visited BR encountered discrimination... (Baton Rouge, Gardere: live in, bus, food)

[MetroBTR]

Originally Posted by itsnvr2late

You didn't bother to list the factors why there are more gay parents in the south than anywhere else.

1. The New York Times speculates that a lot of gays and lesbians in the South came out of the closet after they'd already been in straight marriages, and many of the kids are the products of those marriages. This lends credence to the argument that the south is not as accepting of gay lifestyles. Also, I posted it before, but the state of Louisiana spent a ton of money trying to prevent the issuance of a birth certificate listing two males as parents out of "public policy concerns." These individuals were not even planning on living in this state.

2. The newspaper also reports that African-American and Hispanic lesbians and gays are more likely to have children, which fits in with the overall demographic for these groups (which are, gay or straight, more likely to have kids than Caucasians). Please read the underlined section. Florida and Texas are heavily Hispanic and the Deep South has a huge African American population per capita.

3. The stereotype of a mainstream gay America that is white, affluent, urban and living in the Northeast or on the West Coast. People on the Coasts tend to marry older and have less kids. This holds true straight or gay (via adoption).

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/19/us/19gays.html?_r=1 The article explains the reasons more in depth.

Also check which states do not grant homosexuals the ability to enter into at least civil unions and enjoy insurance benefits, life or death decisions, and the ability to avoid discrimination in the workplace. Most, but not all, are Deep South and Louisiana leads the pack.

1) The fact that more and more people feel comfortable enough to come out of the closet proves that people in the south are moving forward

2) So why does California (huge amount of minorities, particularly hispanics) belong to the region with the lowest number of gays raising children.

3) And guess where people from the northeast are moving...the south.

The south has become a very dynamic place, and it is a huge economic and political powerhouse with skyrocketing population and increasing wealth. The articles reinforce what I already know, which is that the south is becoming a place where people who were previously closeted feel like it is finally safe to come out.

Deal with it, or continue to live in the past. Your choice.

[itsnvr2late]

I'll address point 3 first. Is it possible that because so many northeasterners are moving to the south that it has become more open and accepting?

California is extremely expensive. People, particularly in Socal, get married way later and have less kids. Plus, the culture out there lends itself to not settling down and being a socialite (not just a Hollywood one).

[relopez1]

well what part of br and port allen is safe? I'm starting to worry, i'm getting mixed messages. what part or this area do we need to stay a way from. and what part is ok?

[itsnvr2late]

This is a huge point of contention. I am speaking very very generally. North Baton Rouge is very unsafe, particularly with violent crime. The safest part of Baton Rouge is near the Mall of Louisiana and surrounding LSU (except north of LSU) and the far east end of the Parish near Siegen Lane. Port Allen itself is pretty safe according to crime statistics.

However crime statistics do not tell the whole story of what is "unsafe." This is the Deep South. There are a lot of people around who still think this is 1961. They can be outspoken about this. This will be a culture shock for you or for whoever's behalf you are writing. Minnesota is a bit more progressive than Baton Rouge. Though I think you indicated you were in North Minnesota, so it might be similar in the way of life (more slow paced, people know everyone, etc).

Those of us who have not had a good Baton Rouge experience tend to be from more urban backgrounds, north and south alike. Those who tend to love Baton Rouge or at minimum, like it, tend to be from less urban environs.

It's kind of like anywhere else. You either like it or you don't. But it's not a city like New Orleans, Dallas, Boston, or Chicago. Baton Rouge is more of a collection of smaller suburbs and rural areas thrown together.

[zanstar]

Originally Posted by n.o.ladyb

Wow, I am so happy you posted your story. I am not from BR but have been living here for some time and racism is at the top of the charts here. The mentality here stunts their growth. A beautiful town with an ugly attitude. When I arrived here and stated where I am from the attitudes were that I am ignorant and all the people where I am from are harden criminals so I had to be the butt of racist jokes and stares. I beat them down when I proved them wrong at that time.
I believe the racism is not just toward blacks or whites but also for the non employed or less fortunate people. If you say you live near or in the Gardere area you are told to leave because the people there are bad, or they don't want anything. Not everyone in that area are bad people or unemployed. What is needed is more resources and activities as well as businesses in that area. Something for families to do with their kids in the area where they can take a bus or walk to. There are no restraunts in that area, no theaters, no walmart, target, no bowling, skating, theater, casino, celebration station, no clothing stores, cell phone companies. The burbank area is nice but have very very little.
Seriously the crime is just as bad as anywhere else and the cooking is the worst ever. Gurl is not girl and the water is nasty and smelly. The casino is the worst play ever.
The casino you spoke of is just lame. Why would the entertainment not be a part of the gaming area, instead you come in and there is no hostess to welcome you, the entertainment appears exculsive as if you need an invite to go in and the people look at you weird if you ask any questions as if you are intruding on them. The payoff sucks too. As I stated if it was not for me working here I would have left a long time ago.

Hey what's wrong with everyone. Well maybe not everyone, but a lot of weirdo's out there. Can't they get it through their heads that we all eat the food from the same earth, and drink the water from the same earth, and some of the air we breathe probably went through the lungs of some dinasaur millions of years ago. Hmmm, that would mean, that we breath and share the same air HUH? Wow if someone feels a little racisim coming on at a football game, what are they going to do? HOLD their breath? Naw, if you got it real bad, they might start carrying an oxygen tank, so they would not breath same air that another race may have exhaled. So next time you see some pretty healthy person carrying a tank and sharing it their friends, maybe he and his friends are racists. One Earth, One People! Divided we will fall, Togeather we will survive, and flourish.

[MetroBTR]

Originally Posted by itsnvr2late

I'll address point 3 first. Is it possible that because so many northeasterners are moving to the south that it has become more open and accepting?

California is extremely expensive. People, particularly in Socal, get married way later and have less kids. Plus, the culture out there lends itself to not settling down and being a socialite (not just a Hollywood one).

I'd say it has an effect. Kids today are raised around people with different viewpoints and backgrounds. People everywhere are exposed to more that is different than they were in 1950.

I can see that being the viewpoint among middle and upper class people. It is the same here. It is a fact that people with more education and more money tend to wait longer before marrying and having kids...white people particularly.

However, I don't know how well that could be applied to Hispanics and African Americans. Both groups are at increased risk of poverty. People in poverty tend to have kids earlier. And I know that Socal has it's fair share of slums.

[itsnvr2late]

Socal slums are not similar to what is defined as a slum here. There is no area of LA or San Diego that looks like Gardere. It's a different type of poverty. Standards of living are higher all around. It's still expensive to raise a family there.

[MetroBTR]

Originally Posted by itsnvr2late

Socal slums are not similar to what is defined as a slum here. There is no area of LA or San Diego that looks like Gardere. It's a different type of poverty. Standards of living are higher all around. It's still expensive to raise a family there.

Getting to be expensive to raise a family just about everywhere...I'll give you that. I'm glad I'm old...I'd hate to see what things cost 50 years from now.

[fbbertusa]

Originally Posted by itsnvr2late

Socal slums are not similar to what is defined as a slum here. There is no area of LA or San Diego that looks like Gardere. It's a different type of poverty. Standards of living are higher all around. It's still expensive to raise a family there.

I find that to be a line of bull .There are worse places in LA .Gardere Ln. does not make a pimple on LA. butt. You are comparing one street to all of LA. Man thats fair .

[fbbertusa]

I think we have drifted away from the OP' thought. I think we need to open a disscussion on Slums. Just M O.Moderater what do you think?