[jadorexo]

Hi everyone, I will make this as brief as possible. I lived in the North Shore area outside of Çhicago growing up which is generally a wealthy, liberal, and highly educated suburban area , but then moved to Miami for College two years ago. I fell in love with the diversity and weather, but the area (Miami Gardens and then Davie) didn't have the semi quiet suburban educated mindset that is very important to me. Basically tired of being around ignorant people. I just had to move back for a year with my girlfriend to take care of a family emergency, and am now trying to find where we want to move in Florida after the year is up in Illinois. LGBTQ friendliness is very important to us since we are both females, as is Diversity. I am biracial and resemble caucasian more, and my girlfriend is African American. I thought that the area outside of Chicago where I grew up was very accepting, but since moving back we are getting stares constantly which I never really noticed while living in the Miami area. Anything with a population less than 60k is too small for us. We were thinking of Weston, but I wasn't sure if that was too close to Miami-Dade as I really would like to avoid any area that is in Dade. We are getting engaged soon, and finishing up college so a family oriented area is also important, but not a deciding factor right at the moment. I also do not want to be in an area where Real Estate is too expensive. Thinking of renting the year back for 1200 or less, and then buying a house in the 400k price range give or take a little. I looked at several places like Lake Mary which I liked but don't know anything about from people who actually live there, and Kendall which I took off my list solely because it is in Dade. I am more keen towards Broward since it is slightly familiar to me from living in Davie, but open to moving a few hours away if it is the perfect spot. Any thoughts from Florida residents?

[dothetwist]

Downtown St. Pete, Gulfport and other nearby areas are very LGBT friendly.

www.gaystpete.com

[Fl1150]

Palm Beach is basically known as the more family oriented county of three (Dade, Broward, Palm Bach) so I would take a look at Lake Worth which is specifically known for being very gay friendly and has lots of historic houses as well as a nice arts scene. Also give Delray Beach a look as its know as very hip upcoming area with lots to offer. Since your open to the Orlando area as well I think your moving in the right direction also give , Altamonte Springs a look along with Sanford. Now I know some of places I listed are lower than what you stated you want in population but I believe they are good options.

[urbandeco]

I would take a look around, coastal Palm Beach and Broward. Coastal can be more liberal and diverse.

[SoFLGal]

My daughter is gay and is an native Floridian but is actually moving to Chicago (Logan Square area) with her GF in August. She loves the Chicago area, winters and all.

I know she has many friends who live in Wilton Manors over in Broward County and they really like it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilton_Manors,_Florida I'm not sure if that community would be too small for your liking. Wilton Manors, You will even find stores there like "Gay Mart" And a complete gay shopping center.

Another idea is Sarasota, where we live. It is a pretty diverse area with a very strong art community. The city’s diversified population includes a significant gay and lesbian community. “There has always been some sort of gay presence here,” says Jay Handelman, Sarasota Herald Tribune’s theater and TV critic and past president of the local National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association. “Because the town has always been very arts oriented, a lot of artists have lived here. This year’s pride event attracted 3,000 people. Pride events are held every May and not in June because of the heat.”

Here's a little more on that: Out and About in Sarasota: A Gay-Friendly Guide | Visit Sarasota County

https://www.facebook.com/LGBTSarasota

Sarasota Florida Gay & Lesbian Resources LGBT. Gay friendly realtors, restaurants, bars, night clubs, and gay friendly media in Sarasota Florida

Sarasota and Her Islands - Gay and Lesbian Travel

http://sarasotapride.org/

[dothetwist]

Here's City-Data's list. Gulfport made the top 10.


Top 101 cities with the largest percentage of likely lesbian couples (counted as self-reported female-female unmarried-partner households) (population 5,000+)

