"I am concerned that there are GBLT people in Minneapolis who for the first time are truly frightened of losing jobs or even children, or of being persecuted with physical violence. Here is a website with info about Cananda:Gary and all,"
I am truly amazed by this and another similar letter recently posted to the List. Gay people are appreciated and part of the political power structure in Minneapolis to a higher degree than I have found in other cities, including those in Canada. Certainly there are some who are distressed by politics nationally, but please give Minneapolis a break when it comes to treatment of the GLBT community in Minneapolis. One of the complaints from out state Minnesota, and the conservative "majority", is that Minneapolis is TOO liberal and "run" by gays. It would be amusing if it was not distressful to hear and read about people fearing Minneapolis might join some fascist movement. If you lived in Podunk on the "Range" or even some outer area towns in the Metro possibly there might (and I emphasize MIGHT) be a reason for very small concern. But in Minneapolis? PAHlease, give me a break, cause I don't think so. I am sure Council Members Gary Schiff, Scott Benson, and Robert Lillegrin would also be surprised by such a suggestion.
It was predicted that communism would rise in the United States, and in England, not in Russia. We know how good that prediction was. It has been also predicted that we will fall like Rome because of our immorality. That might be possible, but I do not think so. One national election will not change Minneapolis into a place where you have witch hunts for gay people. The GLBT community should enjoy Minneapolis. It just does not get any better. While there might be some justification for straights complaining gays have disproportionate political power (in comparison to their proportion of the population), I do not think ANY one can honestly look at the situation and say Gay people are not respected in Minneapolis. Minneapolis has shown that it will value and willingly elect people no matter what their sexual orientation.
Gay people should be moving into Minneapolis, NOT moving to Canada. If someone wants to immigrate to Canada because Vancouver is cool, more power to them, but certainly not because Canada is more tolerant and supportive than Minneapolis. Somebody is fooling somebody. Except for the four or five major cities Canada is certainly just as reactive and conservative as the U. S., and probably more so. I know of NO city in Canada more welcoming than Minneapolis and several much less so. Now as I say, Vancouver and Montreal are really cool, and Toronto's Dragon City also, but hay so are New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, New Orleans, Atlanta, and yes indeed a whole bunch of other U.S. cities. And Minneapolis may lead the pack. Minneapolis can surely use improving, but it is certainly better than anywhere I have been in Canada in the valuing of our GLBT community as important parts of our City. Like I say there are a few "COOL" places in Canada, the rest of it (in my opinion) is some great wasteland with uptight minds and cold bodies.
Enjoy Minneapolis, many gay people and their friends worked hard to make it what it is.
Jim Graham Ventura Village, Phillips Community, Sixth Ward of Minneapolis
An object in possession seldom retains the same charm that it had in pursuit.
- Gaius Plinius (c. 61 - 112 A.D.)
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