Homophobia

[anne]

I've seen discussions all over the forums so I thought about putting the issue up front and center by creating a thread for it.

So basically, I wanted to ask: how bad is it from where you are right now?

[brightasyellow]

I live about 15 minutes away from DC, in Northern Virginia. I just moved back here (it's where I grew up) from LA. LA is incredibly inclusive and I loved that. I haven't really been around many people here in the DC area, but it seems that it's not as inclusive. It may not be super homophobic, but it doesn't have the same inclusive feeling that LA had.

[mango]

I live in Denver, and it's not too bad. Some areas are worse than others, of course. My neighborhood in particular is very open, and accepting. Couples walk hand in hand without ridicule, and rainbow flags are displayed proudly on homes and businesses alike, the church down the street has a huge banner that reads "marriage is a civil right", and for the most part there is an overall mood of support and love for all. That's not to say that there is no homophobia, but in general, those that are, are the minority.

[HuckFinn1]

I live in a very liberal university town in the midwest that is quite accepting of all types of relationships. Like Mango, there are rainbow flags proudly displayed all over the place and couples can be out togther without anyone giving much thought to it.

However, if I drive 30 minutes away to my hometown, homophobia is more apparent. Calling something or someone gay was pretty common in my highschool. A cousin of mine is a lesbian and she and her partner had a commitment ceremony a few years ago. A couple members of my extended family did not come due to their objections to her "lifestyle." My State also passed a marriage amendment a few years ago defining marriage as between a man and a woman only. So, I think my hometown is a little more indicitive of the State in general than the city I'm living in now.

[Ptree82]

I live in NYC and being New York now allows gays to marry I'd say we're pretty accepting of all lifestyles. One of the greatest things about living here is seeing people that others would deem as "strange" for whatever reason but no one even gives them a second look. I've seen people dressed up in Gaga-like outfits way before she was around. The Pride Parade was right after NY passed the same-sex marriage law and it was one of the most vibrant days to be a New Yorker. The whole city was just in a good spirit.

I think someday same-sex marriage will be accepted everywhere and the fact that it ever wasn't will be one of those crazy things in US history that the next generation will find shocking like how our generation feels about the fact that inter-racial marriages used to be illegal.

[xyz]

I live in North Texas. 'Nuff said. I have probably made countless people think I'm a weirdo for trying to rationally engage them in conversations about their homophobia. It is mind boggling to them that someone just doesn't automatically accept that it is wrong. That being said I have gay friends here, there is a community, and things are improving.

My family all live in the Northeast still and I can't get over my cousins calling things "gay" or people "*" on Facebook. It really bothers me and I try to call people out on that kind of vernacular as much as possible.

[brightasyellow]

I do have to constantly stand up to my brother because of the homophobic things he says. Sometimes he says them just to get me riled up, but still. My mom asked me TWICE if I was gay because I would engage in a debate about equal treatment for gay people.

[printcards]

Like Ptree82, I live in NYC (well, Queens now but still technically part of it) which is probably one of the most accepting places. I totally agree that the day New York passed the law allowing gay marriage was one of the happiest days for NYC. Everyone was in good spirits!

I've actually never lived anywhere were homophobia was the norm or even tolerated. I grew up on Long Island in a liberal, upper middle class area. There were a bunch of openly gay kids in high school and it wasn't a big deal. One guy I was semi-friends with would often wear skirts and make-up to school and he was considered pretty awesome. For college I went to a women's college (any other Seven Sisters out there?), so obviously that was a very accepting place. I would say about 25-30% of the student body was gay (with many more being LUGS aka Lesbian Until Graduation; I always thought that was a bit weird, but to each her own) and every year would usually have one or two transgender students.

I always wonder if I would have different views if I had grown up in a different environment. I certainly hope not, but I understand how it could be hard for someone to move beyond the views of everyone they're surrounded by.

[Ptree82]

Like Ptree82, I live in NYC (well, Queens now but still technically part of it) which is probably one of the most accepting places.

Hey I'm a Staten Islander! All boroughs count SI is mostly a republican borough and I, myself, am a very strong republican but I never understood how same-sex marriage rights were even a contested politically. It's not costing the state money to allow people to get married. It should have just been a right as soon as they asked for it.

[anacinforheadaches]

I live in utah and as an overall state, very very homophobic. Downtown slc is much more accepting of an area than most. Provo area the least, besides the little hick towns.