Welcome AZ Butches, Femmes, Trans

[lipstixgal]

After school is finished thinking about relocating to Phoenix, Az!! Can anyone suggest and area to live in that is gay friendly?? I have looked into apartments already, they are beautiful and all have a swimming pool too so just wondering where I should focus on that would be helpful.

Also looking to meet other BFP people in the area.

Gail

[asphaltcowboi]

Originally Posted by lipstixgal

After school is finished thinking about relocating to Phoenix, Az!! Can anyone suggest and area to live in that is gay friendly?? I have looked into apartments already, they are beautiful and all have a swimming pool too so just wondering where I should focus on that would be helpful.

Also looking to meet other BFP people in the area.

Gail

Hi Gail!
all i can say is just about all the Phoenix area is gay friendly. actually i would say all of Az. as far as living here i really like the NW part of Phoenix/Glendale. i lived there for years. i wouldnt sugest anything farther west of Avondale. i moved here from Calif. and have found this whole state to be friendly, no mater who you are. Good luvk and let us know where /when you land here! as far as the weather the farther north you get the cooler it will be. we have a few weeks of very hot weather, durning that time everyone stays in the a/c or the pool! them we have the monsoons for a few weeks they are not usually bad. 15 20 min wind and rain storms that are actually refreshing. gays bars? there are several we even have one that is a womans bar that is mostly country with 2 step and line dance classes a couple times a week. late in the eves they are very well rounded with the music.

[lipstixgal]

Thanks Cody can't wait until school finishes out which will be in Sept then in Oct I take my certification test for MA's then its a go for sure. LOOKING forward to meeting any BFPers that live in the area! The weather sounds great at least there will be no snow that's a plus in my book!!

[apretty]

I wouldn't say that this state is friendly to/for anyone other than white, middle-aged and hopefully male, straight-acting, republican mormons without a lot of university education and zero ecological or political concern.

There are a few less-hateful places in central phoenix (and definitely Tucson!) but nowhere welcoming if you're a POC.

Most of the gays that I've come across are content with a "lifestyle" that isn't officially recognized, or that is 'downlow' and are not out or just out to close friends or other gays in the community. (That I want and think everyone is deserving of human rights, like *yesterday* has/does put more than a few people off--but I am not *from* here. )

The phx GLBTIQ center is a tiny store front in a strip mall. The state just implemented a law that bans ethnic studies and also *requires* the police to stop and question anyone they suspect to be in arizona "illegally" --without any clear guidelines as how to enforce this law without 'racial profiling'. ...And today it's 115 degrees.

Where are you moving *from*?

[lipstixgal]

Originally Posted by apretty

I wouldn't say that this state is friendly to/for anyone other than white, middle-aged and hopefully male, straight-acting, republican mormons without a lot of university education and zero ecological or political concern.

There are a few less-hateful places in central phoenix (and definitely Tucson!) but nowhere welcoming if you're a POC.

Most of the gays that I've come across are content with a "lifestyle" that isn't officially recognized, or that is 'downlow' and are not out or just out to close friends or other gays in the community. (That I want and think everyone is deserving of human rights, like *yesterday* has/does put more than a few people off--but I am not *from* here. )

The phx GLBTIQ center is a tiny store front in a strip mall. The state just implemented a law that bans ethnic studies and also *requires* the police to stop and question anyone they suspect to be in arizona "illegally" --without any clear guidelines as how to enforce this law without 'racial profiling'. ...And today it's 115 degrees.

Where are you moving *from*?

Well with that said I'm moving from NJ which is not too gay friendly either its all in NYC which is time consuming and costs money to go into all the time!! but the Mormon thing scares a bit. That is just a cult in my minds eye!! I did research on that religion and yeah its a cult. Also I'm Jewish and gay!! I'm really going for the weather because its warm and don't want to winter anymore!!

[friskyfemme]

Originally Posted by lipstixgal

Well with that said I'm moving from NJ which is not too gay friendly either its all in NYC which is time consuming and costs money to go into all the time!! but the Mormon thing scares a bit. That is just a cult in my minds eye!! I did research on that religion and yeah its a cult. Also I'm Jewish and gay!! I'm really going for the weather because its warm and don't want to winter anymore!!

I was concerned with the Mormon influence before I moved to AZ. I really met it 'head on' when I live in White Mountains region and Prescott area. Yes I would agree as apretty stated there is more a 'down low' community in the Phoenix area. As far as women's club there is only one identified as in the Phoenix area such in the Phoenix.

