Gay and lesbian activists protested outside the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2009.
By M. Alex Johnson, msnbc.com
Forget San Francisco (18th) or New York (not even on the list) the gayest city in the U.S. is Salt Lake City, Utah, according to The Advocate, the gay and lesbian newsmagazine.
Rather than rely on the U.S. Census tabulation of gay and lesbian populations, which inevitably yield San Francisco as No. 1, The Advocate used different measures to establish "per capita queerness" including a city's number of teams entered in the Gay Softball World Series, gay bookstores, openly gay elected officials and semifinalists in the International Mr. Leather Contest, which is held every year in Chicago.
"While those unfamiliar with the Beehive State are likely to conjure images of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, far-less-oppressive-than-it-used-to-be Salt Lake City has earned its queer cred," the magazine says.
Among Salt Lake City's charms: the Sundance Film Festival, which brings LGBT film buffs flocking to the city.
"If we were having a more scientific survey, I don't know that we would choose these as indicators," Valerie Larabee, director of the Utah Pride Center in Salt Lake City, told the Salt Lake Tribune.
But "all humor aside, I think that our city has come a long way," Larabee said, noting that Salt Lake City was the first municipality in the state to pass anti-discrimination ordinances based on a sexual orientation.
"If we were to rate the cities that have made the greatest amount of progress over the last 10 years, I think we certainly would rank among the top," she said.
Orlando, Fla., was second, thanks to annual Gay Days at Disney World and "more gay softball teams than you can shake a Louisville Slugger at."
And Knoxville, Tenn., has managed to produce a "robust gay scene" despite being in what the magazine calls a state with a legislature that "has been an unmitigated disaster for our rights." It ranks eighth, thanks to "gay-affirming churches" and a thriving LGBT club scene.
Here's the complete list from The Advocate:
1. Salt Lake City, Utah 2. Orlando, Fla. 3. Cambridge, Mass. 4. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 5. Seattle 6. Ann Arbor, Mich. 7. St. Paul-Minneapolis, Minn. 8. Knoxville, Tenn. 9. Atlanta 10. Grand Rapids, Mich. 11. Little Rock, Ark. 12. Portland, Ore. 13. Austin, Texas 14. Long Beach, Calif. 15. Denver 16. Washington 17. New Orleans 18. San Francisco 19. Pittsburgh 20. Salem, Ore. 21. Madison, Wis. 22. Eugene, Ore. 23. Oakland, Calif. 24. Boston 25. Kansas City, Mo.
Uke said
3:47 PM, 01/10/12
Seattle. No bouta doubt it, but Salt Lake City? Who'da thunk it?
Freddie Krueger said
4:18 PM, 01/10/12
Well, Tu lives there.
Uke said
4:21 PM, 01/10/12
Really?
Beezow Doo-Doo Zopittybop-Bop-Bop arrested in Wis.
This photo provided Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, by the Dane County, Wis., Sheriff's Office shows Beezow Doo-Doo Zopittybop-Bop-Bop who is tentatively charged with carrying a concealed knife, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and a probation violation after his arrest Thursday. Court records show his previous name was Jeffrey Drew Wilschke, and he legally changed it to Beezow Doo-Doo Zopittybop-Bop-Bop in October. (AP Photo - Dane County Sheriff)
From Associated Press
January 09, 2012 3:41 PM EST
MADISON, Wis. (AP) Authorities in southern Wisconsin are facing a tongue twister thanks to the arrest of Beezow Doo-Doo Zopittybop-Bop-Bop.
The unusually named 30-year-old man was in jail Sunday in Madison. Police say he violated his bail conditions from a previous run-in with the law.
Court records show that his name used to be Jeffrey Drew Wilschke. He legally changed it in October.
The Capital Times reports (http://bit.ly/z7IOdM ) that Zopittybop-Bop-Bop was arrested last week after residents complained of excessive drinking and drug use near Reynolds Park in Madison. Authorities say he was arrested in another local park last April after police found a loaded handgun in his backpack.
He's tentatively charged with carrying a concealed knife, and possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana.
Jail records don't list his bail amount or an attorney.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
-- Edited by Uke on Tuesday 10th of January 2012 04:23:33 PM
Snippy said
4:59 PM, 01/10/12
Uke wrote:
I'm Moving To The Gayest US town! Surprise: It's Salt Lake City
Uke said
5:18 PM, 01/10/12
No matter what Snippy says, Uke will not, ever, nope! Not never, no, nooo Not hat Snippy. No!
Freddie Krueger said
5:38 PM, 01/10/12
Salt Lake City is going to be a gayer town????
Cy Valley said
9:11 PM, 01/10/12
Gay Mormons for Mitt?
