Chattanooga or Nashville for gay people? (Knoxville, Johnson City: transplants, how much, houses)

[Jaimieleef]

Hello! My girlfriend and I are planning on moving from Boston to TN in the fall. We are moving because the cost of living is better and it is easier to get into a clinical program (nursing) than here in Boston. We're trying to decided between Chattanooga and Nashville. I know that TN is not a liberal as MA but we're curious if either city is more open minded and which is a better city for gay people. Has anyone has any trouble living in TN because of people being ignorant and close minded?

Thanks for any advice you have!

[soulful]

Nashville is much more sophisticated than Chattanooga. Chattanooga has tried to revitalize its downtown, etc. However, it is still a rather provencial small city in comparison to Nashville.
That said, Nashville is the "city of churches" and you will find a lot of people with a "love the sinner, hate the sin" sort of view towards the LGBT community. However, you will find others who are open and liberal (with more of these folks living in Nashville proper as opposed to the suburbs). However, I don't want to overgeneralize about the population.

I wish you luck wherever you may end up living

[jabogitlu]

If you stick to the city, either one will suit you fine. The 'burbs of both cities are much more conservative, though Nashville's liberal, urban footprint is larger than Chattanooga's.

For what it's worth, I'm gay and live in Johnson City, a town of about 60k in a metro area of about 500k in northeast TN. I don't really have any problems, but I live in the city, work in the city, and attend university in the city. Don't underestimate the conservative bent of the Tennessee burbs.

Also, Nashville will have a much better gay bar and club/night/indie scene overall than Chatty. On the upside, Chattanooga is closer to the Great Smokey Mountains, Charlotte and Atlanta.

[Edgefield D]

Hello Jaimieleef. I'm gay and my partner and I live in East Nashville. Just like the others have said...the more you get away from the core of Nashville, the more conservative it gets. Nashville itself is pretty accepting. I've lived here quite a while and I've never experienced anyone making a comment or rude remark towards me about being gay. Nashville is a city of transplants...you'd be hard pressed to meet someone who is actually from Nashville. Even so....people in the south are fairly polite....we don't even talk to the celebrities that live among us...so people aren't usually going to say things to gay people either. Nashville has matured quite a bit in the last 10-15 years for the GLBT community. The neighborhood I live in is very tight nit and filled with all kinds of people. It's also a hot spot for musicians and artists...and there's really nothing very conservative about it.

Yes...there are churches everywhere...and I can see how that seems odd if you aren't used to it...but for me...they are just buildings that get visited every Sunday and Wednesday. Not a big deal to me.

Good Luck and let me know if you need any other info

[nbourbaki]

Originally Posted by Jaimieleef

Has anyone has any trouble living in TN because of people being ignorant and close minded?

Thanks for any advice you have!

Don't know about Chat., but most here in Nashville would be more offended by being labeled ignorant and close-minded than by you being gay!

That said, you will most likely enjoy East Nashville or the Hillsboro/Belmont area (really anyone would), but they feel the most progressive/urbanish.

[Jaimieleef]

Thanks to everyone for your info. It is very much appreciated. Nbourbaki: I apologize if that came out wrong. I wasn't insinuating that all people in Nashville are ignorant and close minded. I was questioning whether or not people have encountered people who are ignorant/close minded. Sorry!

Again, thanks for the help. We're looking forward to exploring TN and are leaning more towards Nashville. It seems as though the job market is better than that of Chattanooga.

[Gargouile]

I'm a lesbian who lives in Nashville, and I'm from Palm Springs, CA.

I've lived here for three years. My girlfriend of 8 years and I have contemplated leaving.

When we meet straight couples from California and Europe, they tell us how much they hate it here because the people are so closed minded. I know this will offend some of you, but that's how it is. Nashville is not progressive. However, Nashville is the most progressive city in Tennessee.

We will be staying because our houses are not depreciating here like everywhere else and my girlfriend has a great business. However, we travel out of state at least once a month.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

[sylvanparklesbian]

I have to say I'd recommend Nashville as well. There are some supportive people in Chattanooga (there are Quakers and Unitarians there), but I've walked hand in hand in downtown Chattanooga with my wife, and have to say that stern looks, etc, made that not as nice an experience as I'd wished. Chattanooga has a beautiful waterfront, friendly people, and some nice local shops, etc, so I would definitely go visit for a weekend & regularly stop in for lunch on my way to Atlanta. I am very grateful, however, to live in Nashville. I've been out here for 9 years, and while you will get some stern looks in some locations, I have NEVER gotten them in Sylvan Park, E. Nashville, Hillsboro Village, Vanderbilt, etc. Downtown is fine, though if you're holding hands, you might get a couple of drunken comments. The worst we got downtown was a thrilled and friendly yell, "LESBIANS!," by a guy in a pick-up truck. This actually didn't come off offensive at all to my wife and I. He really seemed excited and positive about it.

[hiknapster]

As a Massachusetts transplant I'd also consider my now-home, Knoxville.