But to AZ's credit, more so here in other states, I've lived there is a large mixed gay crowd in most bars and hetro/gay places. However, I am not much for bars as a place for meeting people.

AZ has elected and appointed officals that are outwardly gay.

[lipstixgal]

Originally Posted by friskyfemme

I was concerned with the Mormon influence before I moved to AZ. I really met it 'head on' when I live in White Mountains region and Prescott area. Yes I would agree as apretty stated there is more a 'down low' community in the Phoenix area. As far as women's club there is only one identified as in the Phoenix area such in the Phoenix.

But to AZ's credit, more so here in other states, I've lived there is a large mixed gay crowd in most bars and hetro/gay places. However, I am not much for bars as a place for meeting people.

AZ has elected and appointed officals that are outwardly gay.

Thanks for the input but I think that there has to be non-Mormon communities around. I know for a fact that there are Jews in the area. North Central Phoenix is very Jewish but yeah I hear you on the Mormon thing, its really scary!! The LDS was behind the Prop 8 in California banning gay marriage in that state. The Mormons are very anti-gay, anti-everything!! But I will take that in mind before the final decision is to be made!!

[asphaltcowboi]

i disagree with this but only from my personal expierances.. i moved here from the san francisco bay area and was pleasantly suprised how friendly people were to me.. from the biker bars to strangers in the park. if i didnt push my bizz on them they didnt push theres on my and were very friendly. i never try to push my lifestyle-religon- or morals on anyone and if im treated with the same respect i consider it a grat day. no way would i expect a new aquintance to fully understand where ive been or what makes me who i am.

Originally Posted by apretty

I wouldn't say that this state is friendly to/for anyone other than white, middle-aged and hopefully male, straight-acting, republican mormons without a lot of university education and zero ecological or political concern.

There are a few less-hateful places in central phoenix (and definitely Tucson!) but nowhere welcoming if you're a POC.

Most of the gays that I've come across are content with a "lifestyle" that isn't officially recognized, or that is 'downlow' and are not out or just out to close friends or other gays in the community. (That I want and think everyone is deserving of human rights, like *yesterday* has/does put more than a few people off--but I am not *from* here. )

The phx GLBTIQ center is a tiny store front in a strip mall. The state just implemented a law that bans ethnic studies and also *requires* the police to stop and question anyone they suspect to be in arizona "illegally" --without any clear guidelines as how to enforce this law without 'racial profiling'. ...And today it's 115 degrees.

Where are you moving *from*?

[Queerasfck]

Originally Posted by cody

i disagree with this but only from my personal expierances.. i moved here from the san francisco bay area and was pleasantly suprised how friendly people were to me.. from the biker bars to strangers in the park. if i didnt push my bizz on them they didnt push theres on my and were very friendly. i never try to push my lifestyle-religon- or morals on anyone and if im treated with the same respect i consider it a grat day. no way would i expect a new aquintance to fully understand where ive been or what makes me who i am.

Hello Cody,

I'm not really sure what you mean about pushing your bizz, lifestyle, religion or morals on people. It sounds like you've had good experiences here in Arizona.

I guess for me it just depends on how far I want to take my head out of the sand. If I want to live and work in a place where I've seen strangers and co-workers openly mock gay people I'd stay in Phoenix. If I want to live in a place where I can be out and about all day long and rarely see a POC except in the poorest of neighborhoods or working out in a field I'd stay in Phoenix. If I want to stay in a place where my gf's 10 year old niece has a teacher who says that the most of the native kids are "bad" I'd stay here in Phoenix. If I want to stay in a place where in January the Governor declared a "day of prayer for the state budget" instead of actually doing her job, I'd stay in Arizona. And if I want to live in place that has the law in place to pull people over based on skin color I'd stay in Arizona. I've lived in four states since I've been an adult and honestly I've never lived in a place where hate is so VISIBLE and most people seem SO OKAY with it.

Arizona has beautiful sunsets and some wonderous and scenic places. It also has a low cost of living which in these tough times is rare.

So inconclusion Cody, if by you saying "no way would i expect a new aquintance to fully understand where ive been or what makes me who i am" I would agree. And please, correct me if I'm wrong here, you are saying that in AZ you perceive people being of tolerant of you. For me tolerance does not equal acceptance though. I've lived in AZ for nine months and I don't see a lot of acceptance of gays or people of color here. It really came down to that for my gf and I. We choose not to live here because of that.

