Gay Family LIfe in PHoneix/Scottsdale (Phoenix: good schools, taxes, law)

[jordanatiger]

how is the gay family life there? prejudices? etc. How are the schools out there for kids?

[bigd4535]

To answer all three of your questions: If you move here then don't have high expectations. Most of the people here are pretty closed-minded, racist, and/or xenophobic (see the immigration debate). And the schools are pretty bad.

[ranman469]

that response is close minded.

there are plenty of good schools and do your research for what your looking for.
good luck

[sheena]

Originally Posted by bigd4535

To answer all three of your questions: If you move here then don't have high expectations. Most of the people here are pretty closed-minded, racist, and/or xenophobic (see the immigration debate). And the schools are pretty bad.

Yeah whatever..........see the immigration debate

This person didn't say they were illegal they said gay.

[ArizonaBear]

Actually; there is quite a vibrant Gay community here in the Phx area.

The epicenter seems to be 7th St and Indian School.

[exit2lef]

Arizona is the only state in the country in which voters have rejected a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. That doesn't mean gay marriage is legal here; it's illegal by statute. Nevertheless, unlike their counterparts in more stereotypically liberal states like Oregon, Arizona voters did not see fit to write a gay marriage ban into their state constitution. That should disprove the exaggerated notion that "most of the people here are pretty closed-minded, racist, and/or xenophobic." Sure, there is some prejudice and xenophobia being exhibited in association with illegal immigration, largely because a few demagogic talk radio hosts and elected officials are stirring the pot, but unfortunately that's part of a national phenomenon. Moreover, not all sentiment against illegal immigration is motivated by racism. As mentioned above, Central Phoenix is usually considered the most gay-friendly part of town. You might want to try to reside within the Madison District, which offers strong schools near Central Phoenix.

[sweettearose]

Originally Posted by silverbear

Arizona is the only state in the country in which voters have rejected a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. That doesn't mean gay marriage is legal here; it's illegal by statute. Nevertheless, unlike their counterparts in more stereotypically liberal states like Oregon, Arizona voters did not see fit to write a gay marriage ban into their state constitution. That should disprove the exaggerated notion that "most of the people here are pretty closed-minded, racist, and/or xenophobic." Sure, there is some prejudice and xenophobia being exhibited in association with illegal immigration, largely because a few demagogic talk radio hosts and elected officials are stirring the pot, but unfortunately that's part of a national phenomenon. Moreover, not all sentiment against illegal immigration is motivated by racism. As mentioned above, Central Phoenix is usually considered the most gay-friendly part of town. You might want to try to reside within the Madison District, which offers strong schools near Central Phoenix.

I should have known you would beat me to the punch. Another fine and educated response Silverbear!

To confirm what Silverbear said, Arizona voters rejected a motion that would explicitly state that marriage would be defined and limited a union between a man and a woman. The law was deceptively written as well and gave no connotation of an anti-gay marriage legislation. But voters were savy and sentive enough to recognize what it really stood for and voted against it. So when someone says Arizona is closed minded and racist, the facts certainly don't support that statement.

I would also like to add that Arizona's voter trends doesn't really define the political environment. The reason is because most of the voters in Arizona comprise of the retirement community. Their goal to keep their taxes as low as possible so they vote Republican. The problem with Phoenix is that its large transient population doesn't vote at all particularly people under 40 since they just moved here and don't feel any ties to the community. That is changing which is why you have seen the voting trends move toward the Democratic party. Arizona is projected to vote blue in the next Presidential election. That will further reject any idea that Arizona is a conservative red state that is typically found in the south. Now, whether becoming a Democratic/Blue state is a good thing is another issue entirely and I'm not going to debate that, but I just wanted to state the facts since there is a big misperception of the political environment in Phoenix.