Gay/Lesbian population in Greenville (York: appointed, chapel, neighborhoods)

[pinkheart]

I had posted a question to the forum a few weeks ago and was very appreciative of the responses I received, thanks for that!

I am coming to Greenville this weekend to check the place out and interview for a position. I've been pondering on many issues dealing with a potential move from NYC to Greenville and was at first unsure of how to ask this specific question, so tried doing some research into it myself, got very limited information though.

So I'm posing this question to the forum. Is Greenville a lesbian friendly area? Is there a sizeable population of gays/lesbians in the area?

Thank you in advance for all your help.

[Eldemila]

I can't tell you anything firsthand, first, I am not gay and secondly, I am in the process of moving to the Greenville area, so I am new to the area.

Being unable to sleep past 4am, on the net, thought I'd try to help you find answers to your question, at least from the City Data forum area. Below are just two links to past posts on here from people asking basically the same question:

//www.city-data.com/forum/green...-friendly.html

//www.city-data.com/forum/green...n-friedly.html

I'd do a search within the Greenville forum and see what else you come up with and possibly p/m those who've posted here in the past whether they actually moved here, what they've found out and experienced since moving here and what information they may have for you.

Personally, if you like the area, I wouldn't worry about it being gay friendly. I think when asking this question, people who are not more open minded may wonder what is the importance of asking such a question and again, this is just my thoughts, some people may think of your question of having more of a sexual connotation, rather than a social.

Looking at it in another perspective...I'm Jewish, but I don't practice my religion, don't go to Temple, eat bacon, etc. A few people made comments about me moving to the Greenville area and Jews within the same sentence. I don't let that deter or influence me. You're going to find that just about anywhere in America. Bigotry and intolerance comes in many forms. I don't wear anything that shows I'm Jewish, like a Star of David, and I don't think I look (too) Jewish - so unless someone comes out and asks, one may only assume, I'm Jewish. I think it's the same with the gay and lesbian community. Unless you're being openly affectionate in public, most people can only assume by looks that you're gay. I have friends that are gay and I have never seen them as what I call affectionate in public. They came to visit with me here in Greenville, I don't think anyone would have thought they were more than two woman that were friends, as much as anyone who had seen all three of us walking down the street had thought we were a threesome.

Funny little tidbit...my daughter was here visiting, she bought a Star of David while in Chicago the week before, has never worn any piece of jewelry that would indicate she was Jewish. We went downtown, she wanted some frozen yogurt, couldn't find a parking space, so dropped her off and she ran in while I circled slowly around the block. I came back to find her talking to two older woman. They had seen her Jewish Star and it seemed they couldn't of been happier to see another Jewish person. If she didn't have that on, they would have never known - assumed maybe, but never known unless asked. They had me backing up traffic while they wanted to talk, and invite me to their Temple (not going to happen, but appreciated the thought).

People are going to think whatever they want, they'll assume whatever they want, and they'll have opinions on whatever they want. If someone doesn't like me because I'm Jewish, or because my husband is Lebanese, I could care less, I wouldn't like someone like that anyhow. Someone may not like me because I have brown hair, may not be as financially well off as they are - many reasons people don't like each other, and won't even give themselves a chance to get to know someone. Some people are taught not to like others and have that mindset. One can't worry about these things because no matter where you go, there's someone out there that's not going to like you for some stupid reason.

So again, if you like the Greenville area, by all means, make it your home. I'm sure you'll make some wonderful friends here, gay and not gay. I've met some wonderful people and I can truly say I've made a couple friends already and I haven't fully moved here yet. I don't care if you're gay, straight, Jewish, etc. I don't care what religion you are as long as you don't push or preach to me, I don't care what skin color you are, I don't care about your finances (as long as you don't ask me to help build them up) I don't care what political party you support - you get the picture. I care about whether you are a good person, an honest person, a caring person, and compassionate person, a good humored person - again, you get the picture.

So with that, I step off my soap box and start getting ready for my day ahead.

Best of luck!!!

[NewYorkBorn]

There is a gay/lesbian population in Greenville....but who is to say for sure how many they number or how they are treated by Greenville residents. I am sure there are those who will get on here and say that they have never had any problems being gay/lesbian in Greenville. Then there will be those that will tell you that Greenville is a conservative place and they have experienced some problems because of their lifestyle.

What it really depends on is what you are using as a measuring stick when asking about Greenville's gay/lesbian population. If you are using NYC as the example then you are going to be greatly disappointed about several things in Greenville. There is no city on planet earth that (IMO) is like NYC. Here the gay/lesbian population are flamboyant out in public with the lifestyle and don't care who sees them....in Greenville those that are gay/lesbian seem to be a lot more reserved and in the closet. If you are determined to live there I would say be open minded to the fact that it is different than what you are used to and you will be fine.

