[nikbarry]

We are considering relocating from San Francisco to West Hartford and are wondering if anyone could give any insight to issues related to same sex parent families in this area. Is anyone aware of previous problems? I have heard WH is pretty liberal, but looking for input.

[skytrekker]

Yes, Connecticut is liberal as is West Hartford- I have never heard the town have problems addressed by gay people regarding discrimination by local officials or residents.

[nico7]

Connecticut is liberal, but it's also very "traditional." It is nowhere close to San Francisco's version of liberal. I would say that a same-sex couple won't turn any heads in West Hartford, but one with kids might. It isn't that people are necessarily opposed to same-sex parenting (although some are), but there are many people who have never seen it before. As a political/legal issue, the prevailing attitude seems to have swung in favor of equal treatment of same-sex unions... but it is still very unusual in Connecticut to see gay or lesbian couples with children. So you might find yourselves more of a curiosity than the object of persecution. Although I would not rule out some intolerance, realistically.

I'm not trying to deter you -- but you should understand that compared to SF, things are more traditional in CT. This is a "blue law" state, after all.

[skytrekker]

I think you will find Connecticut and West Hartford far more liberal then California, outside of the SF bay area, and most of Los Angeles county. Orange county, and San Diego county and the central valley are far more conservative then CT.

West Hartford and all of Connecticut has a more traditional demeanor & veneer- but underneath the preppie rather conservative appearances this state is among the most liberal nationally. According to the 'Southern Voice' CT ranks third for tolerance and laws protecting GLBT people behind Vermont and Washington DC.

West Hartford will not have the zaniness of San Francisco- not by a long shot, this is New England- but its also not the Midwest or the south.

[hoppybunn]

My step-brother has a mother who is gay and has a partner (though she's not his parent since he detests her partner) he still gets made fun of in school (he's in 8th grade in northern CT pretty close to West Hartford) and hates spending time with both of them. Granted it's a unique situation because she isn't all normal in the head (nothing having to do with being gay, she lost a child before my step-brother was born and hasn't been right since) but the community does talk about her but I believe she brings it upon herself by blatantly acting weird and everything. I think if you don't really advertise the fact that you are a gay couple you should be fine, but realize in affluent areas in CT people do talk about each other.

[skytrekker]

In Affluent areas of Connecticut 'people do not talk to each other' I frankly find this statement to be rather confusing and untrue.

Connecticut schools also prohibit any kind of discrimination based on sexual orientation. This holds true not only for students, but for staff and administrators. Any kind of 'ranking' on students by other students within the school is not tolerated and will be dealt with swiftly, Connecticut's laws in this matter are among the strongest in the nation. No school district allows discrimination of any kind- staff hired cannot be dismissed because of their sexual orientation.

Additionally gay partners in civil unions may soon have the option to marry- this is pending in the states courts in is likely to be passed.

[hoppybunn]

Originally Posted by skytrekker

In Affluent areas of Connecticut 'people do not talk to each other' I frankly find this statement to be rather confusing and untrue.

Connecticut schools also prohibit any kind of discrimination based on sexual orientation. This holds true not only for students, but for staff and administrators. Any kind of 'ranking' on students by other students within the school is not tolerated and will be dealt with swiftly, Connecticut's laws in this matter are among the strongest in the nation. No school district allows discrimination of any kind- staff hired cannot be dismissed because of their sexual orientation.

Additionally gay partners in civil unions may soon have the option to marry- this is pending in the states courts in is likely to be passed.

I didn't say they don't talk to each other, I said they talk about each other. I'm coming purely based on a student's perspective and saying how it might affect this particular person's children, not themselves. I never said that there is discrimination in job settings whatsoever as I find people to be quite tolerant of others in the professional setting, but in the setting of kids in schools they talk about one another (as you'll find in any school, but I found it to be very prominent at Fairfield High School which I attended through grades 4-11). I have found through personal experience that those who are different or come from different backgrounds in a place such as Fairfield are often subject to ridicule (such as me not being white or rich). I doubt that any law pertaining to discrimination would be really applied to kids taunting those who are different. Sure they can be reprimanded but it's not like they'll be behind bars or anything of that sort (unless it's a violent act which is rare). I was merely stating that the poster of this thread should take this into consideration is all. I have plenty of stories of my experiences in high school pertaining to this (and to be honest it's not like I called attention to myself, I was actually quite shy).

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by hoppybunn

I think if you don't really advertise the fact that you are a gay couple you should be fine, but realize in affluent areas in CT people do talk about each other.

People of all economic levels "talk" about each other. This is not just restricted to affluent areas of CT. It even happens in New Mexico. Jay

[bigjeff532003]

I think you should be fine but your kids may get some questions from other kids in school as mentioned before Im not sure I have ever met a same sex couple with kids before but then I never really looked for them. I would guess though that there would not be all that many other kids in school "Two Mommies". Other than that I think you will find yourself warmly received by most people here.

[bibit612]

Some areas of WH are more tolerant than others of this.