In staunchly conservative Spokane, Washington, efforts are underway to create a gay neighborhood. Supporters say it would boost the economy and send a signal that Spokane is tolerant and progressive: "It would help youth struggling with their sexuality to realize they don't have to go away to a big city to be gay."
Posted Jan. 22,2005 at 1:21 PM EST by Andy Towle in Elsewhere | Permalink
How big a city do they think you need? Spokane's pretty big at almost 200,000 people... It is, however, on the Plain and prolly has more in common with states like Idaho and Nebraska.
Posted by: Ken | Jan 24, 2005 2:00:36 PM
I grew up in Spokane but moved to NYC in my early twenties and haven't lived there in over thirty years. I never thought of it as "staunchly conservative" growing up, more libertarian with a large "post hippie" population that I hung out with. There was a gay bar but I was too young to go in it and I was still a bit confused in those days anyway.
Over the years when I'd go back to visit family I found it becoming more Republican in the Reagan revolution. My brother helped get Tom Foley thrown out of office and the neo-nazis moved into nearby Sandpoint, Idaho. If I had any thoughts of moving back (it's beautiful there) they disappeared during that time. People seemed to be a lot meaner and fearful of outsiders. What was once described as "a place you could see from the end of the earth" had turned into a gated community protected by mountains and wheatfields.
I read the local paper online every once in a while and it seems to be getting back to its more libertarian past. At least I hope so.
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Posted by: murphy | Jan 24, 2005 10:28:21 PM