Is Portland really a Progressive area? (Yamhill: school, college, living in)

[firechicken]

I hear a lot of talk about the Portland area being liberal/progressive. I am a bisexual, liberal, atheist, artist, nerd, soccer mom currently living in the Mid west and sufficating from the repression. As soon as my kids are out of school I am moving out of this area and to someplace that can accept me as I am. So do you think I will be a little more accepted there? Should I just move to Northern Europe?

[Beenhere4ever]

What was the current Portland motto? "Stay weird"? I thought the welcome mat was out for people everywhere who were misfits.

[turquoise1]

In my opinion, you are going to find judgmental and nonjudgmental people wherever you go. I've run across my share of judgmental people here too, just like everywhere else.

[kapetrich]

Originally Posted by turquoise1

In my opinion, you are going to find judgmental and nonjudgmental people wherever you go. I've run across my share of judgmental people here too, just like everywhere else.

Of course you can find judgmental people anywhere In The world. That's a moot point, IMO.

You'll feel more comfortable in your own skin in Portland than in the Midwest DEFINITELY.


A bisexual, atheist, artist, etc. would be more commonly accepted in Portland than in most anywhere in the Midwest (I'd argue in most of the country too)....even 'progressive' college towns in the Midwest. Anyone who argues any differently hasn't traveled much in the fly over states.

[Minervah]

I wouldn't say the welcome mat was specifically out for misfits or any other type for that matter. Pretty much all types wind up here. Some love it some don't. You can certainly find an attitude of live and let live but there are always going to be those who feel they have to approve or disapprove of others. In other words, people are going to be people pretty much the same as most other places.

[turquoise1]

That is exactly my point. For every quadrisexual person with three septum piercings, there is going to be someone who looks at you in horror if your toddler misbehaves.

[Minervah]

I used to live in Chicago which is in the Midwest. It's a big city and I knew all kinds of people who were artistic, gay, musicians, liberal and so forth. I know that's a big city but that's the point, one cannot say all of the Midwest is conservative and closed minded although I certainly met those types too.

I have known some really ultra conservative and unaccepting people in Portland. They do exist here contrary to the reputation Portland has.

I guess the point I am trying to make can be explained in the old saying "water seeks its own level." People tend to gravitate towards others like themselves. Will the OP find people in Portland like herself? Absolutely! Will she find those of the opposite mindset or behavior? Also absolutely!

[turquoise1]

Well said...

[Copsgirl73]

Originally Posted by Beenhere4ever

What was the current Portland motto? "Stay weird"? I thought the welcome mat was out for people everywhere who were misfits.

This.

[turquoise1]

That whole motto thing is extremely misleading. Yes, there is a man who paints his face blue at the corner of SW Broadway and Yamhill, but an undercurrent of extreme conservatism also exists in abundance.