1. Northampton, MA (housing, pop. 28,592): 2.7%
2. Decatur, GA (housing, pop. 19,053): 1.9%
3. Russian River-Coastal, CA (housing, pop. 24,824): 1.7%
4. Vashon, WA (housing, pop. 10,123): 1.6%
5. Vashon Island, WA (housing, pop. 10,123): 1.6%
6. Eldorado at Santa Fe, NM (housing, pop. 5,799): 1.5%
7. Takoma Park, MD (housing, pop. 18,497): 1.4%
8. Easthampton, MA (housing, pop. 16,082): 1.3%
9. Corrales, NM (housing, pop. 7,893): 1.3%
10. Gulfport, FL (housing, pop. 12,533): 1.1%
11. Scottdale, GA (housing, pop. 9,803): 1.1%
12. Manitou Springs, CO (housing, pop. 5,072): 1.1%
13. Berkeley, CA (housing, pop. 101,555): 1.1%
14. North Decatur, GA (housing, pop. 15,270): 1.1%
15. Sebastopol, CA (housing, pop. 7,557): 1.1%
16. Cheverly, MD (housing, pop. 6,582): 1.1%
17. Roseland, CA (housing, pop. 6,369): 1.0%
18. Santa Cruz, CA (housing, pop. 54,778): 1.0%
19. Oakland, CA (housing, pop. 397,067): 1.0%
20. Cotati, CA (housing, pop. 7,170): 1.0%
21. Maynard, MA (housing, pop. 10,433): 1.0%
22. Fairfax, CA (housing, pop. 7,120): 1.0%
23. Albany, CA (housing, pop. 15,965): 1.0%
24. Northwest Marin, CA (housing, pop. 9,349): 0.9%
25. Zuni, NM (housing, pop. 7,749): 0.9%
26. Druid Hills, GA (housing, pop. 12,741): 0.9%
27. Belvedere Park, GA (housing, pop. 18,945): 0.9%
28. Ithaca, NY (housing, pop. 29,829): 0.9%
29. Newbury, MA (housing, pop. 6,954): 0.9%
30. Hyattsville, MD (housing, pop. 15,091): 0.9%
31. Kyle, TX (housing, pop. 20,655): 0.9%
32. South Amherst, MA (housing, pop. 5,039): 0.9%
33. Seattle, WA (housing, pop. 582,454): 0.9%
34. El Cerrito, CA (housing, pop. 22,600): 0.9%
35. Bethel, AK (housing, pop. 6,356): 0.9%
36. Rosendale, NY (housing, pop. 6,317): 0.8%
37. Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM (housing, pop. 5,416): 0.8%
38. Aptos, CA (housing, pop. 9,396): 0.8%
39. Amherst, MA (housing, pop. 34,049): 0.8%
40. Eastham, MA (housing, pop. 5,509): 0.8%
41. Wilderville, OR (housing, pop. 5,134): 0.8%
42. Pacifica, CA (housing, pop. 37,327): 0.8%
43. Frederick, CO (housing, pop. 7,395): 0.8%
44. Zuni Pueblo, NM (housing, pop. 6,367): 0.8%
45. Windemere, TX (housing, pop. 6,868): 0.8%
46. Highland Park, NJ (housing, pop. 14,175): 0.8%
47. South Coastside, CA (housing, pop. 29,012): 0.8%
48. Sausalito, CA (housing, pop. 7,207): 0.8%
49. Half Moon Bay, CA (housing, pop. 12,308): 0.8%
50. Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA (housing, pop. 10,691): 0.8%
51. Cambridge, MA (housing, pop. 101,365): 0.8%
52. Jessup, MD (housing, pop. 7,865): 0.8%
53. Big Bear City, CA (housing, pop. 5,779): 0.8%
54. Laguna West-Lakeside, CA (housing, pop. 8,414): 0.8%
55. Wyndmoor, PA (housing, pop. 5,601): 0.8%
56. North Coastal, CA (housing, pop. 20,415): 0.8%
57. North Amherst, MA (housing, pop. 6,019): 0.8%
58. Signal Hill, CA (housing, pop. 11,017): 0.8%
59. Wesley Hills, NY (housing, pop. 5,087): 0.8%
60. Olympia, WA (housing, pop. 44,645): 0.8%
61. McKinleyville, CA (housing, pop. 13,599): 0.8%
62. Portland, OR (housing, pop. 537,081): 0.8%
63. Arlington, MA (housing, pop. 42,389): 0.8%
64. Hutto, TX (housing, pop. 9,572): 0.8%
65. Amherst Center, MA (housing, pop. 17,050): 0.8%
66. Wilton Manors, FL (housing, pop. 12,909): 0.8%
67. East Lake-Orient Park, FL (housing, pop. 5,703): 0.8%
68. Lafayette, CO (housing, pop. 24,211): 0.8%
69. Greenfield, MA (housing, pop. 13,716): 0.8%
70. North Druid Hills, GA (housing, pop. 18,852): 0.7%
71. El Cerro-Monterey Park, NM (housing, pop. 5,483): 0.7%
72. Hull, MA (housing, pop. 11,050): 0.7%
73. Minneapolis, MN (housing, pop. 372,833): 0.7%
74. Ashland, OR (housing, pop. 20,881): 0.7%
75. Southeast Leon, FL (housing, pop. 10,431): 0.7%
76. San Lorenzo Valley, CA (housing, pop. 28,673): 0.7%
77. Whiteriver, AZ (housing, pop. 5,220): 0.7%
78. Newburyport, MA (housing, pop. 17,303): 0.7%
79. Cameron Park, TX (housing, pop. 5,961): 0.7%
80. San Francisco, CA (housing, pop. 744,041): 0.7%
81. Lake Mohegan, NY (housing, pop. 5,979): 0.7%
82. Key West, FL (housing, pop. 23,262): 0.7%
83. Alton North, TX (housing, pop. 5,051): 0.7%
84. Montpelier, VT (housing, pop. 7,954): 0.7%
85. Calistoga, CA (housing, pop. 5,214): 0.7%
86. Apache Junction, AZ (housing, pop. 31,046): 0.7%
87. Maricopa, AZ (housing, pop. 30,518): 0.7%
88. Running Springs, CA (housing, pop. 5,125): 0.7%
89. Bisbee, AZ (housing, pop. 6,095): 0.7%
90. South Miami, FL (housing, pop. 11,025): 0.7%
91. Hebron, CT (housing, pop. 9,222): 0.7%
92. Mecca, CA (housing, pop. 5,402): 0.7%
93. Stow, MA (housing, pop. 6,218): 0.7%
94. Bald Mountain, CO (housing, pop. 11,438): 0.7%
95. Santa Rosa, CA (housing, pop. 154,212): 0.7%
96. Westville, IN (housing, pop. 5,198): 0.7%
97. Twin Lakes, CA (housing, pop. 5,533): 0.7%
98. Boyes Hot Springs, CA (housing, pop. 6,665): 0.7%
99. Laguna Beach, CA (housing, pop. 24,161): 0.7%
100. El Sobrante, CA (housing, pop. 12,260): 0.7%
101. Picture Rocks, AZ (housing, pop. 8,139): 0.7%

[kyle19125]

I'm gay and have lived in other areas outside Florida such as the one you describe in Chicago and get where you're coming from in terms of liberal and highly educated areas. As a native Floridian (South Florida) I will tell you there aren't really any such areas here on that same level, but there are some that are close and you'll have to sacrifice a bit in that department. I have lived in the Sanford/Lake Mary area since 2010 and can tell you in terms of family-friendly places with diversity and a decently educated/progressive population that it would be a good area for you to focus on. Sanford in particular is a bit more liberal and has a number of desirable neighborhoods along with an in-demand downtown historic district which you might find attractive as well. Feel free to direct message with any questions or recommendations!