Jacksonville Featured in NYTimes on Gay Parenting

[Jimmy]

I know that Jacksonville has a reputation for being hostile to difference, but don't tell gay and lesbian parents that.  They, and their children, are thriving here.

Parenting by Gays More Common in the South, Census Shows
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Being gay in this Southern city was once a lonely existence. Most people kept their sexuality to themselves, and they were reminded of the dangers of being openly gay when a gay church was bombed in the 1980s. These days, there are eight churches that openly welcome gay worshipers. One even caters to couples with children.

The changes may seem surprising for a city where churches that have long condemned homosexuality remain a powerful force. But as demographers sift through recent data releases from the Census Bureau, they have found that Jacksonville is home to one of the biggest populations of gay parents in the country.

Much more at the source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/19/us/19gays.html

Jacksonville is becoming a more welcoming and tolerant environment seemingly by the day.  There's, for example, a serious effort underway right now to update our human rights ordinance to include sexual orientation and gender identity.  These conversations are happening in places they've never taken place before.  Including at City Hall. 

http://www.jaxequality.org

[jcjohnpaint]

great news..  thanks for sharing!

[simms3]

Progress.  I find it interesting that 32% of all gay couples in Jacksonville are raising children, second only to San Antonion at 34%.  Similar military, conservative, family towns, eh?

I live in Midtown Atlanta so I have grown accustomed to the gay population here and let me tell you nobody is raising kids here.  I even go to an Episcopal church where tons of gay couples go, and I have seen a few baptisms, but 90+% of the couples are not raising kids.  I think it's great that they are in Jacksonville and I think there are so many kids in America that need adoption.  Any home is better than no home (well except for a few cases heh).  Maybe we just need to loosen American adoption laws and encourage stable, gay couples to adopt?  Even many straight couples who already have kids of their own find that they can't adopt children in America because the laws are so ridiculous.  Why do you think so many people look overseas for adoption?