[asphaltcowboi]

Originally Posted by EzeeTiger

Hello Cody,

I'm not really sure what you mean about pushing your bizz, lifestyle, religion or morals on people. It sounds like you've had good experiences here in Arizona.

I guess for me it just depends on how far I want to take my head out of the sand. If I want to live and work in a place where I've seen strangers and co-workers openly mock gay people I'd stay in Phoenix. If I want to live in a place where I can be out and about all day long and rarely see a POC except in the poorest of neighborhoods or working out in a field I'd stay in Phoenix. If I want to stay in a place where my gf's 10 year old niece has a teacher who says that the most of the native kids are "bad" I'd stay here in Phoenix. If I want to stay in a place where in January the Governor declared a "day of prayer for the state budget" instead of actually doing her job, I'd stay in Arizona. And if I want to live in place that has the law in place to pull people over based on skin color I'd stay in Arizona. I've lived in four states since I've been an adult and honestly I've never lived in a place where hate is so VISIBLE and most people seem SO OKAY with it.

Arizona has beautiful sunsets and some wonderous and scenic places. It also has a low cost of living which in these tough times is rare.

So inconclusion Cody, if by you saying "no way would i expect a new aquintance to fully understand where ive been or what makes me who i am" I would agree. And please, correct me if I'm wrong here, you are saying that in AZ you perceive people being of tolerant of you. For me tolerance does not equal acceptance though. I've lived in AZ for nine months and I don't see a lot of acceptance of gays or people of color here. It really came down to that for my gf and I. We choose not to live here because of that.

well all i can say is i dont have kids in the school system but i did work the first three years i lived here i was fairly lucky with the work i found other then a couple places that were way under paid due to the alility to hire cheap labor in this state. i am retired now and have ssdi an a full pension from a union job in calif.. the one thing i do not like about this state is that it is a right to work state and i strongly believe in the unions.
i am out 24/7 where ever i go and have had no problems here. i have been in what were suposed to be openly gay state and have been beat, knived shot at and yelled at from car windows just for my appearance. being very much male id ed.. with my driver lisence showing my true name that is very girly my trouble usually will start at that point when i have to show id.. but i have never thought or even tried to pull of the male roll and im sure people are not just always assuming im male... all i can say is that i have never encountered the same problems like i have in san francisco, chiago, bronx, portland.= or other larger citys i have lived in or worked in. but then i also got along well in oklahoma city and tulsa. people have the right to live where ever they want.
as far as what i mean by pushing my bizz on others.. it was meant as i do not go into a straight bar and make out with my girl friend.... i dont do that in public ever not matter where im at. but i do introduce my date or g/f as such i dont hide it but i dont push it either.. introduction and let it be. if someone is allowed to act an ass i let them unless i have femme company then i simply take myself and her elsewhere. am i afraid .. no way at 5'10 225 lbs mostly muscel and have obviously walked alot of roads people dont generaly fuck with me. if i am missing you point please excuse me .. grrr i have been taking pain killers for dental work.. but i think im responding correctly. i also believe people have the right to there opinions.. all i can say when i hear people complain about where they live then move! for me i love it here.. all except the "to hot to even ride days"
i may have been very lucky in my employment one of my employers was a trucking company that had two tg- mtf's driving for them and had no problem with them wearinf there female id to any company funtions or anywhere else they were not treated any diffrently then anyone else.. yes some of the other drivers disc'd them but only under there breath. if they want to continue work there they had to keep it to themselfs. and this is one of the largest companys in az. every state is going to have its good and bad just like every employer is going to have its workers and its slackers. it all part of life and being able to accept other for who they are with out judgement. yes az has a problem with illeagles and the crime that is brought from it. but they are trying to find ways to deal with it. i dont alway agree with the way the state handles it but sometimes i do. i am not at that level politicly and i am glad those decisions are not made my just one person but made by votes and majority feelings of the people that live here. do i agree maybe,, do i disagree maybe. some yes and some no. i do vote and that is my part of the job.. am i going to toss fits because things are not how i want them no i will either learn to live with majority, keep my mouth shut or leave.

