Where Would You Move....

[ErieBear]

If you had the opportunity to move to another US city, which one would it be? Which ones are the most gay-friendly?

 

I'm considering moving and right now, my top options are: (and not in any particular order)

 

1. Las Vegas

2. Austin TX

3. Southern California (probably a bit north of LA)

 

Right now, these are just considerations, but I have no idea how gay friendly they are, what kind of economy they have, etc, etc.

 

But I thought I'd see if anyone here has any experience with them.

 

Thanks.

[bigvalboy]

Well I just moved to FTL, and spent the better part of a year weighing my options as to where I wanted to retire. I considered almost every aspect of what I wanted my life to be like when making my decision. For me, FTL is the perfect choice for my life style. If I had to choose another city, I might be talked into moving to Key West, south to Miami or north to Palm Beach, but that is about as far as I would go. This area suits my needs perfectly.

 

As for one of your choices to move to LA (or a bit north). Not much of the area is gay friendly going north out of LA. South to San Diego or north to Carmel might work, but once you are outside of West Hollywood, you would be hard pressed to find a significant gay community.

 

I noticed that Vegas is on your list, but not PS? Palm Springs has a wonderful gay community, and is within ear shot of Vegas. Whatever you decide, Good luck...

[Diverdan]

I'd love to eventually spend 6-8 months in Hawaii... doing one island a year. I like visiting Florida, but I don't like the humidity in the summer, nor the hurricanes. I also love Palm Springs, but only for about four to six months a year. I could never stand the heat of the summer there.

[Decatur Guy]

I have nothing but good things to say about Austin. I lived there in the late '90s and I liked it a lot.

 

As for the gay community, Austin is way ahead of the curve. It's no big deal there. People just don't care. So there really isn't a definitive gay part of town or anything like that, as far as I know. The culture and vibe of the city is weird, eclectic and easy-going.

[EZEtoGRU]

Interesting list Erie. I was surprised to see Las Vegas on the list. Vegas is many things....but certainly not a gay mecca. I like visiting Vegas, but in the end, it's a straight persons playground.

[fedssocr1]

Tons of gay people in DC. Lots of varied clubs and groups. Plenty of things to do. Job market is one of the strongest. But housing costs are very high and commutes can be very long.

[randell]

I would say move to Southern California. Not only is California a great place to enjoy the Sunsets while strolling on the Beaches in the areas, plus the population is so large that you wouldn't know anyone! I've personally never been but have family that resides in Laguna Beach and hear nothing but wonderful things!

[+ WilliamM]

As for one of your choices to move to LA (or a bit north). Not much of the area is gay friendly going north out of LA. South to San Diego or north to Carmel might work, but once you are outside of West Hollywood, you would be hard pressed to find a significant gay community.

 

I noticed that Vegas is on your list, but not PS? Palm Springs has a wonderful gay community, and is within ear shot of Vegas. Whatever you decide, Good luck...

 

You know much more about the LA area because you lived there. But, I have visited a lot, and only stayed in West Hollywood once. I understand north of LA was mention. But, I consider Santa Monica and Malibu viable option, if you can afford to live

there...both are relatively easy drives to West Hollywood. How about Venice? To be honest, I am not a fan of PS because of the weather in the summer

[rvwnsd]

If you had the opportunity to move to another US city, which one would it be? Which ones are the most gay-friendly?..

1. Las Vegas

2. Austin TX

3. Southern California (probably a bit north of LA)...

 

I both agree and disagree with bigvalboy. Southern California outside of LA is pretty conservative. I agree that "a little north of LA" will not be particulalrly gay friendly. Probably would not call it gay un-friendly, more like gay neutral. Although West Hollywood is the well-known gayborhood (and it is an independent city, BTW) I have several gay and lesbian friends who live or have lived in Pasadena/South Pas and in Silver Lake (which is a neighborhood within LA). Venice does not strike me as being a place where gay people live in large numbers and Santa Monica can be a brutal drive from WeHo, mainly due to traffic.

 

San Diego is a beautiful city with a thriving gay community. The LGBT center is one of the largest in the country and I just learned that the gay business association is the country's second-largest in terms of membership. Not bad for a city with 2 million people and a metro population of just over 3 million. The city isn't particularly liberal, but no one really cares whether you are gay, straight, bent, made of recyled timber, or are mauve.

