23 replies to this topic

[kayman]

Since last August with the passage of the Inclusion Resolution by the City of Birmingham, and other ongoing issues in the region affecting the residents in the region that are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trans gender needs a topic for these ongoing postings and a resource guide.  

****However, any bigoted or dogmatic comments or postings will be deleted immediately.  The discussion in this topic should remain civil and members who do make these comments will receive an immediate warning.****

I was surfing the net last night and came across a couple of interesting facts, articles, and links involving Birmingham's GLBT community such as this article: Despite Rocky History, Birmingham GLBT Community Making Progress

The article discusses the progress and lack of for Birmingham has made for with GLBT issues.  It also talks about State Representative Patricia Todd being Alabama's first out political official elected to the state legislature, but I discovered last night that the new member of the Birmingham Board of Education, Howard Bayless, is also a member of the community.  The article also goes in to great detail to reveal that Birmingham has more same-sex couples per capita concentration than other assumed "more progressive Southern cities" like Charlotte, as well as other Southern cities like Memphis and northern liberal cities like Columbus (Ohio).  It also talks about how Crestwood has become Birmingham's more progressive part, but the city as a whole is more progressive than the majority of Alabama.  The marriage protection amendment passed with 86% statewide, but here in Jeffco it only had 55% support showing that Birmingham is turning the corner.   City Councilwoman Valerie Abbot, the inclusion resolution sponsor, said in the article that she hopes one day that Birmingham passes an anti-discrimination law that includes sexual orientation.  Overall, the article gives others more incite on the growing GLBT community, and that Birmingham has made some progression in the key areas involving sexual orientation.

[bhamsly]

Leonard23, on Jan 15 2008, 11:41 AM, said:

Since last August with the passage of the Inclusion Resolution by the City of Birmingham, and other ongoing issues in the region affecting the residents in the region that are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trans gender needs a topic for these ongoing postings and a resource guide.

****However, any bigoted or dogmatic comments or postings will be deleted immediately. The discussion in this topic should remain civil and members who do make these comments will receive an immediate warning.****

I was surfing the net last night and came across a couple of interesting facts, articles, and links involving Birmingham's GLBT community such as this article: Despite Rocky History, Birmingham GLBT Community Making Progress

The article discusses the progress and lack of for Birmingham has made for with GLBT issues. It also talks about State Representative Patricia Todd being Alabama's first out political official elected to the state legislature, but I discovered last night that the new member of the Birmingham Board of Education, Howard Bayless, is also a member of the community. The article also goes in to great detail to reveal that Birmingham has more same-sex couples per capita concentration than other assumed "more progressive Southern cities" like Charlotte, as well as other Southern cities like Memphis and northern liberal cities like Columbus (Ohio). It also talks about how Crestwood has become Birmingham's more progressive part, but the city as a whole is more progressive than the majority of Alabama. The marriage protection amendment passed with 86% statewide, but here in Jeffco it only had 55% support showing that Birmingham is turning the corner. City Councilwoman Valerie Abbot, the inclusion resolution sponsor, said in the article that she hopes one day that Birmingham passes an anti-discrimination law that includes sexual orientation. Overall, the article gives others more incite on the growing GLBT community, and that Birmingham has made some progression in the key areas involving sexual orientation.

I wondered when this discussion was going to occur. I can really see an increase in Birmingham's GLBT community. Birmingham is home to 4 or 5 mixed lifestyle nightclubs. The GLBT community even hosts a parade in honor of the lifestyle each year on Highland Ave. Almost everytime that I am at work in Brookwood Mall, I notice same-sex females openly holding hands as they walk through the mall. Homosexual guys come to the mall, and they too are open;however, they aren't to the point of holding hands in the mall. I do find it interesting that Birmingham is more progressive than Charlotte, but I will not argue with the facts.

[j.midtown]

bhamsly, on Jan 15 2008, 06:48 PM, said:

I wondered when this discussion was going to occur. I can really see an increase in Birmingham's GLBT community. Birmingham is home to 4 or 5 mixed lifestyle nightclubs. The GLBT community even hosts a parade in honor of the lifestyle each year on Highland Ave. Almost everytime that I am at work in Brookwood Mall, I notice same-sex females openly holding hands as they walk through the mall. Homosexual guys come to the mall, and they too are open;however, they aren't to the point of holding hands in the mall. I do find it interesting that Birmingham is more progressive than Charlotte, but I will not argue with the facts.

