas, like it is no big deal. You will not see that in Austin.

[love roses]

Montrose is the area of Houston that caters to a gay lifestyle. I know Austin has a Charlies, Houston has one too. Lots of clubs and bars from just regular hang out, have a beer places to some on the leather and toys end of things. I'm straight, but Charlies after 2am was fun. We'd go to eat (actually lots of clubbers would) and watch the drag queens come in. It almost felt like we were watching a contest or pageant sometimes to see who looked the best. So, Houston may be a touch more liberal than Austin in that regard but I don't think Austin is anti gay or anything. It's really just a different atmosphere, if that's the right word.

[kb4525]

Very Liberal-anything pretty much goes. Prime example is Leslie-our gay transient who ran for mayor a few years ago(he got a good number of votes too!)
I love living in a city that doesn't care what your sexual orientation, race, etc is for the most part. Now saying that-I am as white a white bread and married, but I have many gay/lesbian friends from Austin and other cities that love Austin for it's acceptance of others.

Kristen

[imaterry78259]

Austin is not San Antonio friendly