GLBT in Pekin, IL (Chicago, Peoria: house, neighborhood, YMCA)

[wsporter]

Can anyone give me some information on Pekin, IL.?
Specifically, the GLBT situation?
Is there a high incident of homophobia?
Thanks to anyone who may help.

[Hiruko]

Originally Posted by wsporter

Can anyone give me some information on Pekin, IL.?
Specifically, the GLBT situation?
Is there a high incident of homophobia?
Thanks to anyone who may help.

It's in the Peoria are which has gay bars. I can't imagine homophobia is more prevalent than anywhere else.

[Curly Q. Bobalink]

Originally Posted by Hiruko

It's in the Peoria are which has gay bars. I can't imagine homophobia is more prevalent than anywhere else.

Oooh, not too sure about that. Pekin is known for being "less tolerant" than East Peoria, which was the HQ of some KKK or other white supremacist offshoot maybe twenty years ago (the leader of the group was convicted of trying to have the judge that sentenced him murdered, you can look it up). I've never lived there, but have been through several times. Appearance is of a nice, small town, very blue collar in appearance, but with a "Good Old Boys" vibe in many of the bars. I doubt they are afraid of gays ("homophobic"), but the populace is probably not known for being hugely tolerant, either. Will they seek out and lynch gay people? Not likely, this is 2020 after all. But if you go down to the local biker bar wearing *ss-less chaps and a feather boa, and start dancing and making out with another guy? LOL, you may get more than a little hassled for that, but who knows. I'd hate to lead the BLM march in that town, myself.

[Hiruko]

Originally Posted by Curly Q. Bobalink

But if you go down to the local biker bar wearing *ss-less chaps and a feather boa, and start dancing and making out with another guy? LOL, you may get more than a little hassled for that, but who knows.

That's not a situation likely to go down well anywhere outside of a gay bar anywhere in this country.

[boomtown boi]

Originally Posted by Hiruko

That's not a situation likely to go down well anywhere outside of a gay bar anywhere in this country.

Eh not true, it would fly in any Miami Beach or Palm Springs establishment, regardless if the bar is 'gay' or not . Actually I'd say that's true of most progressive cities, but depends on the neighborhood.

Also, can we lose the assless chaps as a gay stereotype? It's wayyyyy outdated.

[Curly Q. Bobalink]

Originally Posted by boomtown boi

Eh not true, it would fly in any Miami Beach or Palm Springs establishment, regardless if the bar is 'gay' or not . Actually I'd say that's true of most progressive cities, but depends on the neighborhood.

Also, can we lose the assless chaps as a gay stereotype? It's wayyyyy outdated.

Sorry, it's the only one I know, I came of age in the "YMCA" era - I'm still oddly confused about that cowboy, LOL. The only gay friend I had (that I know of) was a bartender in the club for which I worked the door - we were more co-workers than friends, but he was a very funny guy, I went to a pool party at his house once. A very "flamboyant" guy, he wasn't hiding who he was to anyone, I remember him dressing up as "Glenda" for a W.o.O. Halloween party in 1986 (I went as "Toto" complete with picnic basket - I won). He would get with the waitresses after the lights came up and go all catty on whoever didn't show up that night, funny as heck. Unfortunately, I heard he died in a Jeep accident in the early 90's.

I haven't seen a Chicago "Pride" parade for many years, but the last time I did, boas and chaps were still very much in vogue - again, I'm sure, chosen for their ability to elicit shock than anything else, although the leather outfit worn by Vito Spatafore in The Sopranos was a close second. OP, I'm sure you'll do well in Pekin, but pick your redneck pool halls wisely.

[Master Jay]

Good day, Ok. A few years ago, I saw a guy at Pride Fest wearing only boots and a tool belt.