Ahem..  it is an orientation, not a lifestyle. Being GLBT is not equivalent to being "rich and famous" or the jetset. GLBT people live in every lifestyle, from rich to poor, urban to rural, jetset to soccer moms, fitness-oriented to couch potatoes, sports fans to arts patrons. Who a person is attracted to and falls in love with does not equate to a lifestyle.

As to the same-sex household Census stats; they don't necessarily represent an accurate count that can be considered a "fact" since there was no attempt at counting single GLBT people. Until the census form actually asks "the question" the numbers will be a rough estimate at best and even if/when it does, there may be a significant undercount for obvious reasons.

[convulso]

bhamsly, on Jan 15 2008, 05:48 PM, said:

I wondered when this discussion was going to occur. I can really see an increase in Birmingham's GLBT community. Birmingham is home to 4 or 5 mixed lifestyle nightclubs. The GLBT community even hosts a parade in honor of the lifestyle each year on Highland Ave.

which of the clubs, if you know, is most welcoming of heteros? some places attract an all-gay or all-lez crowd, but my favorite type of bars have always been gay bars with plenty of straight people, etc. i just haven't ever thought about the gay bar scene in bham, figuring it was pretty limited. i'm straight, so i have always felt i'd be sending the wrong message going alone into a gay bar with a strictly all-male clientele. when wife & i have done so in other places, we've gotten odd looks - never an issue in the highly mixed gay bars.

highland in general is a good place to spot gay / lez couples walking dogs, holding hands, etc. i love living here, because this area's welcoming feel positively kills the open culture in some other cities' most 'progressive' neighborhoods. rainbow flags hanging from the street lamps around parade time blows my mind - i always think, 'the city is actually paying for this?' pretty cool for a supposedly backassward southern town.

[kayman]

After discovering this article it was quite surprising to know that Birmingham has such progressive mindset, and this is coming from someone that has lived here on and off through my life.  I think the fact that the local media particularly ABC 33/40's choice to censor Ellen DeGeneres "coming out" episode created this preception that Birmingham is a "don't ask, don't tell" type of place, but is good to know we have made a progressive steps since the mid-90's.  On my way out of town towards my parents' house, I have noticed rainbow flags on certain houses in the Avondale and Crestwood areas, so I do believe when they say the area is more prominent for same-sex couples.  However, I think the turning point is going to be when Birmingham does pass anti-discrimination law covering sexual orientation and offers domestic benefits for same-sex couples.

On the nightlife, I used to bar and club hop when I from 18-20, but my grades began to suffer because of the ripping and running all the time.  I'm not afraid to admit I'm bisexual, but I'm not a big club or bar person this days.  Even then I went to hetero bars and clubs although I knew about about clubs like The Quest, Phoenix, and Club 21.  If I do go out (which is rare due to my studies and job), I go to mixed bars like Lakeview Yacht Club.

[bhamsly]

convulso, on Jan 19 2008, 01:57 AM, said:

which of the clubs, if you know, is most welcoming of heteros? some places attract an all-gay or all-lez crowd, but my favorite type of bars have always been gay bars with plenty of straight people, etc. i just haven't ever thought about the gay bar scene in bham, figuring it was pretty limited. i'm straight, so i have always felt i'd be sending the wrong message going alone into a gay bar with a strictly all-male clientele. when wife & i have done so in other places, we've gotten odd looks - never an issue in the highly mixed gay bars.

highland in general is a good place to spot gay / lez couples walking dogs, holding hands, etc. i love living here, because this area's welcoming feel positively kills the open culture in some other cities' most 'progressive' neighborhoods. rainbow flags hanging from the street lamps around parade time blows my mind - i always think, 'the city is actually paying for this?' pretty cool for a supposedly backassward southern town.

I don't think that any of the bars mind hetero couples... I know for a fact that singles are in the clubs all the time. In the one's that I have been to, the clientele has been very mixed with males and females. The looks given to you and your wife may have been because they were trying to figure out whether you guys were together or not. In those bars, you have some the most open minded people anywhere, and they really don't care that you and your wife are there. I am sure they wouldn't want to hit on you after knowing that you two wife were there together. Just a side note, some clubs to check out (depending on what you want for the night) that you can check out if you haven't would be Lakeview Yacht Club, The Quest, or C 21(which caters to people that enjoy hip-hop, but is open to everyone). I don't know about The Phoenix or Club Exquisite (if it still exsists). I hope more of Birmingham could become a little accepting other than the Highland and Crestwood areas. What exactly do you like about going to alternative lifestyle clubs...the music, the people, or the entire experience? I think a bar similar to Euro nightclubs would be awesome in Birmingham since they are very similar to gay bars.

