I realize that I’ve been something of a one-trick pony of late, harping almost exclusively on gun control as I have. Not that I’m about to apologize for that, but I’d like to think my interests and focus can be a bit more expansive, so when I ran across The Advocate’s list of this year’s gayest cities in America, I was intrigued. Not being gay, this is a bit out of my area of expertise, so I was curious: how does a city come to be considered one of “the gayest?” That Portland didn’t even make the list made me wonder even more.
To satisfy my curiosity, I figured what better place to start than the criteria? To say that it was not what I expected would be something of an understatement:
LGBT elected officials: This certainly makes sense, as it can be taken as a gauge for the level of acceptance. Portland previous mayor, Sam Adams, is gay, which you’d think would put Puddletown at the top of the list, right?
HRC Corporate Equality Index 100s: Again, a sensible measuring stick. No issues there.
Concerts by Scissor Sisters, Uh Huh Her, Girl in a Coma, and cast of Glee: Uh, OK. I guess this is where my pretty much total unawareness of gay cultural icons begins to betray itself.
Fabulous shopping: Cities that have a West Elm, Whole Foods, and a Pottery Barn scored highly. Portland has one of each in the Pearl District, so you’d think that would put Stumptown in good position, no? Uh…no.
Transgender protections: This is self-explanatory; no one, regardless of their orientation or lifestyle, should have to worry about being discriminated against.
Gay rugby: This is where it gets weird…either that, or where my almost complete unawareness of gay culture becomes all too obvious. Gay rugby? Who knew that was key?
Bisexual resource groups: Again, this is self-explanatory. It’s good to know that there are places you can for help and people who care.
Roller Derby: Uh…OK. Again, like gay rugby, I had NO idea of the importance of roller derby to the gay community.
Marriage equality: Sure, this makes sense. Who wouldn’t want to live in a place where you can love who you love without worrying about whether you’ll enjoy the same legal rights as heterosexual couples?
Being the clueless (at least when it comes to all things gay) sort that I evidently am, I was thinking that at the top of the list would be cities like San Francisco, New York, or even Miami. Imagine my surprise when #1 on the list turned out to be:
1. Tacoma, Wash. (pop. 200,678)
Book a charming B&B, dine at the gay-owned Pacific Grill (PacificGrillTacoma.com), and dance the night away at The Mix (TheMixTacoma.com), and you’ve got a great recipe for a Northwest honeymoon. The center of LGBT life in Tacoma is the St. Helens District, where the nightlife is plentiful, with some venues rivaling nearby Seattle’s. When the indoor fun is done, the environs offer stunning forests and oceans in fairy-tale settings. Consider visiting in July, when the weather is great and Tacoma celebrates pride at Out in the Park (OutInTacoma.com).
When I first moved to Portland 30 years ago, Tacoma was something of a punch line to a long-running joke. Because of the paper mills, you could (no exaggeration) smell Tacoma before you got there. Tacoma put the “down” in “down and out.” It seems that things are changing, as I learned on a recent trip into Tacoma with some friends.
Seattle was #5 (not surprisingly)…and Portland didn’t make the list. Hmm….
Practically speaking, living in one of the gayest cities in America doesn’t really impact my life one way or another, but it’s good to know that your city is recognized for its diversity and its acceptance of diversity.
It would seem that it’s time for me to expand my horizons beyond my straight, white bread world, eh?
Still…gay rugby?? Really??
