Gay-Friendly in Eastern TN? (appointed, crime rates, university)

[mbmouse]

actually there is a gay bar/night club in Johnson City that is busy, busy ,busy every weekend.

[Blondie]

Originally Posted by inkjet

A gay couple going to Tenn would be like Daniel in the Lion's den. Don't do it man, the bible thumpers will run you ragged and take away all yer fun.

And if you happen to take a few pops at the local bar with yer friends, then that is like a double wammy.

Look elsewhere, and save yerself years of grief.

With all due respect, that is a ridiculous statement. Secondly, different parts of Tennessee are very different; it's hard to make a blanket statement about any given aspect of what people are "like" across the state. That said, if you live in an urban area such as Memphis or Nashville (where I live), the gay thing is rarely, if ever, an issue - and there are lots of gay bars.

[JMT]

I agree, Blondie. There are some gay-friendly neighborhoods here in Knoxville, too. And from what I hear from my friends who live in Nashville, Nashville is a VERY gay-friendly city. There are also several gay campgrounds throughout the state and several gay-friendly churches. In fact, according to Gay and Christian Resources, there are gay-friendly churches in the following Tennessee cities:
Chattanooga (4)
Clarksville
Cookeville (3)
Crossville
Elizabethton
Knoxville (8)
Maryville
Memphis (5)
Nashville (15)
Oak Ridge
Springfield

[akm4]

I wouldn't call Nashville "very gay-friendly". SF is very GF, NYC is very GF, London is very GF, you get the idea. Let's not forget how this state voted last month on the amendment. Over 80% statewide voted to amend the state's constitution to outlaw something that's already illegal.

Is Nashville more progressive than most rural communities? Of course, but to label it as being very gay-friendly would be an exaggeration in my opinion.

[hiknapster]

Yes. I'm finding that people here aren't overtly prejudiced about anything. I'm finding that they are say, racist, and assume you are, too. So they don't really talk about it. Every so often it comes out of left field and I am always floored.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by akm4

I wouldn't call Nashville "very gay-friendly". SF is very GF, NYC is very GF, London is very GF, you get the idea. Let's not forget how this state voted last month on the amendment. Over 80% statewide voted to amend the state's constitution to outlaw somehting that's already illegal.

Is Nashville more progressive than most rural communities? Of course, but to label it as being very gay-friendly would be an exaggeration in my opinion.

Everything's relative. Don't forget that gay marriage was voted down in California, too, by a 2-to-1 margin.

[akm4]

Yes, and here is it was 80% +!

hiknapster- I have had similar experiences. Rare, but shocking. Once we were looking at buying a rental property, using a realtor we already knew. He walks us into a house and discourages us from buying it by saying, "The price is right, but you'll have trouble with renters. It's mostly black in this neoghborhood, so......" We stopped him right there. This was a successful young guy with a business degree.

Another time a woman asked if we were having problems yet at my son's elementary school, given "all those minorities there".

No skirting the issue for some folks. Amazing.

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by LBacon1949

Hi,
We're looking for a gay-tolerant town or city in Eastern Tennessee. Does anyone have anything they can share about the Tri-Cities area or Knoxville?
Thanks

Actually, my neighbor is a therapist and has the logo/pink triangle in her office.

Also when I first moved here, my husband introduced me to his co-workers- they had a small party in Elizabethton, and it was progressive- good to see as I am originally from Ny-lol

sunny

[TNLove]

Originally Posted by akm4

Yes, and here is it was 80% +!

hiknapster- I have had similar experiences. Rare, but shocking. Once we were looking at buying a rental property, using a realtor we already knew. He walks us into a house and discourages us from buying it by saying, "The price is right, but you'll have trouble with renters. It's mostly black in this neoghborhood, so......" We stopped him right there. This was a successful young guy with a business degree.

Perhaps he wanted to save you the trouble of burglaries, random violence, decreased property values, etc?

[akm4]

Yes TNLove, we know where you stand on racial issues. You've made it clear.