An Interesting Statistic

[panthera]

The west

The last time I lived in the US was in San Francisco, just as the AIDs epidemic was really beginning to make itself felt.
The last 23 years have been pretty much spent in Munich, Germany.
Here we still have to fight, despite marriage (für die genauen, Partnerschaft) and anti-discrimination laws.
But the whole violence/hatred stuff which goes on in the US just doesn't exist here.
I suspect that is one reason folks like us tend to congregate in certain cities - there the people are more of the "live and let live" mindset.
No idea why NYC is not listed. A great place to live, but I wouldn't want to visit there.
A more interesting question for me, seeing as how I will soon be moving back to one of the "reddest" areas of the US...how do those of us who are conservative (and after the posts in the forums in the last few weeks, that is quite a few) manage the dissonance between being gay/lesbian and conservative, even Christian?

 

[oxydolfan1]

An acquaintance of mine sees Anderson Cooper near his building often, when he walks his dog.

 

[foraloysius]

Now stop rubbing it in. It is bad enough as it is!

 

[foraloysius]

I wonder how accurate these statistics are. The phrase "identifying themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual" leaves a lot of questions open. I think this means that people who participated in the research were comfortable enough with themselves to be open about it. My experience is there are a lot of people with gay or bisexual feelings who aren't ready to be open about it because they hardly acknowledge their own sexuality. IMHO these figures are way too low.

 

[robm]

UK report

Hi all

I have found this rather interesting report.

I imagine the gay population it UK is centred around London, Brighton and Manchester, all major cities. They say 6% of people are gay in the UK

Rob

http://www.gaytoz.com/btax.asp

 

[gansky1]

Violence against gays

I'm sure we all remember this story, but it doesn't hurt to remind ourselves now and then how deep the hatred really is and living our day-to-day lives as proud individuals helps to vindicate this kind of violence. This website was created by a friend of mine, he and his partner visited Wyoming in 2001 and although it wasn't the most fun-filled vacation ever, they did come away with good feelings for having seen and heard Matthew Shepard's story a little bit closer.

http://members.cox.net/jayhawkboy6/

 

[foraloysius]

Thank you Greg for the link. I saw the movie twice. What a horror story.

Here's a scheme about the laws all over the world. Same sex marriages in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, South-Africa and Canada.

There is a lot of work to do in Africa and the Soutern part of Asia.

 

[foraloysius]

Hmm, according to this map same sex marriage is also possible in Slovenia. I didn't know that.

 

[gansky1]

Just a "circumstance"??

Interesting article about the Pentagon altering their guidelines of homosexuality from a mental disorder to a "circumstance" - like bed-wetting.

"Among the conditions are stammering or stuttering, dyslexia, sleepwalking, motion sickness, obesity, insect venom allergies and homosexuality."

This change has no bearing or effect on the military's "Don't ask - Don't Tell" policy toward gays in the military.

"There were 726 military members discharged under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy during the budget year that ended Sept. 30."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/16/AR2006111601088.html

 

[toggleswitch]

Hmm, according to this map same sex marriage is also possible in Slovenia. I didn't know that.

Yes, but that does not mean the neighbors won't slaughter you.

 

[lederstiefel1]

same sex marriage

Hi Foraloysius!
How's the Waschmaschinen-Forum going?
The map doesn't tell that also in Germany there's a gay-marriage possible meanwhile and also, as far as I know, in Great Britain, too!

By the way...I live next to the gayest city in Germany - Cologne!!
Cities with big gay populations are: Berlin, Köln (Cologne), Hamburg, Frankfurt and München (Munich).
Also we have two gay mayors (open living) namely in Berlin and Hamburg!

Cheers from Germany - have a nice and hot week-end all of you!
Ralf

 

[Unimatic1140]

Don't worry Retroguy I thought it was odd that Washington, DC was not in the top 10 as well, it turns out your #11. I found the full list on the net. I'm not surprised that New York, Chicago and Los Angeles have a lower percentage of gay population compared to the entire city population because the official city limits of these cities are so large and sprawling. For example, NYC is not just Manhattan, but the Bronx, Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens are included in their population as well.

Here is the full list...

 

[mickeyd]

Somebody's lying in Buffalo

One of Buffalo's official monikers is "Queen City"--lots of Catholic ethnic closet cases. We should be called Closet City. Probably the same situation in Cleveland and Detroit.

 

[spats]

Wow. I'm surprised that Pittsburgh is #12.

 

[foraloysius]

Ralf,

There is a difference between same sex marriage, or the possibility to get married for two men and two women (no differences between m/f marriage and m/m and f/f marriage) and a civil union. IIRC in Germany only has a civil union, not the possibility to get legally married. There is a difference. I think the same yields for the UK.

Louis

 

[Unimatic1140]

I Love Statistics

I found more, granted these population numbers are way low because of people not being honest or not filling out the census surveys, but it sure is interesting. Here is the rankings by state as opposed to city. It is also interesting to see the actual estimate #'s of people who are willing to tell the census that they are gay...

