Is the Hampton Roads gay-friendly? (Virginia Beach, Norfolk: apartments, to live, moving to)

[froggin4colorado]

I am actually surprised to not see more gay couples here. Coming from Colorado Springs I thought they were ultra conservative and anti-gay but you always saw gay couples holding hands and giving each other pecs on the cheek. I don't see that here.

[roanoker 4]

Because of the military there are huge numbers of Gays in the Hampton Roads area, both female and male. An earlier post said it all that if you act
"straight" you will fit in Virginia. That statement is probably true but none can deny there are other more "Gay friendly" states than Virginia. There are so many straight people who like Gay people but do not stand up for them when it comes to civil rights, which is wrong. Being Gay is not a "lifestyle" as many believe but a sexual orientation and cannot be changed.

[D train outta nowhere]

Originally Posted by roanoker 4

Because of the military there are huge numbers of Gays in the Hampton Roads area, both female and male. An earlier post said it all that if you act
"straight" you will fit in Virginia. That statement is probably true but none can deny there are other more "Gay friendly" states than Virginia. There are so many straight people who like Gay people but do not stand up for them when it comes to civil rights, which is wrong. Being Gay is not a "lifestyle" as many believe but a sexual orientation and cannot be changed.

This is about the most ridiculous tripe I've ever heard. First, you don't even live here, and even if you did, you wouldn't know much better, and you are saying there are statistically more gays in the military than the outside population?

Here's an idea: anywhere you go, if you are respectful and "do as the Romans do," that place will be friendly.

[newhandle]

I retired and moved from Va. to Denver. Virginia is a throwback compared to so much of the country. Sure one can be out and gay in Va., and it is not like it was 35 years ago, yet the constant harping on gays by so many is so similiar to the racism I grew up with there, why bother? Of course, as I recall when I was a young man, when a carrier and its support ships come in the gay bars are packed!!

[cathy J.]

Originally Posted by Old VA Buckeye

Things are getting better. Progressive companies like Northrop Grumman (e.g., Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Newport News) have a significant presence in VA / Hampton Roads, and the corporation is moving its corporate offices from LA to Northern VA. NG recognizes committed gay relationships in benefits plan (medical, for example) coverage, beneficiary designation, and in a general climate of acceptance in the workforce.

Just because Northrop Grumman is known to be a gay friendly company doesn't mean that they will be 100% gay friendly in Virginia.

For example take a look at Max Media. Not only do they own WGH-FM 97.3 The Eagle and HOT 100.5 FM but I believe MAX is based right in Hampton Roads. Max Media also owns a few stations in Denver such as KTNI-FM and HOT 107.1 FM too. Not only did they sponsor the Denver Pridefest just last weekend which attracted thousands ( and cost Max Media thousands too ) but the last time I was in Colorado, I had read in the Denver Post where Max Media provides benefits for same sex partners at the Denver cluster. Do they do the same at WGH? Something tells me NO..and I highly doubt they do much to promote pride in Hampton Roads either. Max Media also works with many gay rights groups in Colorado such as the Front Range Bears and OUTfront Colorado plus I believe HOT 107 is behind the upcoming walk against AIDS...again do they ( Max Media ) do any of this sort of thing with the local gay non-profit groups here?

Also no matter how gay friendly Northrop is...one can still be fired for being gay in Virginia. Comcast, Kohls, Target Stores, Media General, Valley Health Systems..are all known as "gay friendly" companies..yet I have known a few over the years who had worked for them only to have found themselves out of a job due to them being gay.

Until Virginia corrects this, which won't happen as long as the commonwealth has such powerful figures in Richmond like Prince William County's Bob Marshall..well Virginia will never really be "gay friendly".

[JeffersonGhent]

It is hard to say if Hampton Roads is gay-friendly. There are parts that are better than others. Hampton Roads has a gay paper [url=http://www.qtownva.com]Q town | Virginia's Gay Media | LGBTQ Entertainment and Events for Richmond, Hampton Roads and all Virginia[/url], so It must be getting better.

[D train outta nowhere]

By the way, what does "gay friendly" mean?

[Megs1]

I totally support what somebody else said about Ghent. You must check out Ghent in Norfolk. Lokk over by Stockley Gardens at the awesome Brownstone townhouses. Shoot... you'll never leave

[GuyinSFCA]

As someone who grew up in Virginia Beach, lived in both Richmond and NOVA, and now lives in San Francisco (in the Castro), I am really enjoying this discussion. Lots of good, intelligent points being made here.

I am actually thinking of moving back to the Hampton Roads area to be closer to family who still live there. I visit Hampton Roads at least twice a year, so I am still a little familiar with it, albeit I am not a resident. I am very straight acting and appearing, so I can usually blend in without issue there. Anyone more colorful may have a different experience.

IMHO, there are positives and negatives associated with any place, and Hampton Roads is no different. Here is my short list of positives and negatives, and I encourage others to add to it from their own experiences:

Positives include: (1) low cost of living, (2) beautiful beaches, (3) four seasons, (4) mostly friendly (or at least polite) Southern people, and (5) close proximity to major east coast cities.

Negatives include: (1) gay people are still mostly closeted there, (2) Ghent, while gay friendly, is not a true gay neighborhood with bars, etc. (3) Gay bars and gay friendly places seem to be really spread out and not centralized, and (4) Most Southerns are probably too polite to say anything to you directly, but you may be a major topic of their neighborhood conversations.

Richmond seemed a little more liberal in attitudes towards gays than in Hampton Roads, but only in the downtown area. NOVA was much better, but only in Arlington and Alexandria. Fairfax is more like VA Beach.

In summary, it is probably a good place to live if you are not looking for the "gay ghetto" experience and remain a little closeted. While there are a lot of accepting straight people there, there are also a lot of red necks and bible thumpers (especially bible thumpers).

All of the above is only based my personal observation and opinion.

[lady8506]

Originally Posted by dvcgal

I would live in Richmond! Bigger city with more diversity and a bigger group of outspoken gays. My hairdresser is there and he loves it and he is openly gay! Richmond is the place to live in this situation, stay away from the conservative Hampton Roads area!!!

PFFFT!!! Ok, how gay friendly is RIchmond compared to say....San Diego? Just shot your happy revelation there didn't I, lol. I live in Richmond, we are not gay friendly compared to some other places in the USA. Doesn't mean we don't have our own little gay scene going on, I know we do, but the people here are still close-minded about it, and right winged or whatever. The feeling in the air is they don't want it here.