[kayman]

Actually, there are some parts beyond Crestwood & Avondale that are slightly more tolerable than we may think.  A close male friend of mine, him and his boyfriend have a house in the Woodland Park neighborhood in South Titusville.  Their neighborhood demographic is mainly 50+, and they know about them being a couple and they don't have any problems at all.  

I think one of the main problems is that our local media lacks the courage like WTVF, NewsChannel 5 in Nashville to admit Birmingham has a sizeable GLBT community.  I think this stems from fear of backlash and loss of advertisement dollars from the overall conservative nature of Central Alabama outside of the large urban areas.

[kayman]

Here are some other GLBT resources in the Greater Birmingham area:

Equality Alabama
Central Alabama Pride
Gay Birmingham

[convulso]

bhamsly, on Jan 19 2008, 02:16 PM, said:

What exactly do you like about going to alternative lifestyle clubs...the music, the people, or the entire experience? I think a bar similar to Euro nightclubs would be awesome in Birmingham since they are very similar to gay bars.

mostly, in the highly mixed environments, we love the welcoming disposition you described in your post. our favorite bar anywhere is the golden lantern in new orleans - a gay bar. but it's not militant, and the guys there LOVE my wife and are never anything but awesome to either of us. when i've gone into some gay bars alone, i get f-dogs literally wagging their tongues at me and saying suggestive crap, etc. i figured that's what i should expect here, simply because a town with a limited number of alt bars usually has a pretty stratified, clique-ish bar scene in the first place.

thanks for the good info.

[kayman]

Mayor Langford strikes again!

Now, he should have known if you are going to open your mouth and call being GLBT a "lifestyle" that he doesn't support then he shouldn't have decided to do that sackcloth and ashes stance with the citywide pray rally in March.  The Central Alabama Pride organization is still going to be able to do their 20th annual Birmingham Gay Pride Parade on the Southside, but they won't be able to put up rainbow flags and banners as they have in years past.  Even past mayors Arrington and Kincaid didn't have any qualms allowing them to use the city's right-of-way for the flags and banners in Five Points South.  Langford is just going to give Birmingham another black eye when it comes to outsiders views of this placed because of his hypocripsy.  If you are going to do that open promotion of a certain establishment of a citywide pray rally and lunchhour bible study in city hall then you shouldn't have a problem with allowing the GLBT doing what they always have done with the annual parade.

It is also becoming more and more apparent as time goes by that the GLBT folks are the only ones that seems migrating to the city at this point, so I wouldn't want to alienate the last group of people that wants to live here.

[bhamsly]

Leonard23, on May 26 2008, 11:11 AM, said:

Mayor Langford strikes again!

Now, he should have known if you are going to open your mouth and call being GLBT a "lifestyle" that he doesn't support then he shouldn't have decided to do that sackcloth and ashes stance with the citywide pray rally in March. The Central Alabama Pride organization is still going to be able to do their 20th annual Birmingham Gay Pride Parade on the Southside, but they won't be able to put up rainbow flags and banners as they have in years past. Even past mayors Arrington and Kincaid didn't have any qualms allowing them to use the city's right-of-way for the flags and banners in Five Points South. Langford is just going to give Birmingham another black eye when it comes to outsiders views of this placed because of his hypocripsy. If you are going to do that open promotion of a certain establishment of a citywide pray rally and lunchhour bible study in city hall then you shouldn't have a problem with allowing the GLBT doing what they always have done with the annual parade.

It is also becoming more and more apparent as time goes by that the GLBT folks are the only ones that seems migrating to the city at this point, so I wouldn't want to alienate the last group of people that wants to live here.

I agree with you and not to be agreeing with Langford, but he did say that he is not going to be the object standing in the way of this...he is allowing it, but wants no part in it. He has every right for not wanting to take part in it. It is(the parade) is still going to happen from what I understand without the mayors concent. That leaves the question though, is it still going to be a week long event with the decorations in Five Points South?

