50 Fabulous Gay-friendly Places to Live

If you're looking for a gay-friendly place to call home but can't decide among the urban hustle of New York, the laidback seaside of Key West, or the open, daily life of Minneapolis, this book is for you! Travelers, Urban Pioneers, gay families and those searching for a new hometown now have an easy-to-read book that profiles 50 of America's gay-friendliest cities.

Most guidebooks reduce coverage of the local gay community to lists – lists of bars, lists of dance clubs, lists of hotels, lists of resources. 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live surveys each location from a "local’s point of view". It features cities that are fun places to live, work, and visit because they encourage and nurture diversity. Each location is described in detail, with special attention paid to information the gay community most wants to know, including:

Gay-positive local politics and policies. A dynamic gay community with well-sponsored activities and events. Fun nightlife in local clubs, bars and music. Cultural and recreational opportunities. Positive gay health and outreach programs.

Life is more than facts and figures, so you won't find a lot of confusing charts and rankings in these gay-friendly profiles. Each contains a vivid description, an overview of the gay community, and practical daily-life information on climate, housing costs, taxes, the local business environment, and much more. Interviews with local gay residents, community leaders, business owners, and cultural leaders create an intimate description of each location. You'll also find helpful phone numbers and websites to make exploring and planning your vacation or relocation easier. Rounding out the book are tips and national resources that will assist in making your own life and city more gay friendly. The book also includes an easy-to-use, interactive CD containing a wealth of information to make your search that much easier—and a lot more fun!

Gregory A. Kompes is a writer, photographer and public speaker with a degree in English from Columbia University. Driven by a natural curiosity about all things cultural and gay, he has traveled extensively throughout the United States, visiting museums, natural wonders, restaurants, bars, arenas, theaters, concert halls and gay ghettos. His articles on gay life, entertainment, and travel have appeared online and in print publications across the country. Gregory and his domestic partner, Todd, live in Las Vegas, Nevada.
 

Customer Reviews:

I choose Austin!

This book went into pretty good detail of the listed cities. I hope there is an updated version soon. It was published in 2005.

2007-06-07

B est Gay City In America

If you want a truly Gay Friendly city check out Wilton Manors, Florida. The city is e4stimated to be 30-40% gay. If you want to be somewhere that people don't look twice if you're grocery shopping with your boyfriend or where the main street has more gay businesses than straight and the city counsel has a gay majority then look no more. Just research Wilton Manors (Gay Mecca) online and then come for a visit. I'm sure you will be dying to move here, like I did!! :)

2006-09-10

A good purchase

This is a very helpful book. It definitely gives you an idea of what's going on in terms of the gay community in the particular area and which neighborhoods are gay friendly. I wish it went into a bit more depth on the friendliness of the neighbors, so to speak, the actual concentration of gays and lesbians in the area, and there is no info on raising kids in the area; how gay friendly are the schools, etc. I have also checked out Sperlings best places website for info on voting (dems vs. rep) and the gay atlas for info on concentration. But, overall, I am glad I purchased this book.

2006-08-11

50 Gay-Friendly Places to Live for the Wealthy

The majority of the places the authors recommend have jobs with a median income of $40,000 to $70,000, yet the median house prices are $500,000 to over $1,500,000. It seems ludicrous to recommend a town where most working people will have to live in apartments.

For example, they recommend Boulder, CO where the median single-family home price is $535,000 and the median household income is $44,748. The typical household would have to save 50% of its pre-tax income for 4.8 years to put a 20% down payment on that typical house.

They warn that Denver, CO can be cold at night even in the summer but no similar warning is given about Boulder, CO.

They warn that the summer is hot and humid in Saint Petersburg, FL but give no such warning about Wilton Manors, FL, Key West, FL or any other recommended city in FL.

2006-07-16

A good start

This book is a good starting place for people like me who are looking to permanently leave where they currently live but are not sure how to go about finding a "better" place.
My only criticism is that I thought the book would be a little bit more thorough, although given the retail price, I think it's a good value.
Missing is some basic information, such as state laws regarding gays (there is some local information which is helpful). For instance, they don't bother to tell you when recommending the Atlanta area that Georgia doesn't even have anti-discrimination laws for sexual orientation. While local laws may protect you, if you get to the state supreme court, you won't have a chance.
All in all, though, a useful little book. Perhaps their next edition will be a expanded to include more details.

2006-03-24