California

[Muscles4daze]

Is it true that homosexuality is accepted more in California than anywhere else in the United States? I have never been there, but that is what I am hearing. I hear that there is a large gay population in California and not just in San Francisco either. If you live in California please clarify that if I've gotten the wrong info.

 

[Theyoungman]

Yes this is true... I have never been there, but thats the word on it. California is heavily populated with people who prefer their own sex.

I was trying not to say "gay" or "homo"...

 

[metta]

It is definitely not just San Francisco. I would say that many of the counties around San Francisco, including the one that San Francisco is very accepting, as well as Santa Cruz, Los Angeles County, San Diego County. Orange County is actually getting better. The only county that I have seen that there are problems with backwards hicks is San Bernardino County.

I live in Los Angeles county in the suburbs and my neighbors love their gay neighbors. They want more of them. One of my neighbors (who is not gay) leaves a gay pride flag up in her yard to let people know that she supports equality for gays and to let people know when they come to look for a home for sale that our neighborhood likes gay people.

It is not perfect. We still have conservative assholes in California who just spout off the hate that their church tells them to spout off...but they are in the minority.

 

[Soilwork]

being gay here is about as rare as being left handed.

I can walk anywhere and hold my BF's hand and nobody bats an eyelash.

I live in Los Angeles, but just about anywhere in California you'll be accepted or at least people won't care.

We do have our Bible thumpers but they're kinda like the wicked witch of the west in Munchkin land.. they have no power here.

 

[BrandonSBCA]

Not anywhere in California, I think the accepted areas are. Los Angeles, San Diego, Hollywood, Anaheim, Long Beach, and some other areas in Southern California. San Bernardino I have yet to see a gay couple holding hands.

 

[Riverrick]

Not anywhere in California, I think the accepted areas are. Los Angeles, San Diego, Hollywood, Anaheim, Long Beach, and some other areas in Southern California. San Bernardino I have yet to see a gay couple holding hands.

Like Brandon said, its not everywhere, just certain places. And then just certain neighborhoods.

I was under the delusion that I could move to CA and be completely comfortable being gay. Since I didn't know CA very well, I moved to Orange County where I had relatives. In fact, I moved to Anaheim to be close to my job.

Well guess what? Anaheim is really conservative as is most of Orange County. I would have been much better off in Ohio. I was totally uncomfortable there.

While I lived there I got to know Southern CA pretty well and I can tell you that its not all full of liberal accepting people. There are neighborhoods that are great - in San Diego, Long Beach, Laguna Beach, West Hollywood obviously, etc. But do your homework if you are planning on moving out here. I got tired of it and moved back.

 

[BrandonSBCA]

Like Brandon said, its not everywhere, just certain places. And then just certain neighborhoods.

I was under the delusion that I could move to CA and be completely comfortable being gay. Since I didn't know CA very well, I moved to Orange County where I had relatives. In fact, I moved to Anaheim to be close to my job.

Well guess what? Anaheim is really conservative as is most of Orange County. I would have been much better off in Ohio. I was totally unconfortable there.

While I lived there I got to know Southern CA pretty well and I can tell you that its not all full of liberal accepting people. There are neighborhoods that are great - in San Diego, Long Beach, Laguna Beach, West Hollywood obviously, etc. But do your homework if you are planning on moving out here. I got tired of it and moved back.

Okay I didn't know if Anaheim was good but I guess not, plus people say Orange County is gay friendly, but most would disagree. I can totally say the Inland Empire is not gay friendly at all.

 

[Soilwork]

Not anywhere in California, I think the accepted areas are. Los Angeles, San Diego, Hollywood, Anaheim, Long Beach, and some other areas in Southern California. San Bernardino I have yet to see a gay couple holding hands.

I went there with my riding buddies to the mega Motorcycle store, and yes, all the couples were holding hands.

we also do it in Santa Barbara, Bakersfield, Kernville and even in Bishop.

I've never had much of a negative reaction, even in the small towns.

 

[BrandonSBCA]

I went there with my riding buddies to the mega Motorcycle store, and yes, all the couples were holding hands.

we also do it in Santa Barbara, Bakersfield, Kernville and even in Bishop.

I've never had much of a negative reaction, even in the small towns.

I have yet to see it, even though I know there is a gay biker club in San Bernardino and a Lesbian bar.

 

[metta]

Like Brandon said, its not everywhere, just certain places. And then just certain neighborhoods.

I was under the delusion that I could move to CA and be completely comfortable being gay. Since I didn't know CA very well, I moved to Orange County where I had relatives. In fact, I moved to Anaheim to be close to my job.

Well guess what? Anaheim is really conservative as is most of Orange County. I would have been much better off in Ohio. I was totally uncomfortable there.

While I lived there I got to know Southern CA pretty well and I can tell you that its not all full of liberal accepting people. There are neighborhoods that are great - in San Diego, Long Beach, Laguna Beach, West Hollywood obviously, etc. But do your homework if you are planning on moving out here. I got tired of it and moved back.

