Palestinian or Middle Eastern Community/Tolerance in Austin? (Round Rock, Cedar Park: neighborhoods, school)

[forestness]

My Love and I currently live in San Francisco. We are thinking of moving to a more affordable place. I am a Texan and went to UT and he is Palestinian.

I remember loving going to school in Austin, and thinking that it was a very liberal place. But that was the perspecive of a white girl at college living in Austin 10-15 years ago. I would love to live there again, but I would never bring my partner there unless he will be treated as a person and accepted.

Can anyone tell me if there are diverse neighborhoods where we wouldn't be outcasts? Are there muslim or middle eastern communities in austin? How would I find resources to find out about this?

Thanks for your time and help. When I lived there, I didn't have any friends from the middle eastern community, and wasn't exposed to it.

[centralaustinite]

Yes, there are Muslim and Middle Eastern communities here! Not huge numbers of course, it will be a smaller and more diverse community than SF for sure.

UT has an excellent Center for Middle Eastern Studies and a first-class Arabic program. There is a Muslim student organization at UT and a Palestine Solidarity Committee (you have to be a UT student, staff or faculty to join).

There are several mosques in Austin and an Islamic school. Here are links to the two largest Sunni congregations.

Islamic Center of Greater Austin :: Main

North Austin Muslim Community Center::Home

I have had friends who wore hijab who were sometimes mistaken for nuns or given poor service at restaurants, or asked questions on buses but that's about it. Texas is a pretty tolerant place, live and let live. I don't think you will have many problems on that front but Austin is certainly not SF. You might miss the city more than you think!

good luck!

ca

[hoffdano]

In a reverse kind of way, Austin is MORE tolerant than SF. I love to visit SF, but I find its politics and government amazingly intolerant at times.

[LeoZ]

Oh I don't think your partner should worry at all about that. Austin is indeed a pretty liberal place and accepting of anyone. Even the suburbs like Cedar Park and Round Rock are fine as well. I won't go so far as to say we have a Little Palestine district, but it's pretty chill.
I'm sure there are several groups that would suit his needs just fine. I know several of my Middle Eastern/Muslim friends have gotten involved with groups on the UT and ACC campus, and I'm sure there are other groups as well.
I hope you two find a nice place to settle down, be it Austin or someplace else.