What is gay life like in AZ?  Is it hard?  Are there laws protecting us?  Domestic partnership?
101730
I don't think gay life in AZ is any harder than any other urban area. It is a little difficult reconciling one's head to living in a red state.\n\nThere are no specific anti-discrimination laws at the state level, but there are some at city level. And I believe Tempe offers domestic partner benefits to their employees. Gay marriage is illegal in AZ and unlikely to be approved any time soon. But many larger corporations offer domestic partner benefits regardless of what city they are in in order to be competitive.\n\nHate crimes exist, but they do everywhere. I was bashed in SF, but haven't been threatened in 10 years in Phoenix.
965254
Good morning, dearheart. Good for you. here's my take on gay marriage. I've been married to the same wonderful lady for the last 26 years. She drives OTR semi for a living and I'm a housewife. We both wear wedding rings and feel as married as the next heterosexual couple but I can get none of her health benefits. How my union is hurting society I can't fathom as our relationship has been monogamous for all of it's 26 years and that same union has lasted longer than many heterosexual marriages. There are couples on the LGBTQ site here that have been together for over 40 years (which is a great thing in its own right) How can their love be hurting anyone? Good luck and Blessings on you.
926826
Cookie, I know what your talking about. And I believe that the coming out experience for some people are much different than for others.  Perhaps for some it was hard for them to be accepted at home, so they are out in public. Some actually hid for so many years that coming out is like a rebirth to them and their excited and it's like a new life for them. They can finally be free and not enslaved by being closeted any longer.  I don't think that some homosexuals really care who we think they have sex with. They know that straight people have questions and some are very helpful in answering our questions. Yes I am straight. But I have a gay son.  And I also have a straight son, that equals two great kids! What I can tell you is that it is a process that a family goes through. There are different stages that a gay person and their family goes through. And this is evident in their behavior when they become relaxed and can be themselves. I hope this helped abit. I am a PFLAG Mom. Parents Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. If you had more questions you can email PFLAG and they will be more than happy to answer your question.
415935
My goodness but Yes he can get in trouble for this. If you have papers that state the two of you are LEGALLY MARRIED by a Court of Law ( be it by a minister in a church or a Judge at the court house), he can not marry, another woman while still married to you. From everything I have heard, Read it is still considered Illegal and many states have a Bigamy Law that they use to stop Polygamy ( cohabitation where one man is married to more than one woman under the same house ). Utah is the only state I know that still allows the practice of Polygamy and Bigamy. In fact they pretty much go out of their way to TURN the other CHEEK so to speak and not see what is going on.\n I would find myself a good attorney and discuss this with him/her. You need to protect your rights and the rights of your child. If you are not legally separated, not working on getting a divorce then he is breaking the law.\n\nI hope you find your answers and hopefully get out of this situation before it gets worse! Good LUCK!
395731
Who knows why our country's doing anything it's doing. I agree with you completely. I'm sorry that you and your partner, as well as all other homosexuals, cannot show your love by marrying one another. Love is love. I don't think it matters if you're a man loving a man, a woman loving a woman, or a man loving a woman. If your heart is true you should be able to get married. Bottom line. I hope that you and your partner will one day have the same rights as the rest of us. And that this prejudice will end; to any degree it can.
946063
I fully understand. My Partner adn I are also in a long term relationship and we finally found the *only* gay bar in Oshkosh. People were constantly coming up to ask us things and were very surprised (but mostly pleasently surprised, I must say) that we were a couple and a long-term one at that. Of course we're Lesbians. Perhaps it's different for us? Actually straight bars are just as rife with people looking for each other; it's just that we're used to seeing it more. Blessings.
1020504
"The Gay Agenda" ? Have not read it nor have I ever seen it...interesting though. However, I am Gay and have been with my Partner, registered as we live in California,  for 10 years. Our agenda is to raise our 9 year old son, who is, by the way,  an honor student for all of you right wing crackpots out there,  and be a happy family. We work, do laundry, homework, take vacations, cleanhouse, spend time with Grandmas, Grandpas, cousins, Aunts and Uncles...not really exciting as far as an "agenda" goes. I'd say it's pretty much the same agenda a heterosexual family would have...I was raised in one you know.
637316
Oh, yes, there is gay love.  I have known very stable gay couples who are genuinely loving and good to one another, and who treat each other like brothers, only better (from their point of view).  I have known lesbian couples who were sincerely in love, too.  But then I lived for years in San Francisco, and now in Santa Cruz County.  Gay men abound in SF and SC has traditionally been a lesbian town.  So my contacts have been somewhat out of the ordinary.\n\nWhy is it so hard for people to believe that love, real love, comes in all types and flavors?  People have a need to love, and if one way doesn't work for them for some reason, another will.\n\nI hope you find your way, and your love.  Love isn't always about sex, after all.  Perhaps you will find someone else equally disinterested in sex, or incapable of it for some reason, and you will love one another.  Or perhaps a love will awaken your sexual urges.\n\nLet it be.