The Krink said
3:40 AM, 01/11/12
I tried in several visits to the "Beehive" state, to get a properly made "Dirty Mother" cocktail. All I can say is "FAIL". They "FAILED" everywhere I ordered the cocktail. Good thing I was more interested in watching the rr scene in Utah than getting a decent cocktail.
Uke said
12:16 PM, 01/11/12
Uke's last visit ta the "Beehive State" had its moments. Most phun? Seeing a reunited band oph bidder ol men eading theyre one!
And perhaps the Promontory Point reenactment. And maybe the chick's tits...
The Krink said
2:54 AM, 01/12/12
Well that was "last year" Uke. Shit...I already forgot about 2011. Thats how memorable is was for me.
Troll said
7:00 AM, 01/13/12
Snippy wrote:
Uke wrote:
I'm Moving To The Gayest US town! Surprise: It's Salt Lake City
Snippy said
7:17 AM, 01/13/12
Troll wrote:
Uke wrote:
I'm Moving To The Gayest US town! Surprise: It's Salt Lake City
HOLLY PHUKK UKE!
Uke said
8:41 AM, 01/13/12
Actually Troll it's "Holy dumb phukk!" And as a sidenote, Uke also misses Danny the Tourettes Guy.
Gayest US town? Surprise: It's Salt Lake City
Getty Images
Gay and lesbian activists protested outside the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2009.
Forget San Francisco (18th) or New York (not even on the list) the gayest city in the U.S. is Salt Lake City, Utah, according to The Advocate, the gay and lesbian newsmagazine.
Rather than rely on the U.S. Census tabulation of gay and lesbian populations, which inevitably yield San Francisco as No. 1, The Advocate used different measures to establish "per capita queerness" including a city's number of teams entered in the Gay Softball World Series, gay bookstores, openly gay elected officials and semifinalists in the International Mr. Leather Contest, which is held every year in Chicago.
"While those unfamiliar with the Beehive State are likely to conjure images of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, far-less-oppressive-than-it-used-to-be Salt Lake City has earned its queer cred," the magazine says.
Read the full story at The Advocate
"If we were having a more scientific survey, I don't know that we would choose these as indicators," Valerie Larabee, director of the Utah Pride Center in Salt Lake City, told the Salt Lake Tribune.
But "all humor aside, I think that our city has come a long way," Larabee said, noting that Salt Lake City was the first municipality in the state to pass anti-discrimination ordinances based on a sexual orientation.
"If we were to rate the cities that have made the greatest amount of progress over the last 10 years, I think we certainly would rank among the top," she said.
Orlando, Fla., was second, thanks to annual Gay Days at Disney World and "more gay softball teams than you can shake a Louisville Slugger at."
And Knoxville, Tenn., has managed to produce a "robust gay scene" despite being in what the magazine calls a state with a legislature that "has been an unmitigated disaster for our rights." It ranks eighth, thanks to "gay-affirming churches" and a thriving LGBT club scene.
Here's the complete list from The Advocate:
1. Salt Lake City, Utah
2. Orlando, Fla.
3. Cambridge, Mass.
4. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
5. Seattle
6. Ann Arbor, Mich.
7. St. Paul-Minneapolis, Minn.
8. Knoxville, Tenn.
9. Atlanta
10. Grand Rapids, Mich.
11. Little Rock, Ark.
12. Portland, Ore.
13. Austin, Texas
14. Long Beach, Calif.
15. Denver
16. Washington
17. New Orleans
18. San Francisco
19. Pittsburgh
20. Salem, Ore.
21. Madison, Wis.
22. Eugene, Ore.
23. Oakland, Calif.
24. Boston
25. Kansas City, Mo.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) Authorities in southern Wisconsin are facing a tongue twister thanks to the arrest of Beezow Doo-Doo Zopittybop-Bop-Bop.
The unusually named 30-year-old man was in jail Sunday in Madison. Police say he violated his bail conditions from a previous run-in with the law.
Court records show that his name used to be Jeffrey Drew Wilschke. He legally changed it in October.
The Capital Times reports (http://bit.ly/z7IOdM ) that Zopittybop-Bop-Bop was arrested last week after residents complained of excessive drinking and drug use near Reynolds Park in Madison. Authorities say he was arrested in another local park last April after police found a loaded handgun in his backpack.
He's tentatively charged with carrying a concealed knife, and possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana.
Jail records don't list his bail amount or an attorney.
___________________________________________________________________
-- Edited by Uke on Tuesday 10th of January 2012 04:23:33 PM
made "Dirty Mother" cocktail. All I can say is "FAIL". They "FAILED"
everywhere I ordered the cocktail. Good thing I was more interested
in watching the rr scene in Utah than getting a decent cocktail.
And perhaps the Promontory Point reenactment. And maybe the chick's tits...
Thats how memorable is was for me.
HOLLY PHUKK UKE!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMa73kS4oX4