1171 replies to this topic

[JerseyBoy]

krazeeboi, on Sep 2 2006, 01:19 AM, said:

Ummm, I wouldn't exactly say that. Firstly, I don't think one city can be compared to an entire state. Secondly, there are more liberal and less liberal cities in any state. Thirdly, do you really believe that Charlotte is more liberal than Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, or even *gasp* Columbia?

Doesn't Atlanta have the third highest concentration of homosexual people after New York and San Francisco?

[Charlotteman]

Oh I wasn't trying to compare Charlotte to Seattle:)  Those kinds of comparisons seem a bit sophomoric to me:)

Just in case anyone on here doesn't already know, I think Charlotte is fabulous:)  When I lived in Florida, and vacationed in Charlotte it was always like a breath of fresh air, driving over the Mecklenburg County line.  Friends I brought along were ALWAYS impressed too.

If someone were to compare Seattle and Charlotte (talk about comparing apples and oranges~~) the bottom line is obviously religion.  Seattle's religious atmosphere is very very low key.  Never in your face---and most x-tians are live and let live.  But as we all know Charlotte is in the Bible Belt, with plenty of Fred Phelps types who just love to "agitate against the queers".

Charlotte could be every bit as liberal and open as Seattle, if the nut case religious element in Charlotte would fade a little~~~of course that is not likely in the short term future.  And I'm not just picking on Charlotte.  There are plenty of whacko religious nuts all across the South, and all across the country.

[davidclt]

krazeeboi, on Sep 2 2006, 03:19 AM, said:

Ummm, I wouldn't exactly say that. Firstly, I don't think one city can be compared to an entire state.

Fair enough.

krazeeboi, on Sep 2 2006, 03:19 AM, said:

Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, or even *gasp* Columbia?

Atlanta: About the same.  Georgia has amended their constitution to ban gay marriage and I remain amazed at the rhetoric in the AJC which makes that from the Observer look tame by comparison.  Metro Atlanta benefits from its size.
Miami: Well, no on that.
Orlando: Hell yeah - Orlando is surprisingly conservative IMHO.
Tampa: Yup
Columbia: I don't have a good feel there, but I'd say yes.

[davidclt]

Charlotteman, on Sep 2 2006, 09:37 AM, said:

Oh I wasn't trying to compare Charlotte to Seattle:)  Those kinds of comparisons seem a bit sophomoric to me:)

Well in Seattle I was considered a conservative, in Charlotte I'm a liberal  .

Charlotteman, on Sep 2 2006, 09:37 AM, said:

Florida . . . it was always like a breath of fresh air, driving over the Mecklenburg County line.

I can appreciate that as well.  It's always good to get home.

Charlotteman, on Sep 2 2006, 09:37 AM, said:

If someone were to compare Seattle and Charlotte (talk about comparing apples and oranges~~) the bottom line is obviously religion.  Seattle's religious atmosphere is very very low key.  Never in your face---and most x-tians are live and let live.  But as we all know Charlotte is in the Bible Belt, with plenty of Fred Phelps types who just love to "agitate against the queers".

I think what I was trying to say is that the x-tian element is definitely present here but it is not as omnipresent as it used to be.  I moved back from Seattle reluctantly but I've found much to really love about Charlotte and less of what drove me away (to Seattle).  Sure we don't have the beautiful setting of Seattle but there are plenty of good people here wanting to make Charlotte and this world a better place.

One thing which always struck me odd about Seattle was how little individuals really gave back to the community at large and how segregated the communities were.  I tried more than once to find a group which was doing something to make Seattle as a city better.  Sure I could participate on the Hill with AIDS relief or in Pioneer Square helping the homeless but Habitat was not doing much and there was not much other community-wide outreach.  I think Charlotte in many ways has maximized their civic capital for good and for sometimes not so good.  By the same token, the last time I was in Seattle, I was amazed how much civic capital had been either sqandered or completely lost.

Maybe I'm just living in an inner-ring Charlotte distortion field (Plaza-Midwood, Elizabeth, Dilworth) where I feel there are other like-minded folks.  But I also know there are like-minded folks all over Mecklenburg county and surrounding counties.