[kayman]

bhamsly, on May 26 2008, 12:20 PM, said:

I agree with you and not to be agreeing with Langford, but he did say that he is not going to be the object standing in the way of this...he is allowing it, but wants no part in it. He has every right for not wanting to take part in it. It is(the parade) is still going to happen from what I understand without the mayors concent. That leaves the question though, is it still going to be a week long event with the decorations in Five Points South?

I believe there will be a week of events, but I doubt there will be any decorations along the city's right-of-way.  The decorations will likely be just on the property of business themselves.

[convulso]

so all the mardi gras-style beads i saw on southside this past weekend (june 7) were GLBT festivities adornments? what's the connection between GLBT and beads? is there one? or is it just that mardi gras beads lend themselves to all manner of revelry in general?

[woob]

convulso, on Jun 12 2008, 05:31 AM, said:

so all the mardi gras-style beads i saw on southside this past weekend (june 7) were GLBT festivities adornments? what's the connection between GLBT and beads? is there one? or is it just that mardi gras beads lend themselves to all manner of revelry in general?

I am with Leaping Larry on this.. I have to give him credit.. he's just standing up against a lifestyle he strongly disagrees with.. as do i.  I'm not going to protest and tell them they are wrong.. but I don't believe I should have it rubbed in my face either.. am I going to tell them I am proud of them and tell them they are brave.. no... why should I? if I did I'd be lying.

[kayman]

woob, on Jun 12 2008, 09:49 PM, said:

I am with Leaping Larry on this.. I have to give him credit.. he's just standing up against a lifestyle he strongly disagrees with.. as do i.  I'm not going to protest and tell them they are wrong.. but I don't believe I should have it rubbed in my face either.. am I going to tell them I am proud of them and tell them they are brave.. no... why should I? if I did I'd be lying.

Woob, I would have to arguably disagree on the lifestyle statement.  Your sexuality is not "lifestyle", a lifestyle is something you choose which to do actively such as drugs, frequent clubbing, etc.   Considering the fact that the only people who are moving Birmingham as of late are same-sex couples, singles, and young professionals (mostly not native to Alabama), I would be strongly advised for Mayor Langford to not burn the bridge with the few people who are still migrating to the city to reside.  It is your personal choice to agree or disagree, but realize that the way this city's leadership acts towards such things like a Pride Parade is a reflection to outsiders with no knowledge of Birmingham of how progressive this place really is.............

[convulso]

Leonard23, on Jun 12 2008, 11:37 PM, said:

Woob, I would have to arguably disagree on the lifestyle statement. [...]strongly advised for Mayor Langford to not burn the bridge with the few people who are still migrating to the city to reside.  It is your personal choice to agree or disagree, but realize that the way this city's leadership acts towards such things like a Pride Parade is a reflection to outsiders with no knowledge of Birmingham of how progressive this place really is.............

i just want to clarify that my comments & question were not intended to be disparaging of any aspect of GLBT life here or anywhere. one of the reasons i like bham, and the part of town where i live, is its unpublicized but well-entrenched defiance of southern stereotypes on this issue. i am not gay, but totally cool with it (for all i know, it's my loss that i'm straight) and was just asking a real question about what significance the beads play in the parade - is it a local thing; a general GLBT thing; merely a theme of this year's event, etc. i was not belittling their use as garish, effete, flamboyant, etc. (what's wrong with garish, effete & flamboyant?) i've told my son since he was 11 or so that i have no idea what he will or won't turn out to be, and that the issue is as unimportant to me as that first quasi-deep, quasi-playful conversation probably was for him. i'm trying to get him to realize that sex is heavy enough an emotional issue, period, without burdening it further by implicating it in family relationship dynamics.

if it's a religious issue for some of those who agree with the mayor's position, well, i have no problem with that either, so long as those who agree with the mayor truly believe what they believe (which really is most folks). i resent red herrings on either side of any issue (welcome to american politics, i know), and the mayor has a pattern of parading one red herring after another before his constituents in the hope of mobilizing majority opinion under his aegis.

i can't control other people's sense of morality and what aspects of life others feel should be included in or omitted from moral considerations. if religious conservatives or just secular people from any walk of life have strong feelings that homosexuality is immoral, that's fine with me. but if those feelings are well-reasoned and honestly come by...well, it shouldn't be a challenge for anyone who reasons well to resent the manipulative, sanctimonious grandstanding of a cynical issue-monger like langford - even if one agrees with the words he's saying.