 

All that being said, Chicago is a great place for gays and lesbians. The city has really embraced the community to the point where in the 1990's they upgraded the Northalsted area of Lake View with a rainbow- and LGBT-themed streetscape. One of the owners of the Chicago Cubs is a lesbian and people of all orientations, races, and creeds turn out for the LGBT parade. It was one of the first government entities to pass a human rights ordinance and Former Mayor Daley came out in favor of gay marriage several years ago. It looks like the Illinois legislature will be passing a bill recognizing same-sex marriage soon. There are plenty of bars outside of Lake View and Andersonville (the two major gayborhoods) as well as a sprinkling in the suburbs. I recognize the weather isn't the greatest (that's why I moved to Southern California) but it has an excellent cultural scene and public transit system, which is a plus as one gets older and chooses not to drive. It is a fun city.

[Bosguy]

In an ideal world, I would choose to live a part of the year in Palm Springs and the other part in Chicago. Both of these marveous cities have an abundance of activities for all tastes and the most varied gay life of any place I have visited over the years

 

Boston Bill

[Doe Be Doe]

Am I alone in thinking it nice to live in a small town with lovely natural views? Astoria, Oregon? Kalispell, Montana? Places like that.

[Epigonos]

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Austin, Texas

[Tommygunzz]

Not to pee on anyone's cornflakes, but here's an interesting article from the Huff Post on 10 overrated places.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/David%20Landsel/10-terribly-overrated-destinations_b_3030348.html?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl4%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D296496

[bigvalboy]

Not to pee on anyone's cornflakes, but here's an interesting article from the Huff Post on 10 overrated places.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/David%20Landsel/10-terribly-overrated-destinations_b_3030348.html?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl4%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D296496

Interesting indeed. Always nice to see someone with a new perspective on things. Of course to post those personal opinions publicly on the forum would undoubtedly upset many of our brethren here. In the end I have to agree with the writer on some fronts. It was an interesting read, meant to be funny, not to serious, with a little of that "in your face" kind of attitude, and in the end I think the writer was hoping to light a fire under some of those residents in the cities mentioned....Ok, it's all fun and games until someone gets mad. So I take exception with his comments on San Francisco. Come on now, seriously? How does someone not like San Fran-cis-co. (sigh) those are fightin words mister....

[+ Chris Eisenhower]

Not to pee on anyone's cornflakes, but here's an interesting article from the Huff Post on 10 overrated places.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/David%20Landsel/10-terribly-overrated-destinations_b_3030348.html?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl4%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D296496

 

I've always thought it's what you make of it.

 

BA looks a lot like Budapest to me, which resembles a taller version of New Orleans mixed with aspects of Paris. I didn't like Budapest for the first day I was there because the people were rude, the language was inaccessible, etc. Then once the people became so rude that it was funny and we went to the baths and got some great Hungarian food, it was awesome.

 

Asheville is quite lovely, especially in the fall, so I don't know what bug this guy has up his ass.

 

Berlin is on my bucket list.

 

The comments about Chicago remind me of the comments I received about some of the other Southern cities I have lived in, which turned out to be incredible experiences. How could you live in Chicago and NOT have fun? Well, barring living somewhere like in "Good Times," but even they had each other.

 

Costa Rica... bucket list.

 

Colorado, never been. Been through the airport at SLC, which Mr. Draker commented on. I went there on the way to either Portland or Seattle, and the sun was setting and it was stunning.

 

Vancouver was superb. "You want a city core that alternates rather unpredictably between completely boring and absolutely terrifying..." What does that even mean? The terrain alone was absolutely gorgeous, and the weather was beautiful. The shopping was excellent. The vibe was... vibrant. My cupcakes were good and mini-sized, so I could have more than one flavor. Steamworks was incredible, and Juan, Thor and I had a blast.

 

Caribbean. Bucket list.

 

SFO... on the radar for later this year.

 

Austin. Also on the radar.

 

So this guy likes Houston, and says: "Sure, this is a city so ugly that sometimes you may be tempted to put a bag over its head, but Houston is also an impressively creative and very fun town, with good museums (the Menil Collection, the Contemporary Arts Museum), plenty of good food -- Austin's own golden boy, Tyson Cole, opened Uchi here recently -- good drink (start with Anvil & Hay Merchant), plenty of music and -- best of all -- fun-loving locals who are generally anything but uptight."

