Would I do better in Dallas or Austin? (Houston, Fort Worth: home, neighborhoods)

[jason87x]

Hello all, I am looking to move out of the KC area (which as ~2 million people) within the next few months. I've been to Dallas several times, but not Austin. I like Dallas, but it felt a little bit overwhelming, kind of like the next LA. Is this something I can get over with more exposure?

Some about me: I am 25, bisexual, single, and I work in the IT industry. I have a mechanical heart valve, and have to be on Coumadin. This makes me fairly tired, and wishing that things were closer together. I was pretty impressed with the overall density of the DFW metroplex. Here back home in Kansas (near KC, but on the better side I guess), much of the nightlife is really far away (such as Lawrence or downtown), and I don't want to drive far usually when I'm tired and drunk. Now people will suggest 'well why don't you live in KCMO?' except for the extreme trashiness of the city itself, whereas urban Dallas seemed a lot cleaner and better overall, and I imagine urban Austin would be just as great if not moreso. I am way more open to urban living in either of these places compared to back home.

I can be kind of a homebody sometimes, though I can be outgoing when other people are (then again, should I move to Minnesota if I'm going to be like that lol?). Maybe the reservation is due to the nature of people here, which really isn't that great.

Anyway, weather doesn't really matter, though I haven't been through a real winter since surgery (with this past winter being extremely mild and all), and I've dealt with the extreme heat both in Dallas, and here in Overland Park which has hit 100 degrees or so every day for the past two weeks. Traffic isn't really a dealbreaker, I hear Austin traffic is bad but Dallas was mostly a breeze to drive in.

I've noticed Dallas to have quite a few attractive women, but the gayborhood was rather offputting because of the treatment I received from the other gay guys. Is Austin's gay/bi scene friendlier?

Anyone else from JoCoKS or KC area in general move out to either of these cities? Your experiences? Were you glad you left? In either case, it would be a nice change to have your whole city be in ONE state, not two where the people on the other side bash the fact that you live on the 'wrong' side of State Line. It is that bad here.

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Moderator cut: orphaned, refers to deleted post

That's an extreme generalization.

The gays I know in Dallas are a mixed bag. Some are very nice and open and some are Moderator cut: language. That's no different than Austin or Houston.

The Metroplex is home to the largest gay community in the state and the resources for the gay community are numerous here. I have yet to meet a gay person who didn't love living in Dallas. Austin has a strong gay community too so it boils down to preference.

[Austinite101]

Originally Posted by justme02

Moderator cut: orphaned, refers to deleted post

That's an extreme generalization.

The gays I know in Dallas are a mixed bag. Some are very nice and open and some are Moderator cut: language. That's no different than Austin or Houston.

The Metroplex is home to the largest gay community in the state and the resources for the gay community are numerous here. I have yet to meet a gay person who didn't love living in Dallas. Austin has a strong gay community too so it boils down to preference.

The difference between Austin's gay community and Dallas' is Dallas has gay neighborhoods whereas Austin does not. Austin's GLBT is scattered all over the city.

OP: You will have to visit Austin before you know what you want. Just going off of your stats, you sound more like an Austin type person, but like I said, you need to visit.

[Trance750]

Depends on what you're looking for. Austin is more of a 'young person's town', and Dallas is more uppity and stuffy.

[Willsson]

Is Austin's gay/bi scene friendlier?

The Austin scene is an inclusive scene, gay is normal. That is, nobody is gonna care if you're gay. Or, if you're not. Excepting of course, for the guys looking for that friend.

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Originally Posted by tofurkey

Is Austin's gay/bi scene friendlier?

The Austin scene is an inclusive scene, gay is normal. That is, nobody is gonna care if you're gay. Or, if you're not. Excepting of course, for the guys looking for that friend.

Dallas is very gay friendly. It's easily one of the most vibrant gay communities in the US.

[Trance750]

Depends. Austin is very hip and trendy with a very lively music scene. Dallas is more stuffy and reserved, and far more Conservative (athough not as much as Fort Worth). And since you are BI, you will gain far more acceptance in Austin, which is much more open-minded than Dallas.

I would go as far to say Austin is the most liberal city in Texas, and in fact I often refer to it as 'The Berkeley of Texas'

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Originally Posted by Trance750

Depends. Austin is very hip and trendy with a very lively music scene. Dallas is more stuffy and reserved, and far more Conservative (athough not as much as Fort Worth). And since you are BI, you will gain far more acceptance in Austin, which is much more open-minded than Dallas.

I would go as far to say Austin is the most liberal city in Texas, and in fact I often refer to it as 'The Berkeley of Texas'

I don't think you're very well aquatinted with the gay scene in Dallas. It's extremely vibrant and overall gays are very well accepted in Dallas. I have many gay friends in Dallas and every single one loves it here.

What else would you expect from the 6th largest gay community in the US?

[Trance750]

Originally Posted by justme02

I don't think you're very well aquatinted with the gay scene in Dallas. It's extremely vibrant and overall gays are very well accepted in Dallas. I have many gay friends in Dallas and every single one loves it here.

What else would you expect from the 6th largest gay community in the US?

I'm just saying, with Dallas being in the heart of the Bible-Belt, it does have a far more closed-minded attitude as oppsed to Austin

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Originally Posted by Trance750

I'm just saying, with Dallas being in the heart of the Bible-Belt, it does have a far more closed-minded attitude as oppsed to Austin

The heart of the bible belt? Maybe once you leave the urban area. Not the city itself. Dallas (like Atlanta) may be in the geographic area of the bible belt, but both have huge gay communities. Both much larger than Austin.