Edited by convulso, 13 June 2008 - 01:13 AM.

[kayman]

convulso, on Jun 13 2008, 02:12 AM, said:

i just want to clarify that my comments & question were not intended to be disparaging of any aspect of GLBT life here or anywhere. one of the reasons i like bham, and the part of town where i live, is its unpublicized but well-entrenched defiance of southern stereotypes on this issue. i am not gay, but totally cool with it (for all i know, it's my loss that i'm straight) and was just asking a real question about what significance the beads play in the parade - is it a local thing; a general GLBT thing; merely a theme of this year's event, etc. i was not belittling their use as garish, effete, flamboyant, etc. (what's wrong with garish, effete & flamboyant?) i've told my son since he was 11 or so that i have no idea what he will or won't turn out to be, and that the issue is as unimportant to me as that first quasi-deep, quasi-playful conversation probably was for him. i'm trying to get him to realize that sex is heavy enough an emotional issue, period, without burdening it further by implicating it in family relationship dynamics.

if it's a religious issue for some of those who agree with the mayor's position, well, i have no problem with that either, so long as those who agree with the mayor truly believe what they believe (which really is most folks). i resent red herrings on either side of any issue (welcome to american politics, i know), and the mayor has a pattern of parading one red herring after another before his constituents in the hope of mobilizing majority opinion under his aegis.

i can't control other people's sense of morality and what aspects of life others feel should be included in or omitted from moral considerations. if religious conservatives or just secular people from any walk of life have strong feelings that homosexuality is immoral, that's fine with me. but if those feelings are well-reasoned and honestly come by...well, it shouldn't be a challenge for anyone who reasons well to resent the manipulative, sanctimonious grandstanding of a cynical issue-monger like langford - even if one agrees with the words he's saying.

On the question of the beads, I don't know, but I'll ask around to find out what is their meaning and/or tradition.  I don't think it is a problem with difference in others opinions, but rather the overall picture it isn't wise for Mayor Langford to carry the way he does.  It drags the city further through the mud with thoses that are unfamiliar with the place.  People tend to remember more bad things than good things about this place, so we have to try to be as open and positive as possible if we want this place to turn that page.

[woob]

Leonard23, on Jun 12 2008, 11:37 PM, said:

Woob, I would have to arguably disagree on the lifestyle statement.  Your sexuality is not "lifestyle", a lifestyle is something you choose which to do actively such as drugs, frequent clubbing, etc.   Considering the fact that the only people who are moving Birmingham as of late are same-sex couples, singles, and young professionals (mostly not native to Alabama), I would be strongly advised for Mayor Langford to not burn the bridge with the few people who are still migrating to the city to reside.  It is your personal choice to agree or disagree, but realize that the way this city's leadership acts towards such things like a Pride Parade is a reflection to outsiders with no knowledge of Birmingham of how progressive this place really is.............

that's why we live in the greatest country in the world.. we can disagree!

[rtkenmore]

woob, on Jun 13 2008, 07:22 PM, said:

that's why we live in the greatest country in the world.. we can disagree!

Woob,

I'll consent to you calling it a "lifestyle" AS SOON AS you can give me a date AND time that you made the choice to be straight?

There's a difference in a disagreement and being disrespectful...  although many times the two go hand in hand.

[kayman]

woob, on Jun 13 2008, 07:22 PM, said:

that's why we live in the greatest country in the world.. we can disagree!

Yeah, but you can't say whatever you want to say in this particular forum topic on this forum, and it is clearly delineated in the first post.  As rtkenmore mentioned, you better realize you are teetering on the line of disagreeing with others and being disrespectful of others.

One thing many fail to see is in a large city like Birmingham most people come from numerous walks of life, do you have to agree with no but you do have to respect them since all those participating are law-abiding citizens.  There are no laws on the books in this state forbidding the celebrating in a pride parade anymore than it is from a group of people holding a prayer rally at Boutwell Auditorium with the proper permits.  Arguably, both of them can be considered the imposition of a set of morals upon people, but you don't see people complaining about the latter as vocally as some do the former.  Apparently that is the root of this whole issue, respect.