 

Umm... isn't that just like any of these other cities he just dissed? I went to Houston twice to see clients and both times were hot and miserable weather, but I still had fun at Minute Maid Park watching a game, at some pretty excellent restaurants, and spending the weekend lounging in a salt-water pool.

[rvwnsd]

Not to pee on anyone's cornflakes, but here's an interesting article from the Huff Post on 10 overrated places.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/David Landsel/10-terribly-overrated-destinations_b_3030348.html?icid=maing-grid10|htmlws-main-bb|dl4|sec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D296496

 

The article left me wondering whether this is a poorly executed attempt at being humorous or simply the result of forgetting to take one's anti-depressants for a couple of days. The criticism about San Francisco could easily be leveled against New York City, which did not make his list. Denver a Midwestern city? Ummm...a quick look at a road atlas would prove that one wrong. Visiting Detroit instead of Chicago? Really? Milwaukee or Minneapolis I could see, but Detroit?

 

Sounds like his "...precious snowflake mind..." was having a meltdown that day.

[Michael Wayne]

Back to New Orleans. Miss it! Great food...amazing gay life....great clubs....small town feel in the quarter.....nice gyms..... friendly people.....decent airport....5 hours from houston....nice art. PLUS for me half of my client list still lives there. Also in NOLA the whole country comes to you for meetings, conventions, tourism etc. http://www.rentmen.com/mikeyusatop

[maninsoma]

I do like the Detroit Institute of Art. And no other city has the Motown Museum. If you're a fan of '60s Motown music like I am, it's almost like visiting Mecca. So cool to be in the house where all those great records were cut, knowing you're standing where so many talented musicians/vocalists stood just fifty years ago.

 

Apart from that, Detroit sucks -- and this is coming from someone who grew up in the area. Unless Chicago is much, much, much worse than it was in the 1980s, I'd say Chicago has it all over Detroit in every way except the Motown history.

[+ Charlie]

Am I alone in thinking it nice to live in a small town with lovely natural views? Astoria, Oregon? Kalispell, Montana? Places like that.

 

You are not alone. I fantasized a lot about Astoria, and a close friend has lived happily in an even smaller town nearby for many years. There is an organized gay group in the area, and a bath house, believe it ir not. It is a very gay-friendly area. The big drawback is the weather: you have to really like rain (average 75 in./yr) and take Vitamin D supplements, because sometimes you won't see the sun for months at a time.

[ErieBear]

Thanks everyone for your comments. There are a TON of major changes going on in my life and I have no idea where my life is headed. But one thing I do know for sure, if I do move, it will be SOMEWHERE WARM!!!!

 

I'm so damn tired of the snow and cold. UGH.

[justaguy]

I used to think a lot about moving to San Antonio. So much about that place felt right for me.

[jackboy48]

I really enjoyed living in Boston, it was large enough to have a vast array of gay communities, but still manageable, with great access to the beautiful beaches along the north shore and up to Maine, and of course Cape Cod. The Symphony, the theatre, the great museums and galleries, etc., all provided wonderful activities, plus I always felt that we were at the cutting edge of medical science, which was my field. Later I lived on a barrier island off the coast of Charleston, SC, and while it was very small, it was a spectacularly beautiful place to live and play. Now I live in Denver, which has a surprisingly large gay community, with well over 250,000 people at our annual Pridefest. We have many gems within the city, including the Symphony and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. You can be in the Rocky Mountains within minutes, and with all the emphasis on outdoor sports (downhill skiing is my passion), we are one of the most physically fit places on the planet. It is the most gay friendly place I have ever lived. The support for our Civil Unions Bill was just amazing, and once the kinks are worked out, I will soon have a marijuana garden!

[+ nycman]

New York

 

London

 

Paris

 

Suicide

 

In that order.

[+ Hoover42]

You want warm? I lived in southern New Mexico for years, and it is certainly VERY warm. But the regular sand storms in spring and fall, and the almost complete lack of anything to do besides watching sunsets, finally drove me away.

 

My point? There's always something You Will Hate about any place you live.

[Michael Wayne]

lived in san anton. great place but a little too far from a good beach for me.