Chicago or Columbus for mid 30's professional gay man? (Gays: living, cost of living)

[Muppet123]

Originally Posted by chitown85

The Hipsters are being pushed out. Younger gay couples are moving in. No complaints there. They pay taxes for services they don't use (schools namely). They also keep the streets well maintained. And they spend a ton of money (helps the economy).

I never saw a single gay couple in the neighborhood... and I lived there till 18 months ago.

I saw the hipsters being pushed out by yuppies like me not gay people.

[chitown85]

How would you know from the outset if a two guys or two girls were gay/lesbian?

[tonythetuna]

Originally Posted by chitown85

How would you know from the outset if a two guys or two girls were gay/lesbian?

Gaydar. You don't have to be gay to have it.

[allen2323]

Wicker park is not a gay community per se, but there is an extremely large presence of SINGLE male professionals in there 30's to early 40's. Most of these men have chosen the middle age adult single lifestyle. Yes, many of these single men are in fact homosexual. But, the same can be said for almost any middle income trendy urban area where you have lots of middle income single men in there 30's to early 40's living there. Lincoln park, gold coast, the south loop, etc. You won't see alot of the young outwardly gays walking around like in the gay club areas.

[stepheninohio]

Thanks everyone for the responses. In a city I am starting to lean more towards Chicago for the bigger city experience overall. I love theatre and the arts, and of couse Chicago will have more of that than a smaller city. I am looking at the Lakeview area basically, if I can transfer up there or find another job next year. I know Columbus will always be there if I want to try a smaller city closer to home later on. Making a list of pros and cons should finalize it. I know its 10 degrees colder in Chicago on average through the winter months, but after it gets below 40 does it really matter?! And of course parking and getting around will be a little tougher. But im wanting the bigger city experiece and I guess that goes with it.

Again thanks for the insights. Is it open enough that you see gay people comfortable enough to hold hands etc in Chicago? That is one thing that my original post was trying to get at: Being somewhere where it is safe to be myself. Does it look like other gay men/couples are comfortable? Thanks again.

[tonythetuna]

Originally Posted by stepheninohio

I am looking at the Lakeview area basically

The concentration and number of gay men in Lake View increase greatly once you go east of Sheffield. West of Sheffield there are not as many gay men or gay bars.

[chitown85]

If you are on the North Side, you will be ok holding hands with another guy. I dont say this out of experience, but I do have gay friends. Normally people won't bother you because they probably don't care. Occasionally you will have someone say something. Sometimes it will be teenagers but usually it is not out of hatred for gays, it is because they feel like being ***holes.

If you get into the more ethnic neighborhoods, it might become a minor problem. Again, my generation (20s and 30s) tends to be more accepting of it. The real problems you could encounter in a more ethnic neighborhood (Rogers Park, Albany Park, Bridgeport, Westside) is with older folks who might not be accepting or tolerant.

Generally the attitude is tolerance as opposed to acceptance, which you would find in South Florida and Southern California. Intolerance just as a frame of reference would be the Bible Belt. Tolerance is Chicago, NYC, Boston, etc.

[tonythetuna]

Originally Posted by chitown85

The real problems you could encounter in a more ethnic neighborhood (Rogers Park, Albany Park, Bridgeport, Westside) is with older folks who might not be accepting or tolerant.

While I can agree to a certain degree on Albany Park, Bridgeport, and the Westside (assuming you are leaving out Wicker Park,Bucktown,etc.) I must disagree with Rogers Park. There are many gays there. Not as many as many of the hipper neighborhoods, but way more than Albany Park, Bridgeport,etc.

[chitown85]

I didn't know about Rogers Park. Point taken.

By Westside I meant Garfield Park, Lawndale, Pilsen, Austin, etc.

I consider Wicker Park/Bucktown more NW side.

[Buckeye Retail]

Columbus is MUCH cheaper to live in.