Support for the Gay Community in Phoenix


Even though I'm a straight guy (or a *grim* as my gay friends in California may have called me), I support the Gay Community. I mean, really, how can you not? Especially in Phoenix, where this community has pretty much been responsible for the rebirth of historic neighborhoods, and downtown Phoenix.

No, I don't hang out in these places, I'm usually in cyberspace. But when I go history adventuring I am absolutely amazed at what I see. Nowadays very few people remember when Phoenix didn't look like it does now, with trendy restaurants in historic areas, and in the downtown area.

When I lived in Los Angeles, in the 1980s, I knew a lot of gay people. I also knew black people, rich people, poor people, tall people, short people. I knew people who spoke a different language than mine, people who had different religions. But, to my surprise, when I moved back to Phoenix in 1989, it seemed as if everyone had to pretend that everyone was the same. The concept of *diversity* was pretty much an unknown concept in Arizona. At least that's how an old Californian like me saw it.

If the only thing that you know about someone who has a different lifestyle from you is what you have heard, it's time to find out for yourself. Phoenix does have a diverse population, and always has. It's just now that we're allowed to talk about it.

Thank you to my patrons on Patreon who help support History Adventuring! If you like these blog posts, and would like to make suggestions for future ones, please go to patreon.com/PhoenixHistoryAdventuring where you can show your support for as little as $1 a month. Thank you!

What Patreon is http://bradhallart.blogspot.com/2016/03/supporting-creators-on-web-with-patreon.html

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