[Hobo7396]

You don't see as many gays in Greenville as you see in the larger urban centers. We also don't have many shops or stores that specifically target the gay/lesbian. You do see gays and they do live here and thrive here, but it's rare. We do have some people here that might not be as open minded. A local person confronted a gay couple recently in downtown Greenville and told them something offensive publicly concerning being gay and the morality of it. The person is up on charges of harassment.

So, if it is any comfort, the local police are apparently not tolerant of unwelcoming behavior.

We do have some gay bars, but not many heteros know about them (which may be a good thing).

Good luck! and God bless you!

For the record, I am not gay, if that matters to you.

[pinkheart]

Thank you for the responses everyone. I appreciate the candid feedback.

It does not matter if you are gay or not, my question was simply posed to learn how conducive the place will be for my lifestyle. I'm not married or in a relationship so naturally I'm looking to meet new people and hopefully make a romantic connection. However, if Greenville will not offer me the chance to do that then I doubt I would be happy there.
Of course I don't expect it to be like New York in any way, I'm quite aware that besides NY and CA there arn't many other places that have a considerably large lesbian population.

[Hobo7396]

Originally Posted by pinkheart

Thank you for the responses everyone. I appreciate the candid feedback.

It does not matter if you are gay or not, my question was simply posed to learn how conducive the place will be for my lifestyle. I'm not married or in a relationship so naturally I'm looking to meet new people and hopefully make a romantic connection. However, if Greenville will not offer me the chance to do that then I doubt I would be happy there.
Of course I don't expect it to be like New York in any way, I'm quite aware that besides NY and CA there arn't many other places that have a considerably large lesbian population.

You might want to send these folks an e-mail. I have seen them advertise and they are a group to support gays and lesbians in the area. They might be more encouraging than us.

GREENVILLE PFLAG CHAPTER

[maskidder]

There are quite a few gay couples at my church.

I also have a rather odd-humored 15 year old son, who has long hair.... he rather looks like a 90s grunge kid... well, about a year ago, he got a horrible rash on the fronts of his legs, to the point that jeans were just miserable for him.

He went into my closet, found a black and white polka dotted skirt and decided that was the solution to his itchy problem. He wore that skirt to the grocery store, the park, everywhere, at some time or another, calling it his "Battle Kilt"!! He got a few odd looks, but most people just took him in stride.

I know that's not a real answer to your question, but IME, if people don't pay any attention to a boy in a long flowing polka dotted skirt, they are pretty open minded!

As far as meeting people, ATL isn't very far and has a huge gay population. IIRC, they tend to congregate around Little Five Points and downtown. My uncle has been openly gay in ATL since the 70s and loves it down there.

[Eldemila]

Originally Posted by maskidder

As far as meeting people, ATL isn't very far and has a huge gay population. IIRC, they tend to congregate around Little Five Points and downtown. My uncle has been openly gay in ATL since the 70s and loves it down there.

True. Had I not gone to visit the friends who came to visit me, I would never have know this. In fact, the one friend took me by a very pretty neighborhood she use to live in where the majority of the homeowners are lesbian.

As mentioned in other posts, Asheville is definitely a place one could feel comfortable in, which is not far from Greenville at all. I remember this one festival we went to where a guy was wearing a fuschia colored dress and a lamp shade over his head. People were dressed up every which way. I was the one who felt out of place since I was dressed more conservatively. The "normal" people were starring at the "odd" looking ones, the ones we thought were odd weren't staring at anyone, it was quite normal for them, and honestly, they all seemed to be having a wonderful time!

As for finding love, you could move anywhere and not find it, or move somewhere and find it. I'm a firm believer if it's meant to be, it's meant to be. If you end up moving to Greenville, it is meant to be for a reason.

BOL!

[Hobo7396]

True. Asheville and Chapel Hill might be superior to Greenville in terms of a Carolina gay scene.

[gsupstate]

Originally Posted by pinkheart

I had posted a question to the forum a few weeks ago and was very appreciative of the responses I received, thanks for that!

I am coming to Greenville this weekend to check the place out and interview for a position. I've been pondering on many issues dealing with a potential move from NYC to Greenville and was at first unsure of how to ask this specific question, so tried doing some research into it myself, got very limited information though.

So I'm posing this question to the forum. Is Greenville a lesbian friendly area? Is there a sizeable population of gays/lesbians in the area?

Thank you in advance for all your help.

My partner and I are a long term gay couple with lots of friends (couples) both lesbian and gay in the area. We have lived in much larger cities and we absolutely love Greenville. We have been accepted by everyone we have met, straight or gay, black or white, Jew or Christian, etc, etc. You won't find a large "club scene" type gay community, but you will find a large coupled up gay and lesbian community, professional, living next door, and loving life!