 

[foraloysius]

Here are a few more statistics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality#Incidence

 

[foraloysius]

Hmmm, Colorado is the first state on the list that isn't at the coast. Isn't it so the central states are more conservative? Could it be that Pastor Haggard participated and was honest anyway? LOL

 

[toggleswitch]

That list is all states where it's cold and icy winters :-(

Well yes, all the better to cuddle with, m'dear!

 

[Unimatic1140]

Isn't it so the central states are more conservative?

It's not that simple Louis. The most conservative states are in the South from Texas east on up through North Carolina and southern Virgina. The map below shows the Blue/Red state divide from the last presidential election. Generally Blue states are the most liberal, but within each and every state are areas and pockets of blue and red. The most liberal states have the most blue areas...

Well yes, all the better to cuddle with, m'dear!
Couldn't have said it better myself Toggle, Yay for cold weather cuddle time! In the summer I'm like stay away its too hot, but this time of year,

 

[Unimatic1140]

I forgot to mention one very striking thing about the map of the blue/red states in my previous post above. Look how that in every Blue state you can drive to and cross over the Canadian boarder without ever entering into a Red state.

 

[retroguy]

Robert.....

How very cool! I love all this stuff you come up with. Well done! Thank you!

PS-I knew DC had to be on there someplace. If the whole Metro area was counted, it would probably be astronomical, as DC metro includes Baltimore. The DC suburbs in Maryland, and Virginia, well....a few of them look like cities all by themselves, and have population numbers that rival large cities, and a lot of those have high gay numbers.

 

[partscounterman]

Hmmm

It looks like from that map we are missing a couple of states- I think Alaska is one of them....

David-who live in another blue state

 

[foraloysius]

Thank you Robert for that map. Interesting conclusion about the Canada connection. I think Colorado is the first red state on the list, is that correct? (geography?)

 

[Unimatic1140]

I think Colorado is the first red state on the list, is that correct?

Yes Louis that is correct, if we take that same listing and mark the States in Red or Blue it does show an interesting dynamic. I assumed the District of Columbia to be Blue because it's an urban area, but they actually do not vote for president, which is just ludicrous.

 

[oxydolfan1]

I've actually considered Montreal, if things get too dicey down here....

Really nice community up there.

 

[foraloysius]

Now that is interesting! It looks like the gay, lesbian and bisexual community prefers to live in a blue state.

Is it possible to live a gay lifestyle in South Dakota?

 

[Unimatic1140]

Is it possible to live a gay lifestyle in South Dakota?

Well yes, I've been to the gay bar in Sioux Falls, SD, but most of the gay population in both North and South Dakota moves here to Minneapolis or if they are from the western part of those states they go to Denver.

Of course these days with the Internet anyone can live anywhere and be able to meet people like themselves.

 

[partscounterman]

It can be fun in the hills...

Dennis and I moved to Southwestern Colorado, back in the late summer of 1992. I really had no idea what we were in for. There was a huge potical storm brewing with a proposed "Amendment 2" just about to go before the voters. I don't remember the exact wording of this proposed legislation, but do remember that it was a hate filled piece of shit. Coming from suburban Saint Paul (Prosperity Road-remember?)I was shocked at how backward the people in Southwestern Colorado were. Most the white folks there were decendants of the defeated civil war vets, so go figure. On the other hand, they were all very nice to us, even though we made no bones about who we were. I think people are somewhat less threatened by a gay couple for some reason-perhaps they think we are "not on the make" or some weird bullshit like that. When Amdemdment2 finally passed, (was struck down by CO Supreme Court in late 1993) one kinda cracker woman at the post office in Mancos (SALUTE!) said " Well, it really doesn't mean a thing and it will not change anything here". I know that she meant well, but it was a bad law. We did go to a few gatherings in nearby Durango. We met a couple of grrls, and went with them for a wild weekend to the big city of Grand Junction. The bar there was called "Quincy's-Straight until 8:00" I still laugh when I think about it., We were living in the tiniest travel trailer, Dennis was working the front desk at the Farview Lodge in Mesa Verde National Park "sniff" it sure was a fun time in our lives but of course we had each other. Nobody fucked with us for being gay, but a few of the husbands...cough, cough, well YOU know that old closet story. Eeek!

No matter where you are, if you stand up proud and don't take any crap from anybody, you can be honest about who you are anywhere. (Oh, and it helps to be 6'2" 250 lbs and have a husband 'bout the same!)

Here in Hawai'i, well it isn't even the United States hardly. Being gay here is just no big deal to anybody. Polynesian culture is very accepting *EXCEPT* when it becomes a politcal issue then the asshole priests and the LDS and the other religious freaks whip up the not too bright masses into voting against actual gay marriage.

 

[toggleswitch]

Is it possible to live a gay lifestyle in South Dakota?

It depends. Can you get any nice looking window treatments there? We are everywhere. And yes, it is now SO much easier to socially connect and be a part of the network of interior designers.

I think the question should be "Is it possible to live a fabulous amd flamboyantly open & gay lifestyle in South Dakota?"

I know of someone in NY willing to give lessons.
*WHOOSH* JUST KIDDNG

(ducks and run)