Jacksonville Named One of Top Five Cities for Same-Sex Couples
alligcold said
19:40 05/03 2008
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Jacksonville is normally known as the "river city." But now, the city has a new title.
The national magazine, The Advocate, named the city one of the "top five emerging cities for gay and lesbians."
"I think that it's great that they're becoming open-minded enough to do that and to have no shame," said Roy Buice, who works at Rainbows and Stars in Riverside.
The publication based the ranking on U.S. Census numbers. For every 1,000 Jacksonville households, there are 7.75 same-sex couples.
Plano, Texas ranked number one, before Jacksonville, which was number two on the list.
The magazine points to Jacksonville's strenths -- the river, ocean, parks, museums and growing population. It also mentions Riverside, San Marco, Avondale and the beaches as areas where the majority of same-sex couples live.
Buice, who has lived in Riverside for more than 20 years, says he has noticed a large influx of same-sex couples in the past few years. Many of them shop at Rainbows and Stars.
"This is one of the only true gay stores in probably 400 miles," said Buice.
He said people come from all over northeast Florida and southern Georgia travel to Riverside to shop at the store, which sells everything from clothing to artwork.
It's not just the store that appeals to his customers, he says it's the feeling they get from the people of Jacksonville.
"I think they're probably one of the best cities around for being open to the gay community."
The national magazine, The Advocate, named the city one of the "top five emerging cities for gay and lesbians."
"I think that it's great that they're becoming open-minded enough to do that and to have no shame," said Roy Buice, who works at Rainbows and Stars in Riverside.
The publication based the ranking on U.S. Census numbers. For every 1,000 Jacksonville households, there are 7.75 same-sex couples.
Plano, Texas ranked number one, before Jacksonville, which was number two on the list.
The magazine points to Jacksonville's strenths -- the river, ocean, parks, museums and growing population. It also mentions Riverside, San Marco, Avondale and the beaches as areas where the majority of same-sex couples live.
Buice, who has lived in Riverside for more than 20 years, says he has noticed a large influx of same-sex couples in the past few years. Many of them shop at Rainbows and Stars.
"This is one of the only true gay stores in probably 400 miles," said Buice.
He said people come from all over northeast Florida and southern Georgia travel to Riverside to shop at the store, which sells everything from clothing to artwork.
It's not just the store that appeals to his customers, he says it's the feeling they get from the people of Jacksonville.
"I think they're probably one of the best cities around for being open to the gay community."