Considering Columbia (St. Louis, Washington, Oregon: neighborhood, new construction, school)

[maybedevine]

I was accepted to several different graduate programs around the country, and I'm trying to decide with position to take.
It's a close tie between Mizzou and Portland State.
What is the political climate in Columbia? I am an extremely liberal lesbian, and I am leaving Texas to get away from the conservative crazies. Is it a good idea for me to move to Missouri?

[ahoffelt]

Hello, I have lived in Columbia for the past three years and love it here. My husband and I are actually moving to Portland in July. I would say that Columbia is a pretty liberal town and that you shouldn't experience any problems. With that being said, I think that you might be better able to find what you are looking for in Portland. Although Columbia is accepting of all lifestyles, I think that other extremely liberal lesbians may be few and far between here. I went to graduate school here, as did my husband, and all of our classmates and friends were married and most had kids. But it may be different in other graduate programs.

[cyrano]

I've lived in Columbia for a decade-- I am a str8, married man who happens to have some GL friends-- in Columbia. They include my best friend in the world that I'm not married to, who's both lesbian and a well-known business owner. Also, two of the women cops I know here are lesbian and out...and not surprisingly, very, very butch. I've worked out with them before. That doesn't make me an authority on the GL scene here, but I know what I see and hear.

I wouldn't recommend moving anywhere sight unseen, so you ought to come up here and check the scene out for yourself. Soco Club off Nifong is the primary GL club here-- they kind of switch off between gay and lesbian, and some nights (most? I don't really follow it) just welcome everyone, including old str8 men like me.

Portland is probably more liberal generally, but I would wonder about the quality of the grad programs were I you, probably more so than the cultural climate-- I don't really know anything about Portland State, and the program you're entering would tell me whether MU is a great choice or just OK. Columbia is very much a college town, with all that entails-- it's a liberal enclave in a conservative state. Tolerance is practiced here for the most part, but there's a vocal conservative faction here in town, and of course they're all around us...and think that Columbia=Sodom.

Portland's going to have more amenities because it's bigger, and while there is an active LGBT scene in St. Louis (120 miles away), we're talking both pretty small and pretty understated, from what I know of it.

Come on up and see.

[aragx6]

Cyrano is right on. In Columbia itself you certainly wouldn't be alone as far as liberals or lesbians go. I think you'd be quite happy in Columbia, though things change quickly once you get outside of the city core.

Cyrano is right- SoCo is accepting of all, and it's a fun bar. a bit meat-market-y sometimes as you might imagine, but a good time. I'm not gay but I always had a great time when I went with friends.

Oh and St. Louis is no San Fran or even Chicago, but there's an active gay community in the area, mostly concentrated in the Central West End neighborhood.

Again, I'd agree with Cyrano and say knowing both areas will suit your purposes I'd choose based on the program you're looking at. What program are you getting into?

[maybedevine]

I'm finishing my last year of an undergrad in English/Sociology. U of Washington has a great program, and I have a few friends who went to Mizzou and said that they enjoyed the program.
I'm more worried about finding a job and not having beer bottles thrown at me every time I display any affection, lol. That's why I'm leaving Texas, after all.

[aragx6]

I wouldn't worry about either. plenty of jobs, very few beer bottles.

Esp. because most of the bars are filled with younger, more liberal college students, not the folks on the outskirts you'd be worried about.

I've known quite a few LGBTs who went to school in Columbia and never had any bad incidents to speak of.

[jrhartwick]

I would agree with all that has been said. The three college campuses in town brings a larger population of residents from a wide range of backgrounds. I don't think you would experience any outright shock or even a second glance at pda. I have many friends who have chosen to live here specifically for that reason.

[NightHawk112005]

Columbia's fairly liberal, the state as a whole is reflective of America. As for living there, most of the developments are in south Columbia. The east and west sides each have a good amount of business, and the north is fairly untapped for now.

[aragx6]

The north side is actually the fastest growing area in Columbia. It's less established, but prices are reasonable. If you head up Rangeline it's all new construction once you get past the old outskirts which include some less than pleasant trailer parks.

Don't think I'm biased against trailer parks, I've seen very nice trailer communities, these aren't nice places though...

[WestCoDude]

Originally Posted by maybedevine

I was accepted to several different graduate programs around the country, and I'm trying to decide with position to take.
It's a close tie between Mizzou and Portland State.
What is the political climate in Columbia? I am an extremely liberal lesbian, and I am leaving Texas to get away from the conservative crazies. Is it a good idea for me to move to Missouri?

I would definitely pick Portland State. I've lived in both Oregon and Missouri and Portland is hands down a better choice is liberal politics and lesbian stuff is your pick.

Columbia is liberal for Missouri...but that's not saying much. It is still Missouri.

Portland is larger, much more progressive, cosmopolitan, and has a huge gay community (which are all reasons I left, lol).

That said...Mizzou is a fantastic school and, in my opinion, better than PSU. But....good luck in whatever you choose!