[Lillie]

Originally Posted by cody

Hi Gail!
all i can say is just about all the Phoenix area is gay friendly. actually i would say all of Az. as far as living here i really like the NW part of Phoenix/Glendale. i lived there for years. i wouldnt sugest anything farther west of Avondale. i moved here from Calif. and have found this whole state to be friendly, no mater who you are. Good luvk and let us know where /when you land here! as far as the weather the farther north you get the cooler it will be. we have a few weeks of very hot weather, durning that time everyone stays in the a/c or the pool! them we have the monsoons for a few weeks they are not usually bad. 15 20 min wind and rain storms that are actually refreshing. gays bars? there are several we even have one that is a womans bar that is mostly country with 2 step and line dance classes a couple times a week. late in the eves they are very well rounded with the music.

err I live near sun city...and for those in the cheap seats thats snowbirdville lol..however, my partner and I have both noticed alot of couples b/f couples actually living up here in surprise/sun city area...we have many many friends up here..and have all noticed alot of us moving up here..I know I am technically NW of Avondale..but I would say I live in an extremely gay friendly area..I am not bothered and neither are my neighbors :0 so lets have a and enjoy this beautiful evening..its cool and breezy and dare I say about to storm?

p.s.
I have now subscribed to this post and will check it more frequently...this was a bad month to try to make any plans since all my weekends till november are booked with family..but I sure hope ya'll have a great time..and perhaps I can find a way to join ya'll another time...

night all!

[friskyfemme]

Originally Posted by Lillie

err I live near sun city...and for those in the cheap seats thats snowbirdville lol..however, my partner and I have both noticed alot of couples b/f couples actually living up here in surprise/sun city area...we have many many friends up here..and have all noticed alot of us moving up here..I know I am technically NW of Avondale..but I would say I live in an extremely gay friendly area..I am not bothered and neither are my neighbors :0 so lets have a and enjoy this beautiful evening..its cool and breezy and dare I say about to storm?

p.s.
I have now subscribed to this post and will check it more frequently...this was a bad month to try to make any plans since all my weekends till november are booked with family..but I sure hope ya'll have a great time..and perhaps I can find a way to join ya'll another time...

night all!

Hi Lillie,

Welcome to the thread. I'm sorry you can't make today. However, if you're interested or anyone for that matter, I am a member in a group that meets on Sundays in a downtown Glendale, gay owned, restaurant. They give us their banquet room! The members are mainly professionals or retired professionals.

[QueenofSmirks]

Wow, what a nice surprise today! 7 of us showed up, from near and far! I really enjoyed it and can't wait to do it again! Let's try to pick a date soon so we can all block it off. I think we agreed to meet in Maricopa, and I would assume we'll spend much of the day/evening there. As FF mentioned at today's lunch, and I agreed, it will likely have to be sometime in December as weekends in October/November are already filling up or are full for some of us. For me personally, I can do Saturday December 11 and that's about it unless plans change that are already in place. Of course, if a different date works for you all and I can't make it, I'll just catch up with you next time

[JoSchmooze]

I believe that a good time was had by all....
I got back to Tucson just about 5:30 pm.....
Next time Maricopa - we'll watch Queenie play some poker,
And I'll play a lil blackjack.....
It was a fun afternoon and I enjoyed meeting all y'all....

And it was fun walking down memory lane with Scooter!
Seems we have known each other almost 15 years through
one forum or another!

I'll think of y'all as I am taking off from Sky Harbor this morning!!

[asphaltcowboi]

sorry i didnt make the meet. ive been very busy and i live way up north in kingman. but it sounds like ya'll had a good time and i plan to catch up with everyone on another date. im pretty booked until after the new year. i would truly like to meet. and hiya jo.. im a/c from bfp

[QueenofSmirks]

Originally Posted by JoSchmooze

I believe that a good time was had by all....
I got back to Tucson just about 5:30 pm.....
Next time Maricopa - we'll watch Queenie play some poker,
And I'll play a lil blackjack.....
It was a fun afternoon and I enjoyed meeting all y'all....

And it was fun walking down memory lane with Scooter!
Seems we have known each other almost 15 years through
one forum or another!

I'll think of y'all as I am taking off from Sky Harbor this morning!!

Have a great trip!!!

Speaking of Maricopa.... this is a question for the group -- can we pick a date soon so everyone can block it off? I changed some plans so besides December 11th, I could also do November 20/21.

Let me know!

Jo -- I might join you at the Blackjack tables *grin*