950433
It was so incredibly sad to hear the results of most of the gay marriage bans this election. I can't believe that as a country we seem to be so damn unaccepting of difference. As a ray of hope, though, I worked to defeat the gay marriage ban in Arizona, Prop 107. We managed to defeat it, so I think there's still hope for a better future. We just have to keep working on it. We'll show all those bigots that hate has no place in the world.
878562
Yes, its still very gay friendly.  Straights have started going there and as mentioned before, both the visitors and the city's tourist industry has begun to "upscale" a bit.\n\nDozens of guest houses cater to the gay community, and almost all others are gay friendly.\n\nLink below might be of help.
655360
There's a place called Blacks Beach.  It's in SD.  I'm not sure if it's a gay beach, but I'm sure you can find plenty of hot sexy gay naked men to put a smile on your face.  Let us know how it goes!  :-D
652775
How small is the small town? And how old are you? If you live in a town of say 2500 people in western Iowa or South Dakota or some such (beautiful) place, then you need to make friends with as many "ordinary" guys as you can, both to extend your "reach" and for your own protection, once you are outed (which is inevitable in a place where everyone knows everyone else's business).\n\nIf you are in such a small town anywhere in the East or the South or the eastern Midwest, then you should have little trouble finding prospects using Internet sites like gaydar and Yahoo Personals.\n\nIf your idea of a small town is say 40K to 100K in for example a 40-square-mile area, then you will have many more possibilities using the Internet.\n\nIf you live in a remote area but are in or near a college town, and if you have good social skills, then enroll in a course or two in the evenings and summers. Then you have an excuse to be on campus, where you can meet all kinds of (usually) open-minded people with whom you share interests. In such a setting you can form a few new acquaintances, including teachers and other staff, and let them know you are gay, and then you can see who likes to socialize with you, and, well, I think you can take it from there!\n\nSimply create a network so that you can in a very natural way let it be known that you are single and seeking. This takes time, so don't expect to get dates immediately. Homophobia is less acute when people (the prospective homophobes) are well acquainted with the gay person(s) in their midst. And more people will help you identify dating prospects if they know your character.\n\nI know the problem you are speaking of very well, having lived in small towns all my life. Maybe my advice seems overly cautious to you, but that is based on my experience that homosexual activity is more taboo where there is less anonymity (i.e., in rural areas, where everyone knows everyone else's business). So, unless you want to be ostracized or even victimized, you have to work within the social norms of the area where you live.\n\nAnd forget about trying to seduce straight guys (like by getting them drunk and watching some porn together, as some other persons have suggested), because that kind of behavior will get you talked about or worse and will cause other people to feel suspicious toward or dislike gay men in general.\n\nSo just take it easy, be yourself, and form what seem to be real friendships, and soon enough other (including straight) people will be happy to help the really nice gay guy they know to meet someone else they know in the area.
90343
Its harder than ppl think.  I am finally settled down with my girlfriend but it took me a nice while.  Just be patient.  Its hard out there but the out come is worth it.  Try going to clubs and gay and lesbian get togethers.  (bars really didnt work for me).  I actually met my girlfriend online. But that doesnt work for every one.  I wish you lots of luck!
235992
You may find your answer here:\nhttp://www.supreme.state.az.us/opin/pdf99/cr950160.pdf
559585
My mums garden, they love it and they are extremely gay all of the time. Go to Devon, past Okehampton turn left off of the a30, take the next right, drive for exactly 4.2 miles, turn left, nr 12 holly field road, say I sent you. Bring all of your gay mates she will love it. Can you perform YMCA for her as it is her favourite tune. My dad will no doubt join in as he is really gay too. \n\nGood luck mate.
94837
Valid in one state, valid in all (full faith and credit clause of the Constitution.)\n(That ia something some states worry about gay marriage -- if one state allows it, it should be that all states have to honor it.  Some states are trying to get around that -- but it is a side issue here.)\n\nIF you want yuo can get married fairly quickly in Caliifornia too, but Vegas is reportedly very easy, and it will count in California too.
1145102
Straight people can't bring their boyfriends over either.\n\nAs I recall this story, they met for a week in Mexico.  I don't think that is the "marriage" the immigration laws seek to protect, regardless of sexual orientation.\n\nPersonally, I have nothing against gays, but I am not currently in favor of liberalizing immigration laws until we settle the mess already on our plate.\n\nMy point was that a one week relationship is hard for me to translate into 'fiance' either.\n\nDoes he really feel certain this is the person he will be with 20 years from now, after one week?  However, I agree that gay relationships are not given the same deference, however longstanding they may be.