[krazeeboi]

The feel that I get is that Atlanta as a city is definitely more liberal Charlotte. Georgia is still a conservative state, much like NC, so there's no surprise there as far as its state constitution is concerned. And forumer Waccamatt, who is from Columbia, has stated that Columbia is home to the first Gay & Lesbian Community Center in the Carolinas and also that Pat McCrory was asked to speak at this year's HRC Banquet in Charlotte, but he refused and Columbia's mayor drove up on short notice to make an appearance. I also believe Columbia extends domestic partner benefits to city employees.

Personally, I can't see how Charlotte is "screamingly liberal" compared to the other cities I mentioned. I concur with voyager in that Charlotte would be considered a moderate city that tends to lean a little to the right--much like many other larger cities in the South.

[monsoon]

davidclt, on Sep 2 2006, 09:15 PM, said:

....Maybe I'm just living in an inner-ring Charlotte distortion field (Plaza-Midwood, Elizabeth, Dilworth) where I feel there are other like-minded folks.  .....

Ironically these neighborhoods are becoming more conservative.  Much more so with Dilworth, not as much as Midwood.

[waccamatt]

I would have attended Pride in Charlotte this year if they had a parade or a more openly public event. I will be attending NC Pride in Durham on September and hope the turnout wll be good. I attend SC Pride every year in Columbia and I try to make it to NC Pride every year, too. I think the whole key to advancing our cause is for everyone to be out of the closet. Like Charlotteman said, we would be as bad as our oppressors if we didn't allow drag queens to fully participate in Gay and Lesbian events. BTW, as a Gay banker, I think people like to see us, too! After all, we provide an important service!

[voyager12]

Like most cities, the intown neighborhoods tend to be more gay friendly and generally liberal.  Atlanta is the same way with Virginia Highlands, Midtown, East ATL  etc etc. I spend most of my time in Dilworth,PlazaMidwood,Elizabeth and Noda. And they are the closest thing Charlotte has to blue bubbles. If you spend too much time in this zone you get a very wacked out view of Charlotte so I need to travel more   I really don't see Dilworth as becoming more conservative than than Plaza Midwood and Elizabeth. Election results still show it to be majority Democratic leaning. The DCDA president is openly gay. Dilworth democrats are more Starbucks BMW types, while the left leaning East Charlotte neighborhoods have more Common Market beat up Volvo libs.  I agree that their is less a much less snooty vibe on the East Side.

[monsoon]

20 years ago, Dilworth had 2 gay bars, one of them a drag bar, a Club South bathhouse, two adult oriented places that are favored by some Gays, a Gay restaurant in hiding (not Laisons), and a Gay non-adult bookstore.  All gone now and replaced by pretty bland gentrification.   It's much much more conservative now.

[voyager12]

As one of the last Mohican renters in Dilworth, I definitely agree with the gentrification issue. Dilworth is many times over gentrified and still the condos come    And its definitely less gay, funky, and artsy from what I hear. I guess a lot of it is perspective. Since I have only lived in the area a year and a half, I don't have the same point of reference.

[Charlotteman]

Charlotte beats the hell out of Seattle in MANY MANY areas.  Sure Seattle is extremely liberal, has a progressive political scene, and is gay positive/celebrates diversity.....

BUT if you wanna live a life with close and dear friends, friends to call on the phone, friends and associates and co workers to have dinner with occassionally----then don't even think about moving to Seattle.  Friendliness is generally seen as suspect. "Why is he being friendly to me?  What does he want from me?"

Chatting someone up in a grocery store queue, or on a bus, or at work is generally considered "intrusive".

And heaven forbid a man being friendly to a woman, with only friendliness in mind!  If a man is friendly toward a woman it is ONLY because he "wants to get into her pants".  I always try to let a woman know, right off the bat, that I'm gay, so she won't think I'm trying to hit on her~~that really sucks I tell ya:(

There is no community spirit here whatsoever.  Really no municipal spirit either.  Look at the Seattle thread on urbanplanet-----looks more like a thread of a very small city.  Charlotte's urbanplanet participation shows a much more evolved pride of city, interest in one's city.

Most folks in Seattle only care about their very small immediate sphere i.e. immediate family.  Neighbors rarely talk to one another here.  It can be really sad, and it took me over 10 years to get used to it.  I grew up in Carolina where friendliness is NORMAL.

So when liberal folks at N.C. look longingly toward Seattle, these things should be kept in mind.  Seattle is a FABULOUS place to vacation, but if ya can stand the humid summers, I think Charlotte's quality of life makes it a better place to call home.