What has surprised me is the gay clubs that have been opening in some of the most conservatives areas (Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Anaheim) of Orange County and when you go to them there are a lot of straight people of all ages in them. So I do think that Orange County is getting better. Laguna Beach has always been very accepting and that is within the Orange curtain.

 

[mike_n_herrin]

I'm in sacramento and i've not seen any same sex couples holding hands. having said that there is at least one openly gay guy a work and the few people who stop and talk to him (it's not him folks just don't do that in my office it's a very busy office and people are in their own little worlds...) ask him about his bf and stuff. so i'd say many don't care. But there are also quite a few conservatives in the office and i think they do care, they just wouldn't be allowed to say anything and get by with it.

 

[Soilwork]

Yes, Orange County is filled with the people we wish weren't in California.

but I go there and hold hands with guys and kiss in public and let them fucking see it.

 

[Riverrick]

Yes, Orange County is filled with the people we wish weren't in California.

but I go there and hold hands with guys and kiss in public and let them fucking see it.

That doesn't mean its gay friendly.

I've been all over Southern CA. Mostly it is made up of people just like from everywhere else. Cause guess what? They ARE from everywhere else!

Sorry, I was sorely disappointed. Unless I was near the beach, everywhere else was full of boring stucco houses with very average people. And very predictable attitudes.

 

[Riverrick]

Laguna Beach has always been very accepting and that is within the Orange curtain.

Now I'm not trying to be a pessimist here. Just tell you the way it is.

Try holding hands with a guy and walk down the street in Laguna Beach. The high school kids will shout "fag" out their car windows before you can blink. I've been called a fag there several times. I've never been called a fag in Ohio in my entire life.

Laguna has a largely invisible gay population who live quietly up in the hills. It is not to be confused with West Hollywood.

 

[Soilwork]

oh yeah.. Orange County is the pocket of Mid West conservatism.

But really.. the rest of SoCal is much nicer.

Palm Springs has the highest gay population per capita in the world, and that's right in the middle of the Inland Empire.

Gay bike Night is often held in Rancho Cucomonga, and that's in the Inland Empire.

 

[Riverrick]

Yes, Palm Springs is very nice. I agree. And its very gay friendly.

Its jokingly referred to as the Gay Nineties. Because everyone there is either gay or in their 90's.

 

[metta]

Now I'm not trying to be a pessimist here. Just tell you the way it is.

Try holding hands with a guy and walk down the street in Laguna Beach. The high school kids will shout "fag" out their car windows before you can blink. I've been called a fag there several times. I've never been called a fag in Ohio in my entire life.

Laguna has a largely invisible gay population who live quietly up in the hills. It is not to be confused with West Hollywood.

I have frequently seen gay couples, male and female holding hands, walking side by side, eating at restaurants, there is even a gay beach down there. I have never been called any names.

The Boom Boom room has been there ever since I can remember.

http://www.gaylagunabeach.org/

http://www.metrog.com/locations/lagunabeach/index.html

http://www.mygayworld.com/city.cfm?city=Laguna Beach

http://laguna.gaycities.com/

http://lowebmx11235.web.aplus.net/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laguna_Beach,_California

The reason that Laguna Beach defies stereotypical Orange County politics is most likely the city's large gay community and one of the highest gay and lesbian indices out of any place in the country. The gay and lesbian index of Laguna Beach is 478, meaning the percentage of same-sex couples living in the city is 378% higher than the national average. This is one percentage point less than that of San Francisco which has a gay and lesbian index of 479. This explains why Laguna Beach has more males than females, why the percentage of married couples is much lower than in surrounding communities, and why the percentage of people under age 18 and households with children is much lower, as the majority of gay couples do not have children.

 

[BrandonSBCA]

Palm Springs is full of older men which I like. Has more gay people in it then San Bernardino.

To me San Bernardino is full of closet cases. No gay bars except for a lesbian bars, a lot of child abusers, and oh yeah hardly any life to it. Riverside is okay, Redlands is okay, Ontario is great, Colton is....just like San Bernardino. I have no idea how the gay life in Rancho Cucamonga is since I don't go there anymore.

 

[drhladnjak]

On a state by state level, it certainly is one of the most accepting. However, that still doesn't mean that acceptance can be found in most of the state. There are just a lot of people living there which means there are many cities and enclaves with a good deal of public acceptance of gay people.

I just got back from a quick weekend trip to San Francisco, which of course is ground zero. Even though Seattle is very accepting and has lots of gay people, it's always fun to wander around Mecca (;

 

[mega]

Whatever you do, DON'T MOVE TO SANTA BARBARA! It's very accepting, but it's also very dead. No gay bars, no gay activity such as organizations other than a "resource center" that is pretty much oriented only to physical and mental health care.

Sad, I lived in SB in the early 80's, There were 3 gay bars and a "Gay Community Center", the sign in front of the center said "Western Addiction Services". The queens in SB were the worst I'd ever met. They would be all over you in the bar and cut you dead on the street. I didn't stay there very long. The coast of CA is generally friendly, inland you need to mind your p's and q's, and look over the situation carefully.