New York City: not lbgt friendly?

[bobbiemlv]

I read an article , don't remember where, that cited reasons why NYC isn't friendly toward us.
If that is true, then why did they make.....................................
The Stonewall Inn is now a historical landmark in NYC.

[annie]

> I read an article, don't remember where, that cited reasons why NYC isn't
> friendly toward us.
{munch}

My guess is that it was written by someone who really has not spent that much time there, or else someone who had some difficulties and is trying to justify them.

[External Poster]

This posting is from: Delaney
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I didn't see the article, but I do spend quite a bit of time in the city.

The trans reception is quite variable, depending on where in the city
you are; there are areas which can be dicey. Also, areas which are quite
safe from the physical standpoint (i.e. Times Square and the theater
district) often seem to be the place where I am most likely to get a
nasty comment - I generally think it's tourists making them, not
residents.

As you mentioned Stonewall, the West
Village is about as friendly as it is going to get in NYC (New Yorkers are not
always the most friendly folks on the planet, be you trans or not :-)).

As major cities go, NYC is my favorite, it just pays to exercise some
caution. Use cabs or Uber after about 3AM - I've used the subways later,
but you never know what you may run into, and there isn't much police
coverage at that time - you're on your own. By 5:30 or so they start to
fill up, so it's only about 3 hours that it's better to avoid.

BTW, if you choose to use Amtrak to go into/out of the city, you will
have no problems - I have never had a bad experience using them, even in
the wee dark hours.


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(This posting was entered by Delaney, an external user of MyDLV.)

[annie]

> The trans reception is quite variable, depending on where in the
> city you are; there are areas which can be dicey.

Each time I go back there I'm amazed at the changes since I lived there, now 30-some years ago. Some areas which were iffy or even downright scary then (Williamsburg, Bowery/East Village, etc.) are now very gentrified and perfectly safe. Demographics of the neighborhoods have really changed too.

> (i.e. Times Square and the theater district) often seem to be the
> place where I am most likely to get a nasty comment -

Times Square has really cleaned up! Right now it kind of reminds me of River North in Chicago. Back when I lived there it was a cesspool! Nasty! Ironically, the bookstore where I got the publications which first got me in touch with the then-fledgling TG community was right in the slimiest part of said cesspool!

> I generally think it's tourists making them, not residents.

I might agree. Most New Yorkers are very live-and-let-live, although there will be a few equine derrieres in NYC, as there are in all areas.

> As you mentioned Stonewall, the West Village is about as friendly
> as it is going to get in NYC

That area (Christopher/Bleecker, Sheridan Square, which is really not a square) was very dicey when I lived there. It had, at the time, a very derogatory nickname, and even the most gutsy kids (we could drink at 18 at the time and sure took advantage) stayed out of the area.

Ironically, even though I lived there I did not know of Stonewall until later. I don't remember any news reports or even any scuttlebutt of the incident. LOL, Likewise, I don't remember Woodstock either until it was over.

> As major cities go, NYC is my favorite, it just pays to exercise
> some caution.

I don't have the exact figures, but I daresay fewer crimes against persons occur in NYC than in Las Vegas.