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I think the term "gay friendly" to be too broad in terms of a relocation question, ranking with other terms like "mild weather" or "affordable". Gays and Lesbians come in all stripes and colors so the premise that a city is deemed as "gay-friendly" doesn't automatically make it a great fit. I can pretty much guarantee a Lesbian couple is not going to fit well into Wilton Manors FL, or a young single gay male most likely won't feel at home in Northampton MA. Furthermore not all unattached gay males are on the prowl nightly and need a slew of gay bars to call home. The list goes on but in my opinion there should be a distinction other than "gay-friendly" and haven't noticed much digging when an OP states they're looking for a new place to live.
KC is also a stomping grounds for the Westboro Baptist Church (filth of the earth) as they are based out of Topeka, KS just up the road. Though like any big city I'm sure Kansas City has its exceptions with inviting areas for gays. I've heard through the grapevine KC is attracting many artists lately.
I believe the "Crossroads District" of KCMO is attracting artists. Anywhere from downtown south through Midtown/Westport/Hyde Park and the Plaza would be gay friendly areas. But expect the Westboro morons to be picketing any and every gay event in the city, such as Pride. I was single and gay in KC for a couple years during college (mid 90s) and it just wasn't thought of as a fun place for single gay men. The bars sucked, and many of them have since shut down. I assume these days gay men can meet on the Internet instead.
Are you talking Neil Giuliano? Someone I know has him on his Facebook as an "interest," so I clicked on the link to find out who he is. I guess a smooth-talking guy who looks like a newscaster can pull in the votes...and sell ice to an Eskimo. In reality, he seems kind of smarmy.Gay friendly - Virtually every big city probably is - your bold(ed) choices are accurate - any city in Ecotopia would be
Gay unfriendly - my "guess" would be Kansas City, based on:
(1) several have told me this: you are immediately asked where you go to church
(2) one unmarried straight childless middle-aged lady told me this: she was constantly asked if she had children, and people looked at her like she was from another planet when she said she did not (she no longer lives there)
Are you kidding me?
Neil Giuliano was also the President of GLAAD from 2005-2009 and quite a nice guy. Next time, use something else besides Facebook as a "reference".
I think the term "gay friendly" to be too broad in terms of a relocation question, ranking with other terms like "mild weather" or "affordable". Gays and Lesbians come in all stripes and colors so the premise that a city is deemed as "gay-friendly" doesn't automatically make it a great fit. I can pretty much guarantee a Lesbian couple is not going to fit well into Wilton Manors FL, or a young single gay male most likely won't feel at home in Northampton MA. Furthermore not all unattached gay males are on the prowl nightly and need a slew of gay bars to call home. The list goes on but in my opinion there should be a distinction other than "gay-friendly" and haven't noticed much digging when an OP states they're looking for a new place to live.
That's easily the biggest misconception of gay men in general. I've certainly been out to bars enough times, both gay and straight - but I like bars in general. I have a ton of gay friends who wouldn't be caught dead in a gay bar. Just not their thing. Lots of people go to gay bars, but you're only seeing the ones who actually go, not the countless ones who don't.
I can see why lots of straight people would make that assumptions, since it's something you can physically see, but at times it gets annoying when everyone thinks that's the lifestyle of a normal random gay person. Of all the gay people that straights walk by, talk with, work with or come into contact with, 80% of them don't register as being "gay". They're just everyday random people in your life.
I have lived in The Castro District of San Francisco for many years. My partner and I are considering a move to some place else for retirement.
It will be culture shock after living here for so long. I would like a gay friendly medium sized town or suburb that is close to good medical services. Your priorities change when you get older. We're still a few years
away so there is a lot of time to contemplate. I've thought about Las Cruces,NM. ..Boise,Id. ..Walla Walla,Wa. ..The Woodlands,Tx. ..Kent,Oh.
Any other suggestions or comments are welcome.
Location: Jefferson City 4 days a week, St. Louis 3 days a week
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San Francisco, Minneapolis, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, New York City, and Boston I'd imagine all are pretty tolerant of gays. St. Louis is actually pretty tolerant of them as well.
San Francisco, Minneapolis, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, New York City, and Boston I'd imagine all are pretty tolerant of gays. St. Louis is actually pretty tolerant of them as well.
St Louis is not tolerant at all. Just by you saying "them" is a negative slur like some sort of alien. They basically threw a well know street performer called Baton Bob out of the city. He moved to Atlanta.
Press reports indicate the public in Atlanta either highly appreciates Baton Bob or quietly tolerates him.[3] Though he was appreciated by some, he annoyed others in St. Louis as well. Several exceptional events precipitated his departure.
During the summer of 2003, an observer mooned the character. Both men mutually escalated the situation until the unidentified observer struck Baton Bob in the cheek, an injury that required five stitches. The observer was later arrested by St. Louis detectives and prosecuted.[4]
The following summer, when he marched with Missouri NARAL in a suburban 4th of July parade, police manhandled him in an attempt to remove him from the procession. Though the police allowed Baton Bob to remain in the parade, the incident prompted a complaint that alleged the police also swore and called him names.[5]
Later the same summer, Baton Bob was arrested while participating in a Kerry/Edwards rally at St. Louis Union Station. He swore at a police officer who stepped on the train of Bob's $500 wedding dress, prompting an arrest for trespassing. The arrest proved to be the proverbial last straw, as Baton Bob left St. Louis for Atlanta soon thereafter.[2]
Last edited by brent6969; 03-29-2012 at 06:48 AM..
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