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Many different people come here looking for info on the city when they plan on moving to Birmingham. Particularly, gay people tend to search to find out how receptive cities are of their sexual orientation. (Something they were born with.)
As a city known for past discrimination, many people may think that we are not open to the LGBTQ population. The purpose of this discussion is this:
How can we make a strong effort to welcome potential LGBTQ citizens to the city with open arms?
What can we do to change the perception that Birmingham isn't any different than other cities in the south when it comes to homosexuals?
Welcoming LGBTQ is not only important because it's a basic human right but it can also play a vital role in revitalizing our city. The LGBTQ typically has a higher amount of disposable income which is spent on renovating homes, shopping, and nightlife.
We could start with a anti-discrimination ordinance that covers people who are LGBT.
People think that just because we don't have to worry about being lynched anymore that everything is peachy.
I can still be fired in Alabama for being gay with no legal protections.
I can still be gay bashed in Alabama and it isn't considered a hate crime.
I can't even have a domestic partner in Alabama.
Where's Birmingham's initiative to help with these concerns as the most progressive city in Alabama?
What can the city of Birmingham do other than lobby the state legislature?. Good luck trying to get any pro-lgbt legislation from that group. Gay marriage and employment issues will take care of themselves through the courts and federal govt.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bhampride
You guys are missing the whole original point of the discussion. I am just trying to promote a better awareness about these issues that are very real for people. Don't try to dismiss it as nothing if you aren't gay.
If anyone else would like to join the discussion on how we could improve, you guys, that would be preferable over arguing with the same folks.
I think the point Tourian was trying to make is that gays can live anywhere within metro and be accepted. The days of LGBT people being confined to just a certain area of a city is so 20th century IMO.
I had this type discussion with a friend of mine who moved down from Cleveland, OH in 2002. We came to the conclusion that gays in Birmingham are a divided, still somewhat closeted community. On the other hand gay life in this area has improved alot since the first time I walked into a gay bar in 2000. As the city and metro continues to develop and progress, the gay community will likely do the same.
Oh and BTW Charlotte didnt have had a gay pride parade for 19 yrs until last year.
It's just not a large enough populace to have "Gay" neighborhoods or burroughs. But we do have more progressive sections of the city, that I would hope anyone would feel comfortable in. I prefer to not narrow this convo to how LGBT people can feel comfortable, but anyone who feels that they might be oppressed for their orientation, race, or spiritual makeup. Gays are not the only ones who have faced a harsh, unforgiving world, and Alabama isn't the only place.
But, aside from that argument, Birmingham just doesn't have enough population to realize whole neighborhoods or sections. Maybe a block or two .
People think that just because we don't have to worry about being lynched anymore that everything is peachy.
I can still be fired in Alabama for being gay with no legal protections.
I can still be gay bashed in Alabama and it isn't considered a hate crime.
I can't even have a domestic partner in Alabama.
Where's Birmingham's initiative to help with these concerns as the most progressive city in Alabama?
As an outsider, these are big reasons why I would never consider moving to Alabama (and to be fair, many other states) because I wouldn't have the same rights I have here in Colorado.
I am gay, married to my partner of 18 years, and we have two children. Plus we're an interracial couple/family, so we choose carefully where we live. I avoid anywhere that's overly religious, especially where there are a majority of evangelical fundamentalists. I know from experience that these are the type of people who, as a group, are the most against gay, so I avoid them as a whole.
Where we live in Denver we are not just tolerated, but we are accepted. That's a big difference. I have never experienced any negativity from anyone here about being gay, or being a gay couple with kids. In our neighborhood, it's easy to forget that we're any different than heterosexual couples because it just isn't an issue. And in my kids' classes, they aren't the only ones with same sex parents, so again, it's no issue. My guess is that in Birmingham, and plenty of other cities in this country, we would have problems with neighbors and parents in our childrens' classes due to anti-gay prejudice and ignorance. So I think Alabama as a whole would need to change for anyplace in the state to ever really seem welcoming to gay people.
As an outsider, these are big reasons why I would never consider moving to Alabama (and to be fair, many other states) because I wouldn't have the same rights I have here in Colorado.
I am gay, married to my partner of 18 years, and we have two children. Plus we're an interracial couple/family, so we choose carefully where we live. I avoid anywhere that's overly religious, especially where there are a majority of evangelical fundamentalists. I know from experience that these are the type of people who, as a group, are the most against gay, so I avoid them as a whole.
Where we live in Denver we are not just tolerated, but we are accepted. That's a big difference. I have never experienced any negativity from anyone here about being gay, or being a gay couple with kids. In our neighborhood, it's easy to forget that we're any different than heterosexual couples because it just isn't an issue. And in my kids' classes, they aren't the only ones with same sex parents, so again, it's no issue. My guess is that in Birmingham, and plenty of other cities in this country, we would have problems with neighbors and parents in our childrens' classes due to anti-gay prejudice and ignorance. So I think Alabama as a whole would need to change for anyplace in the state to ever really seem welcoming to gay people.
