Gay Savannah??? (Jersey: environment, relocating, estate)

[cultural2]

We're thinking of relocating to Savannah from New Jersey and would like to get a complete idea of gay life, activities, acceptance, etc. in Savannah.

Can anyone help?

[ellie]

A complete idea? Isn't that rather broad?

You will probably find yourself among good company. I'm not sure how it compares to NJ or the Big City. But I haven't noticed that being gay in Savannah is a big deal. People don't wear special badges that separate them from others. There's not exactly what you'd call a gay scene - or maybe there is and I'm simply not aware of it. The gay community seems to be quietly active and has worked hard for opportunity and acceptance on a grass roots level.

Umm, check the archives of the local paper, Savannahnow.com. Seems I read something about gay business owners, gay B&B's, etc. Not everyone is a decorator or an antique dealer. There are lawers, architects, the whole gamut of professions. But no specifically gay neighborhoods, parades, unions, or churches, though there is a small gay pride festival.

Even in the deep south, being gay is gradually becoming seen as more or less normal. Just my personal observation, of course. The next person who posts may see things differently.

Are you okay with that?

[Padgett2]

Check out this link:

Gay Savannah Guide to Community Resources

Also, do a google search for "Gay community in Savannah, Ga"

[todd_307]

Most of the gay population is older and less scene...there is a rising young population due to SCAD and such but the community is still pretty much just the bar scene which Savannah is known for whether your gay or straight

[atlantagreg30127]

Maybe this is very derogatory, but I'm simply repeating what a friend of mine said to me once who is gay...

Now, this guy is ex military and a very macho guy. He had to spend some time in Savannah on an assignment once. I asked him about Savannah and said I had heard there were a lot of gay people there, and since it was a small Southern town if he thought that created a conflict among cultures (conservative Baptist religious, etc., vs. gay).

His reply was that since Savannah is so touristy and has a large arts scene, it's one of those exceptions where the gays are "tolerated" much more than the norm in a small town Southern environment by the other locals who generally are a little funky themselves. But regarding the actual gay people there, he only used one word - "queens", and he made a bad raisin face when he said it - kind of like when smell something bad. He made one comment that his idea of fun was to go to Home Depot and work on his house, and the local gays in Savannah's idea of fun is a disco or drag show. So, being much more politely worded than he later used to detail that, his impression apparently was that if you are a "mainstream person who happens to be gay", then you will not like the gay scene there. If you like flying rainbow flags from your porch and are more the "hey girlfriend" type, it will be more your thing there. No offense I'm sure, but he isn't for sure part of "group 2", so his opinions of it were not very favorable. It might be your thing though, so in that case, you'd probably love it if so.

I've only been to Savannah once, and I have to admit, I don't really have that gaydar thing going on even though I've worked with and have been exposed to a large variety of people in my life. Unless the person in front of me is Dame Edna or the Lady Chablis drag guy, I'm more into calling the gay friends up with the, "is he/she??" bit, but I will say that when I was there I did notice more of a flamboyant crowd than I expected to find. Then again, you're talking deep south with deep south drawls/accents, too. I've actually talked to New Yorkers who think that everyone in South Georgia is gay when they hear them talk, so who's to say?

[Padgett2]

If Savannah is described as "small" or "little", then I think you discount just about anything that person said about gays or anything else. That person is a little out of touch and has seen only a tiny slice of Savannah.

Sure, it's small in comparision to New York City or Reno, but it isn't a small town by any means. Nor are it's attitudes that of a small Southern town.

Generally speaking, the older citizens don't care much for public displays of affection even between husband and wife, therefore, if a gay couple wants to hug and kiss in public, then they need to expect looks of disapproval, just as if they were a straight couple. The younger generation indulges themselves more openly and it doesn't seem to make a whit of difference to them.

[ellie]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

But regarding the actual gay people there, he only used one word - "queens", and he made a bad raisin face when he said it - kind of like when smell something bad. He made one comment that his idea of fun was to go to Home Depot and work on his house, and the local gays in Savannah's idea of fun is a disco or drag show. So, being much more politely worded than he later used to detail that, his impression apparently was that if you are a "mainstream person who happens to be gay", then you will not like the gay scene there. If you like flying rainbow flags from your porch and are more the "hey girlfriend" type, it will be more your thing there. No offense I'm sure, but he isn't for sure part of "group 2", so his opinions of it were not very favorable. It might be your thing though, so in that case, you'd probably love it if so.

I've only been to Savannah once...

Greg, I'm in agreement with Padgett2, I think you have it backwards about life here, or maybe your friend got it wrong. So let me try to clarify a little, since my circle of friends contains a good mix of every kind of person you'll meet in Savannah.

Queens? Maybe there are a few and since they are often more noticeable, maybe you'd believe there are more here than anything else. And maybe there are more extroverted effeminate types hanging out in clubs, but having lived and worked in the historic district for the better part of the past two decades, I have to restate what I said in my original reply.

Much of Savannah's gay population is simply part of the population. Most are not swishy, flamboyant caricatures who fall into an easily defined category. And most are not hiding anything. The same is true for many other groups of people who are not your standard anglosaxon protestant or whatever the southern cliche once was.

This is not to downplay anyone's particular culture, but is to simply point out the obvious: much of this is not that big of a deal. So someone is gay. So what. So someone rides around in a wheelchair, or has dark skin, or wears a headscarf, or a plaid skirt. It's vaguely interesting, but when you get down to the nuts and bolts of it, it's just not newsworthy.