Gay Life In Virginia

[idle dreamer]

I've heard that Virginia is a conservative religious state.

Well I'm moving to lynchburg for college this upcoming school year and was wondering how I will be met?

Any help would be more than appreciative.

Thanks

[Mflowerchild]

I will be moving to Lynchburg this summer as well. My teenage son is gay and I have been wondering the same.

[Thomas Dunlop]

I would think that if these young people do not try to shove their ides on others that they will be treated as well as anywhere. Lynchburg although pretty conservative, seems to be tolerant of others as long as it isnt forced on others that dont share the lifestyle. After all life choices are personal and not to be foreced on others. Just be a good citizen and treat people well and most will respond the same way, after all very few people really care what sexual preferances someone has.

[Lynchburg Resident]

You should expect to keep your inclinations hidden, or you should expect to be mistreated. There is a gay community in Lynchburg, but there is also a lot of "religious" hatred.

[HB Covesville VA]

Lynchburg Resident wrote:

You should expect to keep your inclinations hidden, or you should expect to be mistreated. There is a gay community in Lynchburg, but there is also a lot of "religious" hatred.

Yeah, exactly. Anyone who thinks differently doesn't know what's it is like to have to stuff who you are in a closet. And, what business is it if theirs? God knows where I am on Sunday mornning ... and who's there with me.

[Trish in Virginia]

Why do they call them gays?

[mago]

I have to disagree.The atmosphere in lynchburg is very anti gay,and venomous.expect to be told to get out of lynchburg(they're "polite" people so they'll whisper it instead of yelling. Northern virginia is a lot better IMHO.I currently live in the Hill city and you hear homophobic comments a lot, especially from the african americans in town.

[Little Sheba]

What about that thing with Jerry Falwell's church a few years back ?

I couldn't tell if the gays where welcome or not. I remember it was on the news & in the papers.

[mago]

they werent really welcomed. the liberty police actually stopped them from entering the school grounds.falwell did host a luncheon with the soulforce leader,but for the most part soulforce was met with bible toting liberty students telling them how homosexuality was wrong and they were going to hell.No real meaningful dialogue took place.

[sjames]

You couldn't be more wrong. Soulforce was treated with kindness and respect at Liberty, and the dialogue was healthy. Just because you don't change another's mind doesn't mean that it wasn't meaningful or helpful.

[Lynchburg Resident]

mago wrote:

I have to disagree.The atmosphere in lynchburg is very anti gay,and venomous.expect to be told to get out of lynchburg(they're "polite" people so they'll whisper it instead of yelling. Northern virginia is a lot better IMHO.I currently live in the Hill city and you hear homophobic comments a lot, especially from the african americans in town.

Homophobic is a false term. I think its the other way round, as in Heterophobic, phobia being fear. I dont think heterosexual people are "afraid" of homosexuality, they just see it for what it really is, PERVERSION. To pervert anything is to change something from its normal function or definition, into something that perverts normal boundaries. It is Gays who are afraid, not the other way round. Being gay is a DECISION, not a natural state of being. Its sexual perversion, and can also be decided AGAINST, and change ones life. Homosexuality permeates the spiritual as well, perverting mind, spirit, and body. Once the decision is made to be Gay, and acted upon, I agree it is very hard to break, but it can be done. With God, all things are possible. Yes, it is wrong to abuse Gay people, or ridicule, however, it is NOT wrong to recognize wrong, and it is VERY WRONG for Gays to force their agenda upon everyone else who is NOT gay, and people who are NOT gay, are the majority, period. Gays do not deserve to be treated like minority races, they come in all races. Its perverted, Im sorry.
Come on down to the farm. Come on out to the barn. You wont see 2 roosters walking arm in arm. They cannot make a chicken, they dont have an egg to hatch, When God said love your brother, I dont think he meant like that...

