[MikeG67]

My partner and I would truly like a life in a rural area. We both love that way of life. We were both raised in rural places. Vermont is so beautiful we would really like to relocate there. Unfortunately, finding acceptance in a rural community as a gay couple is not easy. To make this situation worse we would like to have children. Many of the participants in these forums don't sound too welcoming to "liberal flat landers". We have thought about Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington but they are too far from our families. Our families are very important to us. We also love the snow....... We are a little worried about being tared and feathered. Are there any areas that are more safe than others.

[pucabear]

As a realtor I have worked with a few gay an lesbian couples (some even with children). The ones that have relocated from out of state (Miami, FL), love it here. In fact, they bought the home as a vacation home, and are looking to make a permanent move. They are in the Saint Albans area.

[square peg]

Off and on over the last 20 years I've been a painting contractor. Many of my customers have been gay and lesbian couples, most of whom are transplants. All seem to be pretty well settled into the communities in which they live and from my point of view, happy to be here. Some have kids too. I do know of one incident where a couple's property had a bag of trash dumped on their lawn shortly after they moved in, and interestingly enough, they bought their home from a lesbian who had lived there for 25 years. The new owners are a bit, um, abrasive and that attitude, straight or gay, won't garner them many new friends wherever they live, sad to say.

I live in the Northeast Kingdom, perhaps the most conservative part of VT and gay / lesbian seems to be a non issue for most. I hope this helps.

[carolinajack]

as an Interracial Couple who loves Vermont, we have summered there for years and have never experienced any problems(not that it could not happen) but we stay in the rural areas of S VT and people are great--not overtly friendly but dont seem to be prejudice.

gay couples in my experience seem to be treated pretty well there as well

[MikeG67]

We are very excited to relocate and leave the rat race behind. We are craving a calm peaceful existence. Obviously, social acceptance is a big chunk of establishing a peaceful/harmonious life. Thanks for all your help!

Any additional input is greatly appreciated!

[skytrekker]

If you want out of Atlanta.....

Vermont is a great place to live- if a gay couple wanting to have kids.
Also consider rural eastern Connecticut- the so called 'quiet corner' of the state. Very liberal adoption laws here, very liberal state.
We have civil union laws as in Vermont- the eastern part of the state has small towns, great rural areas that are close to Providence (a very gay city) and Hartford. Plus we are close to the seacoast. Also our winters are far less severe. Feel free to private me for more info

[leedspaddy]

Originally Posted by MikeG67

We are very excited to relocate and leave the rat race behind. We are craving a calm peaceful existence. Obviously, social acceptance is a big chunk of establishing a peaceful/harmonious life. Thanks for all your help!

Any additional input is greatly appreciated!

Hey Mike, I can imagine your caution about uprooting and trying to find a place that is accepting of all people irregardless of their religion, color or sexual orientation. I'm here to beg you not to make the same mistake my wife and I made by moving to VT. We did the same as many people before us did and I'm sure we won't be the last...............we fell in love with the beauty of VT, moved here and then found out what a great place it is to visit but is a c-r-a-p place to live..................c-r-a-p jobs, c-r-a-p salaries and is full of Al Gore wannabes. VT is a great place to raise children but only if you can find a job to afford to live here. We are currently looking at CT, RI and NH to move to, taking into account the principle that we still want the quiet life but be close enough to a large city to commute for a job. From my point of view, its a real shame that VT is too rural, too eco-restricitive and too liberal /democratic to stay here. Then again things may change over the next decade when it is finally proven that Global warming in a complete sham..........then there maybe be less eco nuts, less restrictions on company investment in the state and hence better jobs.

[chaz longue]

Well - There you have it:

If you think global warming is a sham - It's true - you'll be in a minority here in The Greater Burlington Area, and the rest of VT as well, I'd wager.

If you think that VT is "too rural" , and is "full of Al Gore wannabe's" you'll likely find that - well, VT is A) rural (and rapidly changing) and B) voted overwhelmingly for Gore.

However, you may be surprised to find that this part of VT is known for it's small vibrant liveable towns and cities; full of creative and hard working people of all political persuasions; known for its performing arts scene, small business climate, and development policies which attempt to combat sprawl.

Lots of people live in truly rural parts of the Northwest part of the state, and easily commute for work and pleasure to the Burlington area.

It's true - VT isn't for everybody. And there are real problems here. But I'll take our problems over the problems a lot of other US cities have to deal with any old time.

Come visit us - You're pretty unlikely to be tarred and feathered ...and you'll find the skiing is pretty wonderful this month and only getting better.

Warmly,
David

[cleobarker]

MikeG67,

I live in Southern Vermont, in the Brattleboro area. Same sex couples are VERY accepted here, it's no big deal to us. I have found, in the ten years I have lived in this area, virtually no discrimination against gay and/or lesbian people or couples, whether they have children or not.

In that respect, it's a very desirable place to live.

cb

[Pidgett]

Leedspaddy:

You're a fool. You pretend to be sympathetic to MikeG67's quest for a peaceful and accepting gay lifestyle in VT in the opening of your post. Then, after the first sentence, you begin your agenda--as evidenced by most, if not all, your posts on city-data.com--of political flaming. How does Al Gore bashing, global warming denial and dislike of liberals help him? And, also, think about it. Most gays are liberal and for good reason. The very people whom they are looking for, i.e., those who are most likely to be accepting of, or at least tolerant of, gays living as a couple with the possibility of raising kids, no less, are NOT going to be closed-minded, Al Gore-despising conservatives such as yourself. The irony is practically screaming off the computer screen! Therefore, your post does nothing to help MikeG67 and his partner. In fact, it is flame bait, pure and simple.

MikeG67: You'll fit in just fine in VT. Make that LIBERAL VT!