Raleigh Among Nation’s Top for Gay Families
In a bit of news that shouldn't surprise anybody, Raleigh landed third nationally on a list of metro areas for same sex couples with children. This comes the same week that census data showed more and more gay couples reporting domestic partnerships in North Carolina. Of course, there's no way to measure how much of the 68% jump over a decade ago is a true increase and how much is simply a greater willingness to share that information with the government. Regardless, events like OutRaleigh, organized by Raleigh's recently opened LGBT Center, have been doing a lot to generate greater acceptance of the LGBT community while reaching out to all types of families.
I, for one, see this as not just a sign of how 'gay friendly' the triangle is, but the unique dynamic produced by our diversity meeting the long-held family traditions of the south.
Article image courtesy of Doug Short .
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Rep. Larry Brown
07/01 05:41 PM
I wish they would spend more time with their children and less time sending me fruit loops!
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C
07/01 06:15 PM
As a gay man, I really don’t see the triangle is as that Gay friendly,too many rednecks and good ole boys still run things. I guess it is compared to other places in the south,but didn’t security harass and try to kick two females out of Cameron Village for a kiss last year( I know one security guard doesn’t represent all of Raleigh), and the Gay Pride Parade has to be held in Durham because city officials in Raleigh will not allow it to be held here. I love Raleigh, lived here all my life, but as for Gay Friendly, it is somewhere in the middle of the road to me. I guess depending on where you are at in Raleigh, downtown is a little better other parts of town. When I think of Gay friendly and Gays raising families,I think of DC, NYC, SF, Miami. However, it is leaps ahead of Charlotte, one of the most conservative cities I have ever been to.Just shocked that we made this list I guess.
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RaleighMAC
07/02 08:52 PM
Hey, “C”... Downtown Raleigh was actually host to Out Raleigh back in May. It was a hugely successful event, with a very family-friendly setting. And the “Visit Raleigh” organization was a major sponsor. So, no, the city of Raleigh is not against gay events…
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frank
07/02 10:41 PM
do wish this was a more detailed breakdown - are there more gay couples that had children within the relationship or is this a case of people with kids who decide to dump their hetero partner and live openly in a homosexual relationship.
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RaleighRob
07/04 04:22 PM
@C- I agree with some of your post and disagree with some, too. Durham has the statewide “NC Pride” parade because it is central plus Duke lets them use the grounds. And like Mac says, Raleigh now has its own local festival in May.
Yeah, NC is not gay-friendly compared to much of the country. We can’t compare to the northeast or pacific rim. Probably never will, in our lifetimes.Is the Triangle relatively gay-friendly compared to the Old South as a whole? Heck yes…miles above.
Of course, it all depends on where in the Triangle you are. Inside-the-Beltline Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill & Carrboro would be the main areas that come to mind.
Meanwhile others parts, mainly the rural outlying parts of Wake County and off towards Johnston…are just downright terrifying. So there ya go… -
Jonn
07/05 10:24 AM
Durham definitely feels more gay-positive to me as well, however it probably wasn’t considered in this study due to size. Or maybe there’s something about gay couples in Raleigh (and the other cities chosen) that makes them want to raise children more.
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Snake Charmer
07/05 09:47 PM
Gay ppl? Time to move…
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John
07/06 04:25 PM
People raising children are all looking for the same things. They want safety, good schools and plenty of activities and friends for their children. All this study shows me is that gay couple families choose Raleigh for the same reasons that straight couple families and single parent families do.
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Tony Woodard
07/07 04:36 AM
@ RLB Not only FIRST!!! but funny. +1
@C I agree that homosexuals still get harassed in this area. Just look at the two guys whose house got burned down in Clayton just this past year. However, the statistic reports not what area is most gay supportive (SanFran has this in the bag) but where the highest number of gay families live.
@frank Yes. The Census as a whole showed that the number of gay couples with children was higher in the SE over all. Most articles I have read attribute this to the religious nature of the area keeping people in the closet until later in life.
@RaleighRob I grew up in Louisburg and never once got called ‘faggot’ in school even though I was out from the 11th grade on. Familiarity breeds respect as well as contempt.
@John Gay people tend to be more educated. So does the population of the Triangle. -
rl
07/12 04:04 PM
Yall all need Jesus seriously gtfoh!
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