[SaltShaker]

Lynchburg Resident wrote:

<quoted text>
Homophobic is a false term. I think its the other way round, as in Heterophobic, phobia being fear. I dont think heterosexual people are "afraid" of homosexuality, they just see it for what it really is, PERVERSION. To pervert anything is to change something from its normal function or definition, into something that perverts normal boundaries. It is Gays who are afraid, not the other way round. Being gay is a DECISION, not a natural state of being. Its sexual perversion, and can also be decided AGAINST, and change ones life. Homosexuality permeates the spiritual as well, perverting mind, spirit, and body. Once the decision is made to be Gay, and acted upon, I agree it is very hard to break, but it can be done. With God, all things are possible. Yes, it is wrong to abuse Gay people, or ridicule, however, it is NOT wrong to recognize wrong, and it is VERY WRONG for Gays to force their agenda upon everyone else who is NOT gay, and people who are NOT gay, are the majority, period. Gays do not deserve to be treated like minority races, they come in all races. Its perverted, Im sorry.
Come on down to the farm. Come on out to the barn. You wont see 2 roosters walking arm in arm. They cannot make a chicken, they dont have an egg to hatch, When God said love your brother, I dont think he meant like that...

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but your post is full of errors. I don't think being gay is a choice, no more than than being heterosexual is. Also, homosexuality is common in the animal world. Also, God's love is absolute..He does not discriminate..perhaps this is why Jesus never mentioned homsexuality, but focused on brotherhood, tolerance and forgiveness.

[Doug]

Wow! I am moving to Lynchburg in several months and it sounds like a horrible place to be if you are gay. Is there a gay community? I honestly don't care if people whisper and gossip as long as I am safe. What is the best way to get involved with the gay community in Lynchburg?
Many thanks,
Doug

[Elly]

Go to AShburn V.A We love GAY People !!!!

[mago]

@Lynchburg Resident:
Homosexuality is not a decision;who in their right mind would choose to be verbally spiritually abused by "religious" people and suffer the threat/reality of physical violence? Gays deserve to to be treated as your fellow human beings.Period.Regardless of what your religious "beliefs" are. And,who decided what "normal" was?.I certaintly don't want to live in a normal world.It seems to me that G-D in his great wisdom made all of his creations with variations, and differences so that he could delight in us. Only he can determine what is good and what is bad, no mere, frail, imperfect human being has the right to judge others, yet for some reason the religious feel they have the right to do so. The same arguments being used againsts gays were used against blacks during the civil rights period,any many pointed to scripture to bolster their arguments.The same was done when it came to interracial marriages.What was the common denominator? Fear.Fear is an emotional reaction, which manifests its self in many ways, physical and emotional violence and verbal abuse being the signs of fear.So, Homophobia is the correct term.Do gays shout epithets at people for being straight? Not that I know of. I feel saddened by the actions of christians.They had such a hopeful message,they could have helped the world so much, but instead,they opted to become just another hate group, whose message has become lost in all the hatefilled vitriol and menacing.

[Doug]

Well said! I was discussing this topic with my extremely religious family over the weekend. I have lived in many places and even served in the military, however, I am actually more afraid of living in Lynchburg than any other place I have lived or visited thus far. I expressed my concerns to my brother who said “if they are true Christians then you will have nothing to worry about”. I am still scared!

[John-UK]

Having worked in Lynchburg a few times for over a period of 18mths i would hate to be a gay there for the simple reason you are not at all accepted in an atmosphere of pure religious bigotry,Most communities in and around Lynchburg ARE very homophobic even though i found people absolutley brilliant an friendly if you were gay (which i'm not) i would of thought you would be completley ostracised and not accepted even i was threatened and told i'd be shot for gang banging (which we didn't,There was a group of us from UK working)so i think in this day and age people should move on and be a bit more tolerant and forgiving as homosexuality is not an illness it's a way of life and should be accepted

[lynchburgvawomyn]

i can't believe some of the things i have seen here..being gay a "perversion?" come on now! i am a "natural born lesbian" who resides in lynchburg with my partner of 5 years. I am God's creation. And furthermore being gay is NOT a decision. trust me, it would've been a lot easier on me if i had been straight when i was growing up.

[Bridget]

Doug, stay closeted, stay quiet, blend in. You won't be welcome until you find the community ~ and it won't be easy because they are staying quiet and blending in. Roanoke is a little better. I'm not sure where you're moving from but expect it to be Very Different. Good luck.

[scottie]

so i just moved to ashburn va and there is no gay anything to do...is there even gay people here....help!!!! anyone have any advise for a gay guy mid 20's???????email me [e-mail]....and hurry it up lol