Gay in Rural Oregon (Portland, Eugene: environment, work, hospital)

[Gretch79]

My partner and I are planning to move to Oregon. I grew up in Portland and well remember Measure 9 and Measure 13, so I know most of rural Oregon isn't gay-friendly, but we want to live in a small town. We're thinking about Stayton and McMinnville, for instance. We're not too concerned about people being "accepting" of US, but would our children run into trouble at school? I'm a nurse, and I want to work at a small hospital within my town, so that's part of what's driving our location decision... also don't want to be more than an hour or so away from my family in Portland.

[Poeticsunshine]

Hi,

I am not gay, but my daughter is and she has had nothing but problems in places that are not "open-minded" Children who do not live with diversity tend to mimic their parents views. Your children may have a hard time if they are open . . and you shouldn't teach them to be secretive, so it's a tough call. Personally, I think it would be a heavy burden for them to carry if the "environment" is hostile to Gay/Lesbians. . .. I would find a place that is progressive/ Open-minded in thinking . .

[brikag]

Here are two websites.

gaydemographics.org...Just the facts
Human Rights Campaign - Working for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equal Rights

The first tells you the most populous zip codes for the glbt community. The second informs you of the rights you have in that state.

Good luck my GLBT friends!

[brikag]

Originally Posted by Poeticsunshine

Hi,

I am not gay, but my daughter is and she has had nothing but problems in places that are not "open-minded" Children who do not live with diversity tend to mimic their parents views. Your children may have a hard time if they are open . . and you shouldn't teach them to be secretive, so it's a tough call. Personally, I think it would be a heavy burden for them to carry if the "environment" is hostile to Gay/Lesbians. . .. I would find a place that is progressive/ Open-minded in thinking . .

I'm truly sorry to hear this about your daughter. Some websites can help with this situation.

PFLAG.org: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
GLSEN: Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network: Home

These websites handle the gay adolesence for your community, no matter how rural or urban the community you are residing.

Best wishes to you and your family!
brikag

[Gretch79]

What about Silverton or Mount Angel? Any opinions? I wondered if Mount Angel might be a "better" place because it gets so much tourism...

[wesacat]

Hi Gretch. Good luck with your search. I would like to see what you find as my partner and I are thinking of a move to Or. also. We're looking at some property near Joseph and have heard good things about the town. We don't have children though so that will make it easier on us I think. Anyway, wish ya luck.

[neptune]

Corvallis is one of the top cities in the country if you are lesbian, but if you're gay men then it's way, way down on the list. Astoria's gay community is supposedly growing too Willamette Week Online | Culture | COLUMN | ***** Window | Spank my Astoria? • Castro North lies at the mouth of the Columbia River. | Thursday May 31st, 2007

[OREGONRAIN]

Isn't there another anti-gay initiative coming up on the 2008 election. Seems to me that religious group, I don't know the name of it is trying to collect 50,000 signatures to get it on the ballot. You may find other than Portland, Eugene and Ashland and Corvallis, the pickings are slim. I would say live where ever you want, but I can understand your concern for your kids. I know not all gay people want to live in the big cities, It angers me greatly that in 2007 you or me or anyone should have to deal with the burden of ignorance when we are choosing a place to live in this country.

[freedom]

Please don't call people that disagree with the homo-sex lifestyle ignorant.

[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.