Gay in an intolerant area..

[Aaycle]

Considering you have recently, mentally come out of the closet yourself, and have only a year ago accepted your homosexuality. This is tough! To be forcefully shoved mentally and physically back into a place that irritates you. I see many people suggesting you move, and avoid, and they ARE right, but this is hard, hard to do, accept, or even imagine. I am more of the foolish type that will provoke, fight, or taunt. And, I am not asking you to do this. But, this is your home of almost four years. Why should you be the one packing up? You have a job to consider, friends, and familiarity. eastofeden gave great advice, in choosing your battles carefully, but, meh!

Am I guessing you are Caucasian? Well how about making known to your neighbours that you have opposite tastes. They are obvious racists, so introduce them to your African American friends. Get a large attack dog, and train him to eat only rednecks.Drop hints that you own a gun, and you keep vacillating about the idea of joining the NRA. If they like honky-tonk, then you love Spoken Word and Atmospheric/Nature sounds only (and insist you make them a CD). They like ribs and ham, well you only eat tofu and hummus. Let emm know that your differences are worlds apart and integration is unlikely. But, just let them know.

You also mentioned that your neighbour is barely holding on to his house. Do you think his finances will cave any time soon thus making any extreme choices moot you may be deciding or have decided? I just hate to know you may give up everything you have worked 10 hour days to achieve. I say suck it up until he moves, and if this isn't soon enough for you, then drop hints you are a loner and prefer it that way. Can you build a wall? I say live life until things become weird between you two, and if you are truly fearful of your life then flee.