Top cities to be Gay in the USA

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   brimancandyposted 12 years ago

   I was just reading an Advocate article (via facebook) listing the top 15 US cities that are supposedly gay friendly. And I was shocked to see my city, Grand Rapids, Michigan at #10, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, at #6.
   
   The article apparently shut out the well known gay cities, like New York, Chicago, San Fransisco, and Los Angeles. But, they didn't say why. And, some cities on the list seemed a bit strange, except for the ones closet to number one. Which were Orlando, Florida, and Seattle. I can see Orlando, as it is a huge tourist town, so I don't think a majority of the people that live there were born and raised there. Most of the population boom down there is due to tourism, and people wanting to be close to the action or profit from it.
   
   But, the thing I noticed most from the article, is the huge backlash of negativity from gay and lesbian people saying that the list is a joke, and either did not like that their city was on the list, or were upset because it wasn't. I certainly do not think that Grand Rapids, michigan is a gay friendly town. I was born and raised there, and if anything the gay community is constantly harrassed, by narrow minded biggots trying to pass laws to push the gay community back into the closet, or at least keep us from getting together.
   
   One thing people mentioned most, is how lame it seemed that the article seemed to suggest that drag queens, leathermen, and the under 30 crowd made up a majority of the reasons the cities on the list were chosen. Which to me does not represent the whole gay community which is a whole array of many non stero-typical gays and lesbians. And, those who thought they were being labled in the stero type groups were calling the other gays who took the poll...the look at how straight acting I am crowd. lets all go out and adopt babies.
   
   It was almost as if I was on hubpages debating the homosexual lifestyle to the religeous nuts. I mean. If a top ten list of gay cities makes the community that upset. What hope do we have a reaching equality. when we can't even agree on equality among ourselves. A lot of it made me laugh.
   
   With that said: Two questions.
   1. What would you say if your city made the top 15 gay city list?
   2. What would you have to say if it didn't make the list?
   
   Have fun with this. And be nice!!

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   1. 0

      paxwillposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Provincetown, Massachusetts is often listed at #1 on such lists.  Just out of curiosity, was it #1 on the list you found?  As for the questions, honestly, I wouldn't care either way.

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      1. 77

         brimancandyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Provincetown was excluded from the list, as it is more of a tourist destination like Saugatuck, Michigan which both see thousands upon thousands of gay visitors every year. Also both are small towns, and I think they were also looking at cities with larger populations.
         
         If you take all the tourists and gays out of Provincetown and Saugatuck you might be left with 10,000 people tops between the two, stripping away the million plus visitors. I think they wanted to do away with the obvious.
         
         Oh, and Seattle, Washington was #1 and #2 was Orlando. Other's on the list were Salt lake City, Denver, Austin texas, and Long beach California.

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         1. 78

            Castlepalomaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Toronto's Gay parade and festival is larger than the Toronto's Santa Claus Parade which  is The World's Largest Christmas ... Saying fairy tales have changed
            
            It add more culture and grace,

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            1. 77

               brimancandyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               I have been to Toronto pride a few times. The last one I attended had 2 million in attendance, and a full carnival with rides. I wanted to get on the ferris wheel to take over head pictures of the crowds, but they were charging $5.00. So, I found a balcony and got some great crowd pictures.
               
               I have also been to Montreal pride, which also had 2 million plus in attendance. And last summer I marched in Chicago pride with Campit Resort, which is a gay and lesbian campground. They said it was the biggest turnout for Chicago pride ever. 750,000 just for the parade.

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               1. 78

                  Castlepalomaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  i enjoy myself in Vancouver and Toronto Gay fest, anyway
                  
                  The odd time there, I wished I was gay

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2. 74

   AEvansposted 12 years ago

   Although heterosexual, I have many Gay and Lesbian friends. My sister is Lesbian so if my origin city made the top 15 gay city list? I would say that would be wonderful! Everyone should be treated equally.
   
   If it didn't make the list, I would say ,"What a shame it should have."
   
   
   I sometimes wonder how they gather the information on these polls? Mmmm.. maybe the cities are paying someone off so they can stimulate there own economy.

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   1. 77

      brimancandyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      There is a gay resort in Michigan, and they were all excitied because they made a top 10 list on a series on Logo called BUMP. Well, it turns out that the resort paid to be on the show, so, I'm guessing that means they paid to be on the list. Not that they needed the attention. The resort is always busy, especially on summer weekends, and holiday weekends are packed!
      
      I assume that some of the cities might have had some input into this poll. But, they really don't say how they took the poll, or where the results came from. So, I am guessing they sent out a questionaire to several cities, and just picked the ones that gave back the best results.
      
      Others say, they picked a bunch of largely populated cities out of the various gay guides, blindfolded someone, and had them throw 10 darts, as some of the cities on the list don't make sense. But, I guess they are going to do what they are going to do. Like people magazine picking Clay Aiken as sexiest man of the year when he was on American Idol....Really? Clay Aiken? He's anything but hot. LOL!! Money talks! I would have picked Ryan Seacrest. He's one million times hotter than Clay Aiken.

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3. 63

   iamageniusterposted 12 years ago

   Good post. San Francisco is probably the top one. Capitol Hill is another good one.

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   1. 77

      brimancandyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Funny that a lot of people claim that New York City has a more Diverse and larger gay community than San Fransisco. But, that's not really that much of a surprise, since New York is one of the largest cities in the world. But, I think if I was going to pick a city to Vacation in, San Fran Sisco would be one that I would like to visit. Also Provincetown.
      
      I have friends that got to Provincetown every summer for the Bear weekends which brings Bear type men from all over the world. Makes me so jealous that they never invite me!!

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      1. 88

         Jean Bakulaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         It would be fine with me if my city was on the top list for gay people. It never will be,  as it's a small town with many backward thinking people. But it's a shame that people can be so small minded.

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         1. 88

            Jean Bakulaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Philadelphia PA wasn't on the list? South Street seems to be a gay-friendly place, or I guess such a tourist friendly place it doesn't matter. I love all the great shops, and the antique stores. It's a great city to visit, and the pace isn't as frantic as other NE large cities.

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