I think you are right about this. The problem that I see with Birmingham is the state of Alabama in this regard. Birmingham seems to be a very welcoming and progressive place. It's the notion that Birmingham is just like the state of Alabama that seems to stop people in their tracks.
My idea on what this post is about is, how can Birmingham as a city step away from the views of the rest of the state as many other cities do. For instance, although larger, Chicago is nothing like the rest of the state of Illinois. Atlanta is not like Georgia. What can Birmingham do to be its "own island" as it relates to welcoming people of all walks of life.
It's just not a large enough populace to have "Gay" neighborhoods or burroughs. But we do have more progressive sections of the city, that I would hope anyone would feel comfortable in. I prefer to not narrow this convo to how LGBT people can feel comfortable, but anyone who feels that they might be oppressed for their orientation, race, or spiritual makeup. Gays are not the only ones who have faced a harsh, unforgiving world, and Alabama isn't the only place.
But, aside from that argument, Birmingham just doesn't have enough population to realize whole neighborhoods or sections. Maybe a block or two .
I think you are right in some ways that this conversation should not be narrowed to one group but I also think that we need to remember the groups that are sometimes not included because there is one overbearing conversation. For instance, many people still get so caught up in the racial issues of Birmingham that they forget that LGBT people can still be fired for being gay or have no protections under hate crime laws.
While there is still discrimination on the race front, I no longer believe it is a more serious issue than the ones that LGBT communities face in the state. How can we bridge that gap for the conversation to be about human rights and not just one group that seems more important?
I think you are right about this. The problem that I see with Birmingham is the state of Alabama in this regard. Birmingham seems to be a very welcoming and progressive place. It's the notion that Birmingham is just like the state of Alabama that seems to stop people in their tracks.
My idea on what this post is about is, how can Birmingham as a city step away from the views of the rest of the state as many other cities do. For instance, although larger, Chicago is nothing like the rest of the state of Illinois. Atlanta is not like Georgia. What can Birmingham do to be its "own island" as it relates to welcoming people of all walks of life.
Very true. Although I think Illinois does have SS marriage.
And in some aspects, as a gay person, how my local community treats me is more important than the state level politics. For instance, we lived in Orange County, CA for many years before moving to Denver and having kids. Orange County is very conservative compared to the rest of CA and while I'd say our presence in our condo complex was tolerated, we weren't accepted by many people. Some made sure we understood our place and that they didn't care for us being there. I refused to raise kids in that environment.
I think it just takes a lot of time to build a city's reputation as a "gay mecca". Denver hase done that, but it's much bigger, and the only big city for thousand miles in any direction. It probably became that way by default lol! Denver is not very religious, compared to Birmingham, has a huge gay pride parade every year (that's supported by the mayor and even many gay friendly churches), has a fairly big gay nightclub and social scene, and a "gay ghetto", although that area has become more integrated with non-gays as it just isn't necessary anymore. We have civil unions on the state level, and now outright marriage at the federal level (which you have in all states now, as long as you marry in a state where it's legal). The city of Denver had a "civil union registry" and anti-discrimination ordinances way ahead of the state, so Birmingham could do that, if it could pass at a local level. The registry doesn't really do much for gay couples, other an affirm the local community as a whole accepts them.
Birmingham definitely has a way to go in regards to accepting gay folks in everyday life, though I would argue, there are many neighborhoods within the city limits it is not an issue at all. I think with all the development of apartments and condos downtown, a more progressive mindset can hopefully develop over the next 10 years, and some of the ideas to show the LBGT community they are accepted could take root. But generally speaking, inside the city limits is fairly accepting.
Get outside the city limits and into the suburbs, you won't get ridiculed, but acceptance would be a far cry. I will say as far as suburbs are concerned, Homewood seems to be fairly accepting.
Birmingham definitely has a way to go in regards to accepting gay folks in everyday life, though I would argue, there are many neighborhoods within the city limits it is not an issue at all. I think with all the development of apartments and condos downtown, a more progressive mindset can hopefully develop over the next 10 years, and some of the ideas to show the LBGT community they are accepted could take root. But generally speaking, inside the city limits is fairly accepting.
Get outside the city limits and into the suburbs, you won't get ridiculed, but acceptance would be a far cry. I will say as far as suburbs are concerned, Homewood seems to be fairly accepting.
I think its better than it was 10-15 years ago, and even in the suburbs. As a blk gay male I havent been threaten in any way shape or form, thats not to this hasnt been the case for other gays.
The LGBT community in the area needs to come together if we want to be taken serious when it comes to political issues.
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