Gay - Gay friendly cities

[Rudynate]

It doesn't get much better than Santa Fe - small, progressive, historic, mild winters.

 

 

Many small cities in Northern California are gay-friendly - Guerneville, Sonoma, Napa, Santa Rosa, Petuluma, Sausalito, Ukiah, Mendocino, etc., etc.

[Rudynate]

University towns generally are gay-friendly: Ithaca, Cambridge, Ann Arbor, Madison, Austin, etc. etc.

[+ azdr0710]

these suggestions might help current forum members, but the OP hasn't been seen here in ten years....wonder if he ever got out of Boston

[klifhangar]

these suggestions might help current forum members, but the OP hasn't been seen here in ten years....wonder if he ever got out of Boston

 

Haha Dutch been drank'n?

[Epigonos]

I agree with everything Charlie said about Palm Springs. Another consideration when thinking about living there is -- do you like the desert. I, for example, hate it and the climate in the summer is unbearable 110 is not unusual.

Over the years I have spent a considerable amount of time in Albuquerque. I've seen it grow from a wide spot in the road to a good sized city. The climate is nice although he can get cool in the winter and warm in the summer. If you are at all interested in Southwest Native American arts, crafts, and culture it is a great place to be. I have no idea how gay friendly it is. Santa Fe about an hour north of Albuquerque is most definitely gay friendly. During the winter many mid-western snowbirds live there. As Charlie stated it can be rather pretentious and smug. Again if you are interested in Native American culture it is a wonderful place to live. It is definitely MUCH more expensive than Albuquerque.

I have also heard great things about Portland. It is growing fast and much of the older part of the city is gentrifying. Although it can be rainy and overcast it isn't nearly as much so as Seattle. I also understand that it is very gay friendly.

[Beancounter]

Des Moines, Iowa.....a hidden gem

[+ FreshFluff]

The Bay Area, duh. How about Austin?

 

these suggestions might help current forum members, but the OP hasn't been seen here in ten years....wonder if he ever got out of Boston

 

He didn't have to. Boston changed on its own.

[IowaGuy]

Agree, Des Moines has much to offer!

[Rudynate]

Agree, Des Moines has much to offer!

 

Does it have a typically midwestern climate - hot, humid summers and harsh winters?

[marylander1940]

these suggestions might help current forum members, but the OP hasn't been seen here in ten years....wonder if he ever got out of Boston

 

Exactly it's a thread from 2004... and he hasn't posted since 2006...

 

Even though I always search before posting, I think this thread about Affordable gay friendly cities is interesting to go on.

 

One more thing, how much things have changed since 2004: DOMA and DADT are gone, gay marriage all over the country, PrEP revolution, was RentBoy around then?

 

I'm sure the concept of "gay friendly" now has a higher bar.

[klifhangar]

Portland truly is a beautiful city and a great culture to live in. It is not as rainy as Seattle (we tell everyone that it is so they don't move here), and the summers are beautiful. In mid winter, I have to find a warm city once or twice to tide me over.

 

I could see retiring in Florida or maybe SoCal eventually. That is, if I hadn't had a baby in my 40's rendering retirement nearly impossible

[IowaGuy]

Affordable, good economy, quality life, medical care, reasonable housing prices. www.catchdesmoines.com

[nynakedtop]

Burlington, Vermont!

[+ Charlie]

It was strange to see this old thread resurrected, and to read my own comment there. At the time, I had just moved to Palm Springs after forty years in Philadelphia. Now, 12 years later, I am seriously thinking of leaving Palm Springs and looking for somewhere else to live.

 

Of course, as Marylander noted, "gay friendly" means something different today than it did a dozen years ago, but in some ways Palm Springs is less "gay friendly" than it used to be; as Rick Munroe used to complain about Chelsea, it has been infiltrated with straight people. Yes, it is dominated politically by gay men--the last three mayors and almost every member of city council for as long as I have lived here (most of them married to other men, sometimes with children)--and the town famously hosts all sorts of gay events, including our own Palm Springs Weekend (of which I was one of the founders). But straights have discovered it, and it is being inundated with straight tourists and new residents. Of the twelve houses on our cul-de-sac, seven were owned and occupied by gay men when we arrived; as of this week, only two others remain. Many homes are being bought by investors, who turn them into short stay rentals through organizations like AirBNB or VRBO. I no longer know the names of most of my neighbors, and the renters are often straight families or young "party house" types. The tennis club I belonged to, half of whose members were gay, and where the first gay tennis tournaments were held, has been closed because the land is being sold to a developer of upscale condos. The funky downtown is being redeveloped into chain stores and big hotels. The traffic that used to dissipate in sleepy summers is now year round.

 

As I grow old, I think I am more interested in a place that is "people friendly," and to me, Palm Springs no longer seems to fit that description as well as it used to. I am probably unduly influenced by the fact that the temperatures keep rising and the water--and the greenery that depends on it--keeps disappearing. My grass is brown and my trees are dying as we try to hold on to enough water to flush all the toilets in the hotels. The heat this summer has been bad: the high today is supposed to be 113, and a couple of weeks ago it was 122. We managed to escape for a couple of weeks on the Oregon coast, and re-entry this week has been brutal. My electric bill last month, most of it for air conditioning, was $267 for a small house, but it is absolutely necessary, because it sometimes feels like an oven outside even long after the sun goes down. And if the power fails, which it does more often than in any other area I have ever lived, one scrambles to find someplace to escape to.

