How gay is Seattle to you?

[NeptuneDreams]

Well, I can't speak with any authority on the matter seeing as I am straight, cis...but Seattle seems to be very accepting of alter- sexual and gender identities. It seems very normal. You just learn to say partner or spouse instead of wife or boyfriend and assume nothing.

[IcomeInPeaceDolphLundgren]

I live in Seattle and I proudly own the movie "The Birdcage" on dvd. Haha.

[dtuba]

Originally Posted by modc

I live in the suburbs and am pleasantly surprised that there there are so many gay people working and living here. It's nice that the suburbs here seem to be getting more diverse.

That's because no normal people can afford to live in the central city anymore.

By "normal" I mean = not a gadzillionaire.

[Aeonlll]

Well im gay and planning on moving to the Seattle area soon... I currently live in Miami so you'd guess here it's a pretty gay-oriented city and yes it is. Specially South Beach. However, i don't like it here and im willing to risk that for Seattle. I also love San Fran, very gay-oriented but i heard it's too expensive so i dunno...

[HotandHumid]

Living in South Florida in the Wilton Manors area, which has one of the highest percentages of Gays per capita in the U.S., and having lived in Seattle, I'd say that one of the reasons that Gays don't really flaunt themselves in Seattle is due to the weather and the different social atmosphere that generally exists in Seattle.

It's a bit difficult for Gays who wish to do so to go around in a leather harness with no shirt on walking from club to club or running around in a rainbow colored short shorts, bathing suit or your underwear showing off your necklace collection and all your Gay themed tattoos on a bare chest in 40 to 50 degree winter weather in Seattle than it is here in South Florida where the temperatures rarely drop that low.

Also, I've heard over and over again from people who I know who have visited Seattle and I witnessed this there myself when I lived there, that the general type of people who live in the Northwest are not of the "in your face" variety as we have here on the East Coast.

People here love to show their wealth, advertise their country of origin on bumper stickers and flags on their motor vehicles and homes and are generally loud.

I didn't witness people walking around the streets in Seattle in brightly colored Versace Couture clothing or knock-offs wearing 10 pounds of gold jewelry after getting out of a motor vehicles festooned with flags or bumper stickers from Cuba, Puerto Rico, etc., and sitting in restaurants and cafe's speaking in voices so loud you that you have to try to read the lips of your dining partner as you can't hear what they are saying because of the loud voices at a nearby table which may sound like there is a heated argument going on when they may just be discussing the weather.

Although population statistics place a lot of Gay people living in Seattle, as in many northern cities where people wear layers of clothing most of the year, Gay or Straight, Gays just don't tend to be as showy as people who live in some of the warmer climates of the U.S. so it's just going to be harder to "pick" out people who are Gay who aren't advertising it in some way on their body. You also won't find, because of what seems to me a more prevalent use of manners in Seattle than what I find here, someone broadcasting their private affairs loudly in a public place that helps others around them identify them as Gay or Straight.

[homesinseattle]

I'm not gay but that was a great post. You nailed it, HotandHumid. I'm a Miami boy living in Seattle 28 years now and I don't miss the "bling showiness" of Miami. Sure is fun to visit, though.

[elkotronics]

HotAndHumid - man, I have never heard the East Coast gay vs. the Seattle gay mannerisms explained in the way you did above, anywhere, by anyone. You speak as someone who has witnessed gays from both areas, and there is an authenticism to your words that prevent the Geraldo Rivera or Bab-waa Waa-Waa on the street from jumping in and disagreeing with you. I wouldn't try to - you know your stuff. Excellent - the more clarity we get around this joint, the better.

[SunAndRain808]

To me, Seattle is the San Fran of the Pacific Northwest.

Not many though, in the suburban areas where I live. It seems more conservative around Pierce County area. However, what was a cultural shock to me was the high number of trans-sexual/sex change people I see shopping at malls. Most of them, odd though, tend to be males who switched over to females. I have not encountered any female to male trans-sexual people.

[blaserbrad]

Originally Posted by SunAndRain808

To me, Seattle is the San Fran of the Pacific Northwest.

Not many though, in the suburban areas where I live. It seems more conservative around Pierce County area. However, what was a cultural shock to me was the high number of trans-sexual/sex change people I see shopping at malls. Most of them, odd though, tend to be males who switched over to females. I have not encountered any female to male trans-sexual people.

What part of pierce county? I could see some of the farther out suburbs, Lakewood, Parkland, South Hill being more conservative? Tacoma is a very progressive and LGBTQ+ friendly city though. There were so many events for pride week, and the city has a very gay friendly vibe. As someone who is gay and has lived in Tacoma most of my life, I think there's a lot going on for the community here. It could use some more venues though, as of now there are only two gay clubs.

[pnwguy2]

Seattle is gay-friendly, but not overtly so. There are plenty of straight people in Seattle, in fact they are still the majority according to all reports. The main point is that Seattle is accepting of the gay community. This is the most important point of what Seattle is all about.