When I say "people," I refer to
mainly gay people. I was in Portland recently and met no fewer than forty new
people in a week at three different outings. I was introduced to these people
by three of my current friends that live in Portland. We met at Coffee, at
Breakfast, and with a group that gathers from different offices at food carts
in downtown for lunch during the workweek. The conversations ranged from
political, to TV, to workout tips, to what's for dinner. These were not
"pick up" outings. Now, were any of them interested in one
another or me in a sexual or dating way potentially, they might have talked
amongst themselves about it. However, it was not part of the conversation
during these meetings and conversations. There were all age ranges, personalities,
and styles of people.
Why do those in Spokane have to make it so
hard?
Signed,
Time to Relocate
TTR:
Miss Amazon has faced that issue many times and, having been born and raised here, has somewhat of an answer. To my knowledge, Spokane is the biggest small town on earth. Your question about having trouble meeting people is not new or limited to the GLBTQAI community. One of the first questions people are often asked is, "where did you go to high school?" This allows the questioner to place you as a native or new person, as well as socio-economically. Spokane is a hard place to meet and make friends no matter your sexual orientation. The best way to look at it is, if you are not from here, it is like changing schools at the end of senior year and everyone already has cliques established and you are an outsider.
This atmosphere is even worse for GLBTQAI people because our Lilac City has many self-hating persons in power who are also homosexual. A gay mayor was crucified for his sexual orientation a few years back, for example. One prominent family has 4 generations of gay men heading it, but who could not come out because they are a founding family. This is also true of a person who is in a position to sway public opinion, but is unable to act out his sexual desires because he is a pillar of the community.
Pudding...if you are asking Miss Amazon if you
should leave Spokane so you can make more friends and live more of an gay
social life...I say, "no." If one sees a problem and does not make
the effort to change it, then what good are we to our community as a whole? If
one moves because there is no way for people to meet and get to know each other
without the pretense of mating, then one is not leaving Spokane better than it
was found and their footprints disappear as fast as they step. Our esteemed
Publisher, Dean, has over the last few years made inroads with the very issue
about which you are concerned. He has helped found many alternatives to the bar
scene for the GLBTQAI community in Spokane and I highly recommend you get to
know him and his projects. Miss Amazon hopes you decide to stay as part of our
community and become part of the change you wish to see in our world.
Remember...Miss Amazon loves YOU and all you do!
