Most socially liberal-progressive city in West Texas? (El Paso, Lubbock: university, living in)

[doctorjef]

I lived in Lubbock many years ago and have some familiarity with the social outlooks there, although no real sense anymore of the current standards. I'm not talking about political culture so much as social conservatism-liberalism/progressivism.

Between the cities of Lubbock, Amarillo, Abilene, Witchita Falls, San Angelo, Midland, Odessa (let's consider the two of them separately), which one do people think is the most socially liberal. I'm omitting El Paso from the list because of its geographic and demographic differentness from the others (although I realise the others span variously across the South Plains, High Plains, Red River Valley, and Permian Basin).

[Caleb0]

I don't know this, but I would guess Lubbock because it has a large university, Texas Tech. That always makes a city more liberal. The speads for elections look so similar in these cities, I would say Lubbock being a college town would have to put it over the top as the only thing distiguising it from the others.

[Caleb0]

Lubbock had the highest Obama percentage votes at about 32 and Midland the least at about 21.

[Pretzelogik]

However I would not recommend cruising downtown dressed like this..... US Airways lets man fly wearing women's underwear

[Sandstorm214]

Originally Posted by doctorjef

Between the cities of Lubbock, Amarillo, Abilene, Witchita Falls, San Angelo, Midland, Odessa (let's consider the two of them separately), which one do people think is the most socially liberal.

What a tough question! That's like trying to determine which city in Alaska has the balmiest weather.

All kidding aside, I've spent time and/or lived in all of these cities and would have to say the most socially "progressive" (it's so hard for me to use that term in the same sentence as any city in west Texas...ha ha) city would be Lubbock. I think having the major university there brings in a lot of people from other parts of the country and world who lend the city at least some level of social diversity. With that said, Lubbock is still very socially conservative. However, compared with cities like Abilene, San Angelo, and Wichita Falls--which I believe are likely some of the most socially conservative places you will find in the entire country--Lubbock is at least slightly less conservative.

With that said, as a left-leaning individual myself, I absolutely loved living in Lubbock and love west Texas in general. Beneath the conservative politics are a whole bunch of genuinely kind-hearted and caring people.

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Lubbock for sure. Its still super conservative, but the university helps.

[doctorjef]

My tendency likewise would have been to say Lubbock, and at the same time to say that they are all probably really about the same. I had just wondered if anyone would come up with some surprising opinion or slant on the question, but I guess not.

[TT Dave]

I'm from Abilene and live back here now. I lived in Lubbock for a while and I've also lived in San Angelo and Midland. I cannot tell any difference in any of those cities based on your stated criteria. They're all conservative, very conservative. Of the four, I would say that Abilene and Midland are probably the most conservative...lol.

[doctorjef]

I had wondered if in some way the more working class demographic of Odessa might make it more socially liberal (I hesitate to say progressive) than some of the others, including the more uppity-Bu****y Midland.

[Westerner92]

I find the whole "liberal=progressive=accepting" premise inaccurate to begin with, but I get your question. I'd say Lubbock has the least rigid social mold because it's the largest, youngest, and most diverse of the cities you've mentioned.