 

A few years ago, I would have considered moving to Portland, but now housing there is becoming expensive as people get priced out of San Francisco and Seattle. I don't know where we will be living a year from now, but it is a strong possibility that it won't be here.

[Rudynate]

 

A few years ago, I would have considered moving to Portland, but now housing there is becoming expensive as people get priced out of San Francisco and Seattle. I don't know where we will be living a year from now, but it is a strong possibility that it won't be here.

 

 

Think small cities having population around 100K, but within easy traveling distance of a major metropolitan area.

[+ Charlie]

Think small cities having population around 100K, but within easy traveling distance of a major metropolitan area.

We are looking seriously at Eugene.

[+ DERRIK]

Columbus OH comes to my mind as gay friendly

 

Good gay district

Ohio State

Respectable bath house

Variety of industries with good jobs

 

Avoid Cincy

[BasketBaller]

Washington has extremes of cold in winter and heat in summer, but fall and spring are glorious. It's gotten expensive in the gay enclaves of DuPont Circle and Logan Circle, but there are less expensive up-and-coming neighborhoods. Gay friendly, with several gay city council members, great cultural scene, great restaurant scene, I love it here.

[+ bashful]

Washington has extremes of cold in winter and heat in summer, but fall and spring are glorious. It's gotten expensive in the gay enclaves of DuPont Circle and Logan Circle, but there are less expensive up-and-coming neighborhoods. Gay friendly, with several gay city council members, great cultural scene, great restaurant scene, I love it here.

 

DC is a great city. Love it. Usually stay in the west area, close to Foggy Bottom near M and 23rd. (Westin, Ritz Carlton). And, close to Georgetown too. Love walking around there. People are friendly. Last planned visit (that got cancelled) had me staying at the Renaissance on 9th, but didn't get there. Was hoping to see that area.

[pubic_assistance]

Philadelphia is the new center of art and culture for young people on the East Coast, due to the rising costs of living in NYC. Where there is art, there are gay men. City of "Brotherly" Love. Philly has a gayborhood in the historic center.

[Bearofdistinction]

I currently live around the Boston area, I would love to move, this city is getting to me! I just have no idea where to start considering, I would love NYC, but that is not feasible right now, I again loved San Fran but it is also so expensive.

 

Any suggestions of cities that are very gay friendly? Warmer climate, cool places to hang out and meet others? I am ready for a move! I have been to San Diego a few times I hear it has a great area of town that is very gay and that it is gay friendly. I would love a smaller citie that has some of what NYC and San Fran has I am just not sure it exsists.

 

Thanks for any suggestions, it may just be that it is August and we haven't had a summer to speak of! I am already dreading the cold that is on the horizon!

 

Thanks for any suggestions..

 

Don't be Silly -- Come to Philly! Very affordable neighborhoods in the area know as Center City which runs river to river -30 blocks east to west and North to South - the heart of the City ---

 

An Active Gay Community - Major Universities and Excellent Healthcare. World-Class Museums - A Nationally reknowned Gay Newspaper Weekly -- Great theatre - amazing dining at all levels from neighborhood to Conde Naste quality. Incredible Orchestra/Ballet and Opera Companies at affordable prices - Lots of professional Sports if you like that

 

A Gay Sports Leagues - with everything from darts to Rugby-Swim teams - Roller Blading on the River --Baseball and Bowling - Bikes by the Hour All over town as well as Car Share programs

 

The Way Gay Community Center and Gay Archives - Not to mention the 1st or 2nd LGBT Friendly Senior Housing Development in the nation located right in the Center of the Gayborhood

 

Very Gay Friendly City Government and Mayor - LGBT Liaison Bureau to the Police - An LGBT Human Rights Commission -- Laws Protecting LGBT Individuals from discrimination in Housing/Employment/Public accommodation/trans Rights protections/

 

A Tourism Bureau that actively promotes to the Gay Community- Incredible History and Architecture - A very walkable city - with Great Parks - Great Festivals - Parades and More.

 

And for the Northeast a very moderate climate in general -- we have some cold winters - but they are the exceptions rather than the rule -- Same with the Summers

[+ WilliamM]

An Active Gay Community - Major Universities and Excellent Healthcare. World-Class Museums - A Nationally reknowned Gay Newspaper Weekly -- Great theatre - amazing dining at all levels from neighborhood to Conde Naste quality. Incredible Orchestra/Ballet and Opera Companies at affordable prices - Lots of professional Sports if you like that

 

I am not so sure about "Great theatre." How many cities were hosts to two versions of the play "Legends!" The original version with Carol Channing and Mary Martin and the revival with Joan Collins and Linda Evans. The more accurate description is that great theater is only 90 miles away in New York City.

 

Everything else is 100% true especially great museums and affordable housing.