lesbian couple in Bridgeport (neighborhood, organic, price)

[Gelasia]

Originally Posted by surlycue

that's a gross generalization. the caucasion areas of bridgeport have remained relatively insulated despite more than half a century of decline around them but the neighborhood as a whole is very diverse. i don't know any of the long time residents in the italian side of bridgeport but i don't think their issues are with the ever expanding, hard working asian community so much as it is with the government assisted, unemployed african american community that has degraded the once working-class/middle class white neighborhoods around them. many of the residents trying to preserve the status quo are misguided by lumping all people into a steroetype but they do have history on their side, at least with the decline of neighborhoods in their backyard.

not sure sure if ur post was directed at me but to clarify I've never been to bridgeport and I know very littlé about the nieghborhood other than what I've read on the boards and most of it seems to be negative. I wasn't implying anything just asking why if at all is it deemed racist and intolerant by so many posters?

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by MyssaTx

not sure sure if ur post was directed at me but to clarify I've never been to bridgeport and I know very littlé about the nieghborhood other than what I've read on the boards and most of it seems to be negative.

Well many of the people who post on this forum, some of whom live in Chicago, know little about Bridgeport. Hell, I'm in Bridgeport all the time, have many friends there and have spent alot of time there the past 40 years and I STILL don't know that much about Bridgeport.

But seriously, you'd be hard pressed to find a more diverse and tolerant neighborhood than Bridgeport---Poles, Irish, Italians, Lithuanians, Mexicans, Chinese---and a mix of social classes, you might be surprised how much dough is in that neighborhood. I was down there today and I even saw a guy walking down the street wearing a Cubs hat and jacket. That's diversity.

[surlycue]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

I was down there today and I even saw a guy walking down the street wearing a Cubs hat and jacket. That's diversity.

HA, Tom, you made my day.

[PokerPlayer1]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

But seriously, you'd be hard pressed to find a more diverse and tolerant neighborhood than Bridgeport

Holy Mary, mother of god... I mean, I understand that in order to promote the 'harmony ideal, it requires that we all stick our heads in the sand at least a little bit, but are you ****ing kidding me? A post like this could get someone hurt.

A large part of my family is old-school B'portie; I can't walk around most sections without recognizing or being recognized by at least two people. The neighborhood is very accepting of working class people- even "non white" ones, but if you're black or gay, I wouldn't exactly call Bport "diverse and tolerant". Certain blocks in Bport are pretty much the last remaining city community where people respond to blacks much as they did in 1964. I don't know how they would respond to an openly gay couple walking around the street, but I would pretty much bet my net worth that they would endure at least some aggravation. No, it isn't totally like 'the old days' in Bport, but a substantial amount of 'the old days' still exists there and barring a massive phase of further gentrification, will likely remain that way for a while.

I think it's really easy for most (non-Black) people to walk around Bridgeport and think "everything is OK here! Look at all this "diversity!" but they don't have a ****ing clue what you're talking about. Its not a coincidence of geography that there are virtually no blacks there.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by PokerPlayer1

The neighborhood is very accepting of working class people- even "non white" ones, .

I call that pretty damned diverse. And there is a mix of social classes and it's growing. There's more to diversity than Blacks and Gays. Unless you use the word as a code word.

.

Originally Posted by PokerPlayer1

I think it's really easy for most (non-Black) people to walk around Bridgeport and think "everything is OK here! Look at all this "diversity!" but they don't have a ****ing clue what you're talking about.

Quite possibly.

[PokerPlayer1]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

I call that pretty damned diverse.

OK, well, again, see... "context" here is just a wee bit important.

The question is (pretty much): "I'm a lesbian with a butch partner... Can we walk around Bridgeport and fee like we're in Lincoln Park or San Francisco?"

To which you reply "BRIDGEPORT IS A WONDERFULLY TOLERANT PLACE!" , neglecting to elucidate the entire situation; like, yeah, Bridgeport is wonderfully tolerant if you're not black (and possibly gay), but if you are those things, it may not be the best choice.

[Ryen]

Originally Posted by surlycue

that's a gross generalization. the caucasion areas of bridgeport have remained relatively insulated despite more than half a century of decline around them but the neighborhood as a whole is very diverse. i don't know any of the long time residents in the italian side of bridgeport but i don't think their issues are with the ever expanding, hard working asian community so much as it is with the government assisted, unemployed african american community that has degraded the once working-class/middle class white neighborhoods around them. many of the residents trying to preserve the status quo are misguided by lumping all people into a steroetype but they do have history on their side, at least with the decline of neighborhoods in their backyard.

It is unfortunate that you feel this way. I would like to ask you how do you fight ignorance with ignorance? You are upset someone is making a generalization about Bridgeport prejudice and instead of you rising above this you feed it with ignorance by making a untrue general statement about African Americans. As well as spell Caucasian wrong (which only makes Bridgeport look even better by the way) I find these general stereo types thoroughly amusing and enjoy thwarting them with fact. FACT: There are more Caucasians on Public Assistance than African Americans. I understand that people who don't care about their neighborhood tear it apart, but recognize that if it weren't for the more affluent families in Bridgeport holding it together the uneducated, unemployed poor white trash of MY TOWN would tear it to shreds. So before we start slinging around ignorance let's realize that bad people come in all shapes, sizes and colors. I myself would welcome diversity to Bridgeport. Gay, race, gender, etc.

[BRU67]

Originally Posted by Ryen

I find these general stereo types thoroughly amusing and enjoy thwarting them with fact. FACT: There are more Caucasians on Public Assistance than African Americans.

I don't know what you've thwarted. The poster you're responding to was referring to the neighborhoods on the south side which took dramatic turns for the worse (by measures such as crime, educaton and economic development) after their demographic shifts from Caucasian to African American. Whether or not there are more Caucasions on public assistance nationwide has no relevance to this discussion, or the concerns now embedded in residents of present-day Bridgeport that stem from relatively recent history.

[surlycue]

Originally Posted by Ryen

As well as spell Caucasian wrong (which only makes Bridgeport look even better by the way)

Give me a ****ing break. It was a typo. "Caucasian" is a construct anyway. If the Caucasus region accounted for all the world's white population the scales of this melting pot would have been tipped ages ago.

[Chicago60614]

I know a lesbian couple that lives at Union and 31st and absolutely love the area - have never had any problems.

I walk around there with my gay friends (male), and never think twice about the issue.

I really love Bridgeport, it has an awesome vibe, and I've certainly never felt in danger walking around on the streets. It's extremely diverse, but not "scary".