GLBT Support In Michigan? (Detroit, Grand Rapids: high schools, college, to live)

TheTransientTranny · 10-08-2008, 03:07 AM

I am *contemplating* (my safe word in case someone says "but..but...but you were asking about the snow in Minnesota?!?") moving to Michigan. Actually, it's one of a small number of states that I'm contemplating moving to:

MN, MI, NY, NH, VT

What I am interested in at this very moment, 5:08AM to be exact (I'm naked, exhausted from lack of sleep and have a cold, yet can't get my butt off this site), is whether MI has some great GLBT support or not. As most of you can tell, I am 'transgendered', which for me means I am exploring through the use of hormones whether I truly want to live my life as the opposite sex of which I was born). GLBT support is really not very good in Kentucky. Any suprise there?

Bluefly · 10-08-2008, 08:05 AM

For the most part, you're probably going to face hurdles in Michigan. So, I would stick to urban areas.

In metro Detroit, Ferndale is the most open. It is a hip inner ring suburb with a GLBT community center right downtown. You also might want to check out Ann Arbor because it is a progressive college town and educated people tend to be more open minded.

Other than that, Michigan is sadly burdened by the phobias that afflict much of middle America.

Obviously you will find the most support and least judgment in the cosmpolitan cities on the coasts: New York, DC, LA, perhaps Seattle. Doesn't seem like you want to go there, though.

TheTransientTranny · 10-08-2008, 04:14 PM

It probably wouldn't be as much of an issue for me, in terms of needing to be around a certain lifestyle. I think that as long as the community was diverse I'd be just fine.

jeeg · 10-08-2008, 11:35 PM

Downtown Grand Rapids is fairly diverse. Back in my clubbing days (10 yrs ago) my friends and I did a lot of dancing at the big gay club there (called Diversions if I remember correctly). I recall seeing a lot of advertisements for the GLBT community but don't actually know anything about their functions.

Ann Arbor is definitely more diverse & open overall without being too large.

bluebird39 · 10-09-2008, 06:51 AM

I've always heard of Grand Rapids as the "Bible belt" of Michigan. I know it's much more conservative than other areas.

What about Royal Oak? (Detroit suburb)

I live in Northern MI, and it's very conservative up here too. There's hardly any diversity of any kind. I'd stay in urban areas too.

RJ17015 · 10-09-2008, 07:47 AM

As a pp mentioned -- Ferndale, my son joined Affirmations (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender support - website: goaffirmations.org) in Ferndale and loved it. We also attended PFLAG meeting in Ann Arbor -- there is also a group downriver too. We found in some of the local high schools they had Gay Support groups also -- not in our particular school -- but schools near by.

magellan · 10-09-2008, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluebird39

I've always heard of Grand Rapids as the "Bible belt" of Michigan. I know it's much more conservative than other areas.

.

The suburban areas yes. Not the city as much. I think there are now 3 or 4 clubs in downtown GR that are "gay friendly". I think one even has a cross-dressing fashion show or beauty pageant one night a week (I work with a guy who is gay and into the clubbing scene). But the gay scene is not huge in GR by any stretch.

TheTransientTranny · 10-09-2008, 06:24 PM

I would like to switch the direction of this thread, slightly. Being bisexual, I am not really so much interested in the GLB scene or the support in that area. I will tell anyone that I am bisexual without batting an eye (cute guys will get a wink, though). Really, and truly, I am looking to see what the support is like for the transgender/transsexual community up there. I have a therapist down here in Kentucky, and if I moved out of state and wished to continue on HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) I would most likely need a therapist up there, too.

GlassPipe · 10-10-2008, 10:46 AM

Traverse City seems to be a little more progressively minded. Just stay out of the sticks - I've worked in hick town restaurants where gays have been beaten in the bathroom for just being gay. Pretty disgusting if you ask me. For growing up there, I can't believe I'm as open minded as I am towards people. Like anywhere though, you're going to have narrow minded people in narrow little towns. The broader the town, the broader the minds. Seems to be the norm. Good luck!