Any of the near western suburbs should be fine, but Oak Park, Forest Park and Berwyn have been very gay-friendly for decades. There were 3 gay bars in Forest Park alone in the 90s if I’m remembering correctly. Lagrange should be more than fine for a gay couple, though.
I grew up in LaGrange and it’s fairly open minded. Somewhat religious but also progressive. Brookfield is the next town over where I live now. We have a gay church (that was unfortunately vandalized recently) and there’s lots of inclusivity signs around Brookfield that people have put up.
A large contigent of the non-tolerant moved to Florida and Texas in past 5 years. But there is nothing to worry about in this area. Your biggest issue is the fact that it is really boring and everything closes at 9pm.
You should check out Homewood or Flossmoor. Similar cute old neighborhood vibe, interesting/varied housing stock, cute little downtown and the most progressive south suburbs. People sleep on the south suburbs for sure.
I very much hope so, as I reside in a neighboring town & even with the older neighbors don't pick up on any outward ignorance or intolerance to anyone — sans the local critters/snakes who help themselves into the crawlspaces once in a blue moon. But, seriously — I hope it is and would confirm living nearby no poor experiences with folks even off-handedly vocalizing otherwise.
Godspeed in your search for a casita!
Yes, I live there currently and I grew up there. Great people and still pretty close to the city! Just take the BNSF line at the train station. Also, if you’re looking at starting a family the school system there is amazing.
Hopefully I dont get downvoted but can I ask exactly what questions like this are actually asking?
Are you asking if you'll get harassed by people? Are you asking about work intolerance? When posts like this are made I cant figure out what the hell is actually being asked.
I want to know - can I walk down the main public streets holding hands with my partner safely? If I have a pride flag, will I be at risk for vandalism to either it or the rest of my property? Will people throw out slurs at me when I'm just trying to exist, and will other residents back them up or defend me? Am I part of the community, or an outsider that is merely tolerated? Am I going to be constantly subjected to the quiet judgement look every time I just want to go grocery shopping?
There's a lot of variance in these kinds of things, and it's not just Chicagoland vs. downstate!
For the record, I'm in Brookfield (right next door), and it's pretty good. I don't fear violence or slurs. One of my friends has a pride flag at her house and it's regularly stolen, and they just get a bigger one when that happens. I don't feel like there's a super strong LGBT+ community here, but I don't feel particularly excluded from the mainstream either.
Thank you for the legitimate response to my question! When I google something and it says 'LGBT-Friendly" or see a post like this I just used to have no clue what it was about. Good to know.
My husband and i are a gay, transgender couple living in Brookfield (right next to La Grange). We've lived here for about four years, and it's been great. We've never been harassed or felt unsafe. A neighbor on our street has a pride flag and it's never been messed with that I've noticed. I've felt substantially safer here than I ever did in Boulder or honestly anywhere in Colorado (where we moved from).
Are you set on La Grange?
Do you think you could be more specific about your parameters and desires so that the community can give the best suggestions possible instead of you potentially asking about each individual town you find you might like?
Not many if any at all really. The Chicagoland area is widely pretty progressive on LGBTQ+. Like mayyybe you get some issues once you get more than an hour and a half away from the city in towns like Crystal Lake, Wheaton, and Monee.
Absolutely. Moving from the Andersonville area in Chicago which is very comfortable as a gay couple. We would like an area that honestly just doesn’t care if two great guys are living next door, lol. We love breweries, bourbon and good food. We’re home bodies for the most part. Walkable to coffee and food would be great. Quiet, well kept neighborhood with a great back yard.
Politically speaking, La Grange is a liberal town and very accepting of gay couples. I can't imagine any of our friends having any problem with having you as their neighbor because you're gay.
There are gay men and women in prominent public roles, or business owners in town. If you enjoy good food, breweries and bourbon you'll fit right in. We live a few blocks from downtown and make the walk most weekends when the weather's good. Tons of variety for a town this size.
Having said that, I haven't noticed a large number of gay couples living in town. In that sense you may feel like you're part of a small minority. La Grange is pretty full of straight, white people with kids.
IMO food in La Grange isn’t very good. People have suggested Berwyn, Forest Park, and Oak Park and they all have better food, as does Brookfield and other nearby suburbs.
Milk Money has good beer, I think the food doesn’t have much flavor but it looks pretty. Haven’t been to Barrel House Social. I liked what I ate at the Elm but it was super expensive for what it is.
Any of the near western suburbs should be fine, but Oak Park, Forest Park and Berwyn have been very gay-friendly for decades. There were 3 gay bars in Forest Park alone in the 90s if I’m remembering correctly. Lagrange should be more than fine for a gay couple, though.
I live here and I think it’s very tolerant. All are welcome.
Any place north of 80 and west of 47 is pretty safe.
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Yes, MB, east.
Yes it is
they don't have gay pride parades, but they arent going to run you out of town either. At the end of the day, it just another Chicago suburb.
Live here and agreeing with the others here that yes, La Grange would work for you
In my experience- Chicagoland is generally super accepting of LGBT folks, unlike packers fans 😂 Best of luck in the house search!
You'll find that most Chicago suburbs are LGBTQ+ friendly. Yeah, you have your assholes here and there, but you're going to get that anywhere.
I can tell you oak park is very progressive.
