Morton Grove: gay friendly? (Chicago, Evanston: attorney, income, diversity)

[aesops_apostle]

To anyone who lives in Morton Grove, IL...I am moving with my family there soon and concerned as to the typical political and social climate. It seems like a nice area, but I wasn't sure if it's ultra conservative and possibly dangerous?

[brikag]

See if this helps

gaydemographics.org...Just the facts

Check if there are any GLBT organizations near the area/region

Good Luck My GLBT friend!

[chet everett]

brikag:

Interesting site you linked to! Personally there are some towns that come up statistically that I would NOT call "gay friendly" AT ALL, so the usefulness of it in the region is questionable -- the lower income areas are likely to be "gay hostile" though I am sure that the couples that live there are NOT the marketer-dream of two gay attorneys or other high-income situations...

As to Morton Grove, I would classify it as less gay friendly than neighboring Evanston, but about on par with other surrounding 'burbs. You have to realize though, with the influx of mostly conservative immigrants the odds of having a very traditional family that want to 'shelter' their kids right next door is pretty high in all the towns up that way. Whether the neighbors are Korean, Hispanic, Asian, Middle Eastern or Eastern European the bias against homosexuals can be pretty strong in individuals who have made a lot of sacrifices to settle in the area.
That is not to say that this feeling is universal, as I am sure some such immigrants would identify with any "oppressed minority" but I just don't fore see too many activities that are geared toward non-traditional families being popular in the area...

I don't understand any concern over "ultra conservative and possibly dangerous". There are really no hostile red-necks that run any town in the region. Is there something specific that you are concerned with? The region actually a long history of EXTEREME political tolerance and anti-violence. A lot of folks in Morton Grove were supportive of the hand gun ban AND the free speech issues of the foolish 'Nazi" marchers in neighboring Skokie. Recollections of the Morton Grove Handgun Ban, Robert Kukla

[Tex?Il?]

Excelent post Chet!

This is very true regarding immigrants. I also live in the northwestern suburbs, and come from a Polish Catholic background.

I like the ethnic diversity too. However many people seem to incorrectly associate ethnic diversity automatically with urban, progressive, etc.

However one may feel about certain views,
ethnic groups are in many ways are what would be generally described as having conservative values.
They may vote democratic, and don't necessaeily have attitudes and lifestyles of say the Bible Belt, but nonetheless there are those relatively conservative values among eastern europeans, asians, hispanics, etc.

So parts of Chicagoland, as well as other enclaves in other major metro areas that are very diverse as being even parochial and less free-thinking.