gay friendly rock falls sterling dixon? (Chicago, Rockford: apartment, rent, school)

[segue]

I'm single and in my 40's-live in San Francisco Bay Area since 1985. Have been thinking seriously about moving to Sterling, Rock Falls, Dixon area. Will have to start from scratch-find an apartment, job, friends. I'm gay. Not flamboyant, yet most people instinctivley can tell I'm gay. Do you think I would be welcome into your community?
Thanks, Segue

[linicx]

As far as I know, with the exception of perhaps Chicago and St. Louis, Peoria is more tolerant of individual life styles. If you're not a bad guy or a pedafile you should have no trouble finding a job or a place to live. Depending on your job description you may find many opportunities to work or not. Peoria has three hosptials, a medical school. university and collete, an awesome Park District, a large mixed religious base, and year round sponsored events. Thee are many ways to volunteer and meet new people.

[Drover]

Of all the places on earth, why Sterling/Rock Falls/Dixon? The former two in particular are kinda grimey and run-down.

[alwaystraveling25]

Originally Posted by segue

I'm single and in my 40's-live in San Francisco Bay Area since 1985. Have been thinking seriously about moving to Sterling, Rock Falls, Dixon area. Will have to start from scratch-find an apartment, job, friends. I'm gay. Not flamboyant, yet most people instinctivley can tell I'm gay. Do you think I would be welcome into your community?
Thanks, Segue

I think if you are looking for anything remotely like the San Francisco/Castro Community, you need to move to Chicago Proper, or at least Chicago adjacent.

There are a ton of networking events for Professional Gays in Chicago, as well as the biggest Gay Sports League in the Midwest (CMSA).

You are looking to move to a somewhat small area of Western Illinois, and as someone who used to live in Kansas, I don't think you are going to find a warm and welcoming community there like you are used to.

If you are looking for a place where you might be tolerated, and may be able to find a friend or two, move where you are looking.

If you are looking for a place where you will be accepted, can find many, many others like you, network with other gays outside of bars, and live an open lifestyle in the city without (mostly) fear of being hurt, move to Chicago itself.

[susancruzs]

I moved to Wisconsin last year from NE Illinois. Before leaving Illinois, I researched the area you are mentioning a great deal. Actually I started with Rockford and Freeport, moved on to Rock Falls, Sterling and Dixon, lastly I went to LaSalle-Peru, Ottawa, Byron.

I would definitely have to agree with the other posters and say stay away from smaller towns. Overall you will be better off in larger more populated areas, I just can't see where Rock Falls, Sterling or Dixon would have much to offer, especially someone in their 40s.

[rocky12345]

This simply can not be a real post. This is a joke guys. It is like saying I am a faithful muslim professor of art history living in new york city wanting to move to Rock Falls? What do you think? May as well dig a ditch in the middle of a corn field. At least it wont be as expensive and you wont have to deal with the red necks.

[segue]

Originally Posted by Drover

Of all the places on earth, why Sterling/Rock Falls/Dixon? The former two in particular are kinda grimey and run-down.

The move to Sterling, Rock Falls, Dixon is too complex and personal to share openly. However, it is a decision I must seriously consider. I've been questioning it for 2 years. I would love to move to Chicago, but because of circumstances need to narrow it down to the three towns mentioned above. I happened to come upon this website and decided to throw the question out to find out how the culture you live in responds. Thanks for your response.

[markbrunskill]

Look up Mathew Shepard or go rent Boys Dont Cry

[Drover]

Originally Posted by markbrunskill

Look up Mathew Shepard or go rent Boys Dont Cry

WTF's this got to do with Dixon/Sterling/Rock Falls?

[segue]

Originally Posted by rocky12345

This simply can not be a real post. This is a joke guys. It is like saying I am a faithful muslim professor of art history living in new york city wanting to move to Rock Falls? What do you think? May as well dig a ditch in the middle of a corn field. At least it wont be as expensive and you wont have to deal with the red necks.

Thank you for your comment. The question I posed to your community is no joke and is as real as your response. Sometimes life throws a curve ball and we make decisions that look odd or unrealistic to outsiders.