That said, you do need to be realistic about the place you are moving to. I'm straight, so I don't really have specific insight for any of the questions here, but I can confirm that you will not be ridden out of town on a rail for being openly gay. I lived in Tyler for a few years in my early twenties. I've been fortunate, or unfortunate enough to watch Tyler blossom from a small East Texas town into a real city with many of the amenities you'll find in much larger cities like Dallas or Shreveport. Its still a Conservative place with traditional family values & their Southern Baptist religious beliefs, but most people pay no mind to openly gay couples around here anymore. Tyler is growing very fast & is well over 108,000 people now. I'd be interested in hearing more from LGBT residents of Tyler and east Texas about their experience living there on a daily basis. With the university, colleges, and junior college it's likely there are campus-based gay groups as well. I see couples in the grocery store, Starbucks, mall who don't appear to be too closeted. I have attended "gay" AA meetings in Tyler and gone to a nightclub that is mixed, but has a "gay" night. Once people connect on an intellectual, emotional, or social level they aren't as concerned about your sexuality as they are with what you have in common. My partner is considerably younger than I and foreign born which does draw attention to us, but we're a pretty sophisticated pair and can easily move the attention towards common interests. These are very religious people-Baptist, Methodist, Seventh-day Adventist-but their belief system is to love and support, especially family members. They've known about my sexuality for over 30 years and have yet to give me any sense of rejection. We're an "out" couple, currently living in rural northern California, with many of my family living in Tyler, Dallas, Houston, etc. We like the pace of life, climate, and the cost of living. I'd like to teach in post-grad or college and see there may be possibilities in Tyler. Thanks for this discussion as my partner and I are also considering a move to Tyler area upon my retirement. If you have any insider knowledge or suggestions you are willing to share, I would be forever grateful!
I would ask my family, but I already know their opinions and I am interested in hearing what other people think about this question.
Are there places for gays/lesbians to meet each other, play sports, contribute to the community as a group, etc.? I am a writer, actor, and designer, and would love to get involved in Tyler's theatre community, and its culture in general. And I would like to think that it wouldn't be too hard to find another lesbian in Texas! I am a lesbian, and although I am single right now, I will want to be open with my relationship when I have one. I did live in Garden Valley right outside of Lindale for 2 years, but that was 10 years ago, so I have no idea what the culture is like at present.īasically, I'm wondering if anyone has any insight on the gay community in that area and if Tyler is considered a 'gay friendly' area. I am seriously contemplating a move back for a lot of reasons, but mainly to be closer to my family. All of my family is still in Texas some in the Lindale/Tyler area, some in suburbs of Dallas. I am living in Canada right now but I am a native Texan.