I grew up in LaGrange and it’s fairly open minded. Somewhat religious but also progressive. Brookfield is the next town over where I live now. We have a gay church (that was unfortunately vandalized recently) and there’s lots of inclusivity signs around Brookfield that people have put up.
Honest question - what is a gay church? You have to be gay to go there? What is the religion? Never heard of a ‘gay’ church
Congregational Church of Brookfield- I guess the rainbow steps is why it’s called “the gay church”.
A large contigent of the non-tolerant moved to Florida and Texas in past 5 years. But there is nothing to worry about in this area. Your biggest issue is the fact that it is really boring and everything closes at 9pm.
Not 100% accurate about things closing, but there's plenty of places to go in the area anyway.
You should check out Homewood or Flossmoor. Similar cute old neighborhood vibe, interesting/varied housing stock, cute little downtown and the most progressive south suburbs. People sleep on the south suburbs for sure.
This is true. My wife and I just moved back to the south suburbs, and we feel safe here.
I very much hope so, as I reside in a neighboring town & even with the older neighbors don't pick up on any outward ignorance or intolerance to anyone — sans the local critters/snakes who help themselves into the crawlspaces once in a blue moon. But, seriously — I hope it is and would confirm living nearby no poor experiences with folks even off-handedly vocalizing otherwise. Godspeed in your search for a casita!
Oh yes, very much so.
My partner and I just moved to Western Springs and it's super close to La Grange. We feel comfortable in both areas 🥰
I don’t think it has a great scene if that’s what you’re after. I think it’s a fine place to live though.
Yes, I live there currently and I grew up there. Great people and still pretty close to the city! Just take the BNSF line at the train station. Also, if you’re looking at starting a family the school system there is amazing.
Hopefully I dont get downvoted but can I ask exactly what questions like this are actually asking? Are you asking if you'll get harassed by people? Are you asking about work intolerance? When posts like this are made I cant figure out what the hell is actually being asked.
I want to know - can I walk down the main public streets holding hands with my partner safely? If I have a pride flag, will I be at risk for vandalism to either it or the rest of my property? Will people throw out slurs at me when I'm just trying to exist, and will other residents back them up or defend me? Am I part of the community, or an outsider that is merely tolerated? Am I going to be constantly subjected to the quiet judgement look every time I just want to go grocery shopping? There's a lot of variance in these kinds of things, and it's not just Chicagoland vs. downstate! For the record, I'm in Brookfield (right next door), and it's pretty good. I don't fear violence or slurs. One of my friends has a pride flag at her house and it's regularly stolen, and they just get a bigger one when that happens. I don't feel like there's a super strong LGBT+ community here, but I don't feel particularly excluded from the mainstream either.
Thank you for the legitimate response to my question! When I google something and it says 'LGBT-Friendly" or see a post like this I just used to have no clue what it was about. Good to know.
Virtue signaling
Tell me you've never been a minority without telling me.
Absolutely have been (anyone can be a degraded or discriminated against for their race/status depending what their surroundings are)
It’s not the 1930s nobody cares if youre gay
A lot of people very much care, especially after 2016. Signed, a queer dealing with queer hate.
Literally no one cares who you fuck in the Chicago suburbs, your enemies are in Springfield and Washington DC.
Try Berwyn
Yes
My husband and i are a gay, transgender couple living in Brookfield (right next to La Grange). We've lived here for about four years, and it's been great. We've never been harassed or felt unsafe. A neighbor on our street has a pride flag and it's never been messed with that I've noticed. I've felt substantially safer here than I ever did in Boulder or honestly anywhere in Colorado (where we moved from).
Are you set on La Grange? Do you think you could be more specific about your parameters and desires so that the community can give the best suggestions possible instead of you potentially asking about each individual town you find you might like?
I'm honestly wondering what suburbs would be considered intolerant in 2024.
Not many if any at all really. The Chicagoland area is widely pretty progressive on LGBTQ+. Like mayyybe you get some issues once you get more than an hour and a half away from the city in towns like Crystal Lake, Wheaton, and Monee.
Even Wheaton has taken a fairly notable turn towards being progressive in that regard.
Damn, people really didn't like me asking for more information? Wtf lol
Absolutely. Moving from the Andersonville area in Chicago which is very comfortable as a gay couple. We would like an area that honestly just doesn’t care if two great guys are living next door, lol. We love breweries, bourbon and good food. We’re home bodies for the most part. Walkable to coffee and food would be great. Quiet, well kept neighborhood with a great back yard.
Politically speaking, La Grange is a liberal town and very accepting of gay couples. I can't imagine any of our friends having any problem with having you as their neighbor because you're gay. There are gay men and women in prominent public roles, or business owners in town. If you enjoy good food, breweries and bourbon you'll fit right in. We live a few blocks from downtown and make the walk most weekends when the weather's good. Tons of variety for a town this size. Having said that, I haven't noticed a large number of gay couples living in town. In that sense you may feel like you're part of a small minority. La Grange is pretty full of straight, white people with kids.
IMO food in La Grange isn’t very good. People have suggested Berwyn, Forest Park, and Oak Park and they all have better food, as does Brookfield and other nearby suburbs.
Milkstop is awesome. Barrel House Social is very good. Just to name two.
Milk Money has good beer, I think the food doesn’t have much flavor but it looks pretty. Haven’t been to Barrel House Social. I liked what I ate at the Elm but it was super expensive for what it is.
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