Gay Friendly NC? (Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro: transplants, tenants, movies)

[Jimrob1]

Originally Posted by Dusty Rhodes

Greensboro, Winston-salem, Charlotte, Wilmington, are the major population centers, each has a fair share of institutions of higher education, as a general rule, the better the populace is educated, the fewer hate crimes are committed, the less likely for hate crimes to be tolerated. Then, there is always Orange County, Chapel Hill or Hillsborough, or Mebane, Chapel Hill being the largest of the three towns mostly because of UNC-Chapel Hill (if you follow college basketball at all, you have heard of this place, world class hoops) these are smaller communities with a well educated populace, good community support, street festivals monthly in Mebane, at least quarterly in Hillsborough, and one native american pow wow every summer down by the river (the occaneechee band of the saponi nation), it's a very nice long weekend. Local drama groups good libraries and between the major metropolitan areas, a 45 min. drive in either direction on the interstate. Good Hospitals in Durham (Duke University) Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Raleigh and a laid back living style. I don't believe this area would think of itself as "gay friendly" , most likely they would not consider it an issue. Oh yeah, honking the horn as the light turns green is not considered "cool". Honking the horn as you wave at someone you know, as they are working in their yard as you drive past, is normal.

Thanks for all this information.

[Jimrob1]

Originally Posted by SunnyKayak

I would not choose the high Point area and it really is a toss a coin between greensboro and Winston Salem If it where me I would look for one of the craftman homes near Baptist Hospital
but Greensboro has the best downtown night life.I concur with what Francois stated
Best thing is to visit both cities also look into Jamestown & Wallburg for a rural setting

Thanks.

[alone again naturally]

Okay, I'm new at this. Does this become a new post? If it does I'm another one of those northern people who want what NC has. Only in my case it's my grandchildren. I am a lesbian in a realationship that is sinking fast, so it would just be me. I'm a happy 55+ l need a job, place to live without fearing for my life and some kind of social life. Any thoughts?
Jersey

[Francois]

Find a job FIRST. NC is one of the worst states for unemployment, aggravated by so many people moving here without a job, thinking they'll snap one up.

Your being a Lesbian, especially an older one (meaning, I presume, you won't be in need of the latest club party nights, etc ), should be fairly irrelevant in most of the urban or semi-urban parts of NC. Durham is known as more of a "women's town" as far as the GLBT community goes, but that's a big generalization. The Triangle area has numerous GLBT organizations, even for older folks. I think there's a group called "Silver Roses" for women over 50? I can find the info if you end up here; there's also a service group called SWOOP--Strong Women Organizing Outrageous Projects--that is mostly Lesbian, I believe, though not exclusively so, of course.

You can find lists of resources for lavender folk by searching on the relevent keywords; one I came across quickly is here on Equality NC's (http://www.equalitync.org/resources/nc - broken link)page (they are our [very good] lobbying group in NC).

Mostly, if you're going to need to work, line that up BEFORE moving. It's beating a dead horse, but it's the way it is here, as many who did not do that have found out.

[Anigirli]

Originally Posted by urbancharlotte

OK, this was kinda rude and I apologize to the OP on Bill's behalf!!!

With that said, I REALLY think the OP picked one of the worst parts of metro Charlotte to move. Many folks in Rock Hill, SC have trouble accepting bi-racial couples. I can only imagine how it must be for a gay couple. I think the OP really needs to take a close look at the South End, Plaza Midwood, Noda, and Uptown areas of Charlotte. I see gays walking together holding hands and pushing baby carriages in these areas on many occasions. They may draw a stare or two from some folks, but it is a good sign that they feel comfortable being themselves in public.

My wife and I are a straight biracial couple and we enjoy walking through some of Charlotte's most heavily gay neighborhoods. For some reason, the gay areas of Charlotte are just flat out more accepting to ALL couples. I think the OP should do more homework on Charlotte because I find this thread to be very misleading. The central neighborhoods of Charlotte (which has more people than Asheville and Chapel Hill combined) are very very very liberal and gay friendly. Almost every fast food joint, or street corner, or train leaving uptown, has more than a few gays. Here lately, Uptown (near Charlotte's transit center) has a growing number of Trannies as well as gays. Again, I am talking about the central neighborhoods of Charlotte ONLY.

South End
Elizabeth
Uptown
Plaza Midwood
Dilworth
Noda
Myers Park

These are all gay friendly areas of town. By gay friendly, I mean you will see gays out in the open being themselves. Not hugging and kissing in public (some do, most don't). Just being themselves. I hope this makes sense.

Urbancharlotte,
I would not include Myers Park on that list as it is one of the last bastions of conservative old-moneyed people in Charlotte. The pressure to be part of the dominant culture is very strong there, so it is not the best place for those who like to go against the grain, regardless of sexual orientation. It is very easy to be labeled "eccentric," because one does not look or have the ethos of the Myers Park neighborhood.

Dilworth is interesting because the side that is close to Myers Park is similar in scope, but the other half towards South Blvd tends to be more open-minded about other people who live differently than they do. The rest of the list is a good suggestion. I would also add the Wilmore Neighborhood to your list.

The word "Tranny" for many transgendered people can be considered offensive, as the word has negative connotations and it is often associated with pornography. Most people who are transgendered want to lead a life just like anyone else and not be stigmatized further.

NCFLMix,
I would recommend visiting The Lesbian and Gay Community Center in Third Ward on Hamilton Street. They offer many services to the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgendered community in Charlotte. I would recommend that you stop by as they have a breadth of information and their meeting space is always welcoming. My gay friends have invited me to their events and functions at the Community Center and no one had a problem with me not being gay. I like how inclusive they are and how they are trying to do their best to advocate for the GLBT community.

[Adream]

From what I have learned, Chapel Hill is supposed to be very gay friendly. There has been a Pride parade every year for the past 25 years.

NC Pride.org -- Welcome!

[Francois]

Originally Posted by Adream

From what I have learned, Chapel Hill is supposed to be very gay friendly. There has been a Pride parade every year for the past 25 years.

NC Pride.org -- Welcome!

Chapel Hill/Carrboro has LONG been the most liberal part of NC. But the Pride Festival is in Durham, not Chapel Hill

[onesideout]

NC is actually the most gay-friendly state in the Southeast

I 100% disagree with that statement. Yes, NC is gay friendly to an extent, but the most gay friendly state in the Southeast is GA followed by FL. Atlanta is the most comfortable city in the Southeast for gay people. There are MANY closeted basket cases (mostly married men) in NC.

[Tarheelhombre]

DC is the most gay-friendly city in the Southeast. Gay marriage is legal there.

[thedudewiththeplan]

I disagree onesideout. The city of Atlanta itself may be gay friendly (as is Decatur and a few other inside the perimeter locations), but the rest of the state as well as many of the Atlanta suburbs are not. GA has a constitutional ban on gay marriage while NC does not. Go too far out of the Atlanta city limits and you are in a different world.