[voyager12]

I went to a gay rights fundraiser here two weeks ago and a few of the house guests were visiting from bigger cities. They said while its great living in places that have a huge gay community that is more politically powerful, there is also much less togetherness and unity.  I suppose one could argue that there is no need for it in DC or  New York because gays are not marginalized in those towns. And there is more dedication and cohesion in places like Charlotte because we have no choice as a result of the area's conservative culture. Even so I would rather be in this type of environment. Living in a blue state or blue city is wonderfully self affirming and pleasant. I think its equally important though to have a presence in a more conservative area like Charlotte where you can see progress, although slower than many would like,  being made all the time.

[King_of_queen]

I'm very conservative. So, you all probably know my out look on it.I dont mind people doing there little thing, but I just dont want my kids near it.I love charlotte, Im just more of a Gastonia person.Yall can do your little pride thing, as long as I can do my religious thing.

[Charlotteman]

King of Queen, you don't have to worry about your kids being around gays.  It doesn't rub off.  Oh and by the way, homos are created by heteros if you didn't figure that out.

Another point is that your kids are around gay people every day of their lives right now....their teachers, their neighbors, their doctor or their nurse, their friends, etc.  Gay people are everywhere my friend.  

You can be as conservative as you want.  Doesn't bother me.

[monsoon]

King_of_queen, on Sep 3 2006, 11:46 AM, said:

I'm very conservative. So, you all probably know my out look on it.I dont mind people doing there little thing, but I just dont want my kids near it.I love charlotte, Im just more of a Gastonia person.Yall can do your little pride thing, as long as I can do my religious thing.

You know, I see no point to such a response in this thread as it only goes to demonstrate you are either fairly ignorant and backwards or a bigot or both.   BTW, I have met many many Gay people that do live in Gastonia and while they do say they have to put up with BS from some people for the most part they don't have any problems there.   My guess is none of them live near you and I feel sorry for your kids.

I never cease to be amazed by people who call themselve's religious who go out of their way to make themselves a pain in the ass to everyone else.   Don't bother the people in this thread again with your self righteous nonsense and I would consider this a warning if I were you.  (thankfully I'm not)

[King_of_queen]

First off, i said It doesnt bother me that yall are.I said I dont want my kids around it.
And second~I'm Mexican.You think it bothers Me you dont like it...no.
And 3rd~I dont need nobodies 0 cents.

monsoon, on Sep 3 2006, 10:19 AM, said:

You know, I see no point to such a response in this thread as it only goes to demonstrate you are either fairly ignorant and backwards or a bigot or both.   BTW, I have met many many Gay people that do live in Gastonia and while they do say they have to put up with BS from some people for the most part they don't have any problems there.   My guess is none of them live near you and I feel sorry for your kids.

I never cease to be amazed by people who call themselve's religious who go out of their way to make themselves a pain in the ass to everyone else.   Don't bother the people in this thread again with your self righteous nonsense and I would consider this a warning if I were you.  (thankfully I'm not)

[monsoon]

King_of_queen, on Sep 3 2006, 01:43 PM, said:

First off, i said It doesnt bother me that yall are.I said I dont want my kids around it.
And second~I'm Mexican.You think it bothers Me you dont like it...no.
And 3rd~I dont need nobodies 0 cents.

Tell it to the hand, because nobody here cares about your or your kids.   Last time I checked, nobody forced you or your offspring to go to this event, or even participate in this thread.  I say go stick you head back in the hole it came from in Mexico and quit pestering the people trying to have a discussion about it in this topic.

[Charlotteman]

metro's right---this is a blatant example of backwardness and bigotry.

I'm still curious what "I don't want my kids around it" means.  I was around hetero stuff the whole time I was growing up.  It didn't make me hetero~~

[norm21499]

Does this thread need to be locked?

[norm21499]

King of Queen, it DOES bother me by saying "you dont want your kids around it." But it also bothers me that Metro is flying off the handle. I do not agree that children being exposed to homosexuals makes them homosexuals, if that is what you are implying King of Queen. Or unless you just want to shelter your children from what you consider to be sin. But.....you do realize you wont be able to shelter your children forever, once they get into middle school you cant completely shelter them anymore. Sure you can shelter them at home, but you cant at school. By the wya Metro, your coment telling King of Queen to "stick his head back into the hole it came from in Mexico" is 100% racist and does not belong in this forum. I would advise you, moderator Metro, to moderate your own language please. Otherwise I will request for another moderator to edit your language. Thank you.