Salem - Any gay-friendly neighborhoods? (gated, condo, health)

[BVH]

Originally Posted by Larry Caldwell

Oregon doesn't ghettoize so much. If you are looking for gay bars, you are going to have a tough time.

So, in your opinion "Gay" = "Ghetto"? You really MUST not get out much.

[ladysrodgers]

Originally Posted by BVH

Wow, that sure is a prejudicial statement if I ever heard one.

It's not prejudicial at all....it's a fact.

[karlsch]

Originally Posted by BVH

Wow, that sure is a prejudicial statement if I ever heard one.

If the statement is based on fact, it may be unwelcome for some, but it is not prejudicial.

[Silverfall]

I live in Salem and we don't have any "gay" neighborhoods that I am aware of. Gay people live in areas just like everyone else. I haven't heard of any gay type hate crimes, but I have no doubt that you will run into people like that anywhere. I do know as an agent, of one lesbian couple that wanted a house, but the seller didn't want to sell to them because of it. I haven't heard of any vandalizing type of situations.

I tend to agree a Bob that most people in Salem are fairly tolerant. I don't hear a lot of prejudicial comments from people. I think you would be just fine here.

Silverton is a smaller town, and it is wonderful. It only has 8,000 people or so. I think you would be fine there also. Smaller towns, generally speaking, tend to me more conservative. While I think you would be welcomed there, you might get a few more comments/looks from people. I don't think anyone there would vandalize your home, and I still think you would get invited to block parties.

[Silverfall]

Oops you asked about neighborhoods also. I got sidetracked by some of the other comments.

Mid Century Modern in Salem Oregon will be tough to find. I do see some of that architecture come up 1-2 times per year. Your best bet would be in Candalaria, Sunnyslope, Croisan-Illahee, and maybe some out west in Breckenridge/Chatnicka Heights. I think you'll find that we have more of the 1970's shed style in terms of a more contemporary/modern style. Those would be zip codes 97306,97306, and 97304.

I do know when they do come up they tend to be pretty pricey, but that is all relative I guess...

[Leisesturm]

Hmmm... I am a straight black man. I attempted to live in Salem, OR with a white woman. We were hassled several times in the year and some that the relationship lasted. Soft drinks thrown from pick-up trucks and yelled slurs. Not Downtown Salem, but to confine oneself to just the downtown of a city as small as Salem would IMO be quite untenable. Thing is, unlike my GF and me who are obviously and unarguably a mixed race couple, a gay male couple or lesbian couple for that matter, are not outwardly obvious as such unless actually engaging in PDA. Something that isn't yet quite PC in even the most progressive of cities. In America, even in Europe, maybe the world, it woud seem to me that "gay tolerant" is a whole lot better than the alternatives. "gay friendly" is really pushing it. I agree with the several posters who said that a gay couple will be tolerated most places in Oregon, even the most conservative. A lot of that will be because of my earlier observation that the average person can make believe that the 'couple' are just friends unless they are pushing the envelope and showing intimacy out in public. I have to tell you, that makes even me a little wierded out when I see it in NYC, in the Village yet! And I am a very liberal progressive type who dares consort with women outside my own racial group. FWIW.

H

[Silverfall]

Leisesturm,
It's unfortunate that you had such a negative experience. I have three mixed race married couple friends, and have not heard of any of those kinds of things. I do live in a more middle/upper class area.

I do agree with you that people aren't ready for a lot of openly gay pda. A lesbian couple was in front of me at the airport, holding hands, and when they kissed goodbye (very normal goodbye kiss) the looks and open jaws...no one said anything but I do agree that if you are walking down the street here in Salem smooching in public, you will most likely get some negative comments. Shoot, I don't want to see heterosexual couples making out on the street either.

[ladysrodgers]

Originally Posted by zilfondel

Oregon is pretty laid back... I would tend to avoid smaller towns (souther/eastern oregon).

I took my ex-girlfriend who was asian (we were young 20-something college students) down to Medford and she got stares from everybody... def made us both comfortable. And we're straight!

However, in the cities - Eugene, Salem, Portland, Corvallis, McMinnville, etc - lifestyles like yours would be pretty accepting. Although I'd still seek out the liberal yuppie neighborhoods or urban funky ones.

You can't be serious? You think your girlfriend got a lot of looks because she's Asian? What was she/you wearing....maybe that was the issue?

[BVH]

Originally Posted by ladysrodgers

It's not prejudicial at all....it's a fact.

So, what you are saying is that EVERY case of HIV in ashland is a homosexual? That is certainly the implication of the statement. You do realize that non-homosexuals get and transmit HIV as well, right?

[karlsch]

Originally Posted by BVH

You do realize that non-homosexuals get and transmit HIV as well, right?

In the USA, HIV is an EXTREMELY rare disease for non-homosexuals who are not part of the illegal intravenous drug culture. Maybe an inconvenient truth for some, but a truth, nonetheless.