Gay in Rural Oregon

[jjpop]

Getting back on topic....

Gretch79, what do you consider "rural?" If you're originally from Portland I guess McMinnville would be rather rural, but if you are from, say, Rickreall, McMinnville is urban!

[JakeDog]

Corvallis, Ashland, Bend, Eugene, Hood River. Avoid Eastern and most of Southern Oregon.

[Oregon gal]

Try the coast (I live near Pacific City) and the drive to PDX would only be about an hour or so it you were on the northern coast.
There is a hospital in Tillamook & Lincoln City.

Good luck to you,
Oregon Gal

[freedom]

Originally Posted by Gretch79

Freedom, I don't see that anyone is calling people who "disagree" with the homosexual lifestyle ignorant (though some of us may indeed feel that way). I fully believe that you have a right to your beliefs just as I have a right to mine. What I am concerned about it not whether everyone in town is going to think it's just wonderful that I'm gay, but whether people will harass me--and especially my children, because they have gay parents. Non-ignorant people, whether or not they "agree" with the "homo-sex lifestyle", will not try to prevent me or my children from living our private lives in peace. Unfortunately, there are plenty of people who will.

How could anyone possibly know on this forum whether or not your neighbors are going to harass you? There are mean people everywhere. People harass my wife because she drives an Excursion (big, big, SUV), people harass my kids because they are polite and kind. I don't get the agenda. Children get harassed in the public school system if they don't wear the right brand of clothing, how can you expect them not to be teased when they are part of a rare lifestyle. How many other children in their class do you think will have the same life story? That alone will cause a stir, and provoke meaness. This culture is pop-culture stereotypes. If you live in an area that does not have issues like school hazing, then you are probably fortunate and should embrace that reality for your childrens sake.
I would not expect people that are not use to your personal life to welcome you with a cake and tea. Though that could happen. Oregonians are pretty kind.

good luck in your search.

freedom.

[Alexious]

You know, I wouldn't worry too much. I lived for nearly 10 years in Klamath Falls, which is about as rural as it gets, and you might be surprised. I knew of 3 openly gay young men attending Henley H.S. (which is the school outside of town with all the ranchers' kids, a pretty conservative bunch) and they seemed to be just fine.

I'm not trying to dismiss the idea that prejudice is out there for homosexuals. It is. I'm just saying that most people won't really pay that much attention. Just don't flaunt it in anyone's face and you'll be just fine. Oregon, political results aside, tends to be a live and let live state.

[sanfranmike]

I too am wondering about smaller towns in Or. My partner and I may be relocating to Ashland towards the end of the year.Does anyone have any advice???

[Cornerguy1]

Ashland, with its large arts community, would likely be one of the more tolerant places in Southern Oregon.

[ochoco]

sanfranmike, you may want to check out this site.
Ashland does indeed have a gay community.

Abdill-Ellis Community Center