I recently read an article that popped up in my Google alerts. Ms. Vanasco wrote “Pursuing Happiness in Charlottesville,” a gay perspective on Charlottesville.
I wonder if the author actually visited Charlottesville.
So, I was thinking gay + Charlottesville probably means Escafe, Club 2:16, fine dining and more. Our author says a few things that make me wonder..
Charlottesville voters tend to support gay issues overwhelmingly, even though most Virginians don’t. It is likely that this has a lot to do with the progressive University of Virginia
X-Lounge…C-Ville’s answer to New York or San Francisco “ but friendlier. A late night bar menu keeps patrons drinking far into the night at this mixed gay/straight spot.
Gay bumper stickers are on cars parked near the Downtown Mall
Does anyone else think this author never visited Charlottesville and has missed the whole gay scene? I do.
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- 10 Most Overrated Things About Charlottesville
From the article: “James Monroe’s Ash Lawn-Highland is still a working plantation (though this time it is staffed with paid employees and volunteers, thankfully).”
What the hell? Was she expecting to find actual slaves?
Sorry, that has nothing to do with the gay scene in Charlottesville, but it does prove that the author is a very silly person.
Well, to be fair, UVa is a “progressive” place, as universities are in general, despite its conservative reputation.
Those actually all seem fairly accurate to me. (shrug)
As someone who grew up here, I also take offense at the idea that we are liberal simply because of “The University”. My experience is that the students there tend to actually be somewhat more conservative than your average Charlottesville Citizen. Besides, plenty of other towns like Blacksburg have much higher student populations and are nothing like Charlottesville. What makes us special is that we have also have a history and culture that is independant of UVa. Don’t get me wrong, I do think UVa makes a huge amount of positive contributions to our culture, but to write us off as a “college town” simply doesn’t do us justice.
The ‘Lords of Umbrage’ ride again! (my new gang, wanna join?)
I wrote the author (who lived here for a month) an email basically pointing out some of the glaring omissions and she wrote back that both escafé and 216 were in the original article but were pulled by the editor (a one former resident and UVa grad John Polly). He also specifically added the term “progressive” to the UVa descriptions over her objections.
So. I wonder what the real story is. Sounds like someone had too much to drink at escafé then hooked up with a drag queen at 216, contracting an STD that had to be treated by the Student Medical Center for free… Hee hee… Out, out damned spot!
Now *I* take umbrage! STDs from Drag Queens? You’re assuming we all have STDs!!
uhm, *THEY* have STDs. Not “We”. Definitely not “we”
You’re assuming we all have STDs…
I assume nothing, Oy.
Now *I* take umbrage!
Welcome to the gang!
Funny about the crowd at X Lounge. Someone should have pointed out that Darden men simply dress well! Honestly, everyone dresses up to go out but I think for X in particular. Sounds like a generalization reflecting stereotypes of homosexual males, you know? If she was suggesting it’s “gay-friendly,” I suggest, “everywhere is.” But I can’t really speak to that, could be naive. Do we have any readers who want to make generalizations about “gay-unfriendly” places? I just don’t know.
The article is for a travel review, so we cannot expect an extensive historical relationship between author/town. Also take into account she is looking at this from a gay tourist’s POV which we don’t do. As such, she may pick up on things that we wouldn’t normally see since we are used to the scene or are not looking at cville from a gay/tourist perspective.
Better question would be how long she was in cville for and if she had a local taking her around.
You know… I think I stereotyped just by suggesting that she stereotyped. Sociologists, where are you?
And I’ve said I think UVA is progressive before. That it’s not is definitely a stereotype!
Nut / lilster…
Author’s mother lives here. Author lived here one month. Editor, a former resident, wielded his editorial macheté on article. See post 5.
And yes, I would probably call X-lounge “metroflexible”. As to gay unfriendly places… Um, pentecostal churches? Monster truck pulls? Rivals? Oaklahoma?
…
If you are stereotyping with a stereotypical accusation of strereotyping… is that like quadrotyping? Surround sound typing?
And lets keep the sociologists out of this.
Metroflexible? Is cVillain creating new pop culture words? I like!
Interesting thought from Lonnie on why Charlottesville is so liberal. Perhaps part is UVA being here, but surely not all. Any long term locals got ideas? How long has Cville been a liberal town, and has Cville grown more liberal over time? That would be my guess, but just a guess. Can anybody comment on life here in the 60s? Segregation, what came right after?
“A late night bar menu keeps patrons drinking far into the night at this mixed gay/straight spot.”
Oh. You must mean humanity.
Eastender wins the thread!
oh the humanity!
Eastender sees truth. Agreed yo, she wins!
That covers everyone but bi’s, and who wants to hang out with those greedy bastards anyway? Oooh, I do, I do.
Do homos really sigh over French Empire furniture?
they sigh over French, and moan over Greek.
(me=going straight to hell; do not pass go, do not collect $200)
oy’s setting the stage for the yet-to-be-published romance saga.
stage dressing could possibly be my calling. Or, maybe, stage cross-dressing…
Lonnie and Dan have given me hope about this blog. I’ ll reply later in regards to there comments. Perhaps the blog can establish a children’s section for some of these other comments.
Lonnie and Dan have given me hope about this blog. I’ ll reply later in regards to there comments. Perhaps the blog can establish a children’s section for some of these other comments.
Would that be the section for people who know the difference between “their” “they’re” and “there”?
I’ve heard that UVA is one of a handful of places in the country that do gender-reassignment, and that process requires a significant pre-op period spent here in town which contributes to C-ville’s gay population ? Any truth to this?
Dan from Eppies,
I came to Charlottesville in 1963 as a young boy. My father retired after 40 years in the Panama, Canal Zone. He carefully selected Charlottesville for our new home and I’ve been here ever since.
First I want to say that Charlottesville’s liberal media identity may not be entirely accurate. Only a fraction of the population votes or even pays much attention to what goes on in City Hall and on the Downtown Mall. There are many life long residents of the city who will tell you that they haven’t been to the Downtown Mall in many years and that they never vote. For many people their “community” is centered around their church, fraternal lodge, family and other activities that are not clearly visible in the media as part of liberal Charlottesville.
That said, I will also say that Charlottesville has changed politically over the years and become both visibly in the news media and realistically, more liberal. I think that a crucial event in this change was the demolition of the 18 acre tract downtown that was the Vinegar Hill neighborhood. After a bruising campaign the decision to level the neighborhood and redevelop the land squeaked by in a referendum with about a thirty vote difference. With the passage of that referendum came Charlottesville’s first public housing project, Westhaven. Over the next several decades many people with influence, money and roots in the city moved into Albemarle County and became involved in county politics. At the same time the city politicos began to expand the City’s social welfare programs. The city provided so much that people actually did move into town to take advantage of the programs. I was told by a welfare counselor that she encouraged residents of Albemarle and other counties to move into town because there were so many benefits available that were not provided in the counties. At one time many people called Charlottesville a “magnet for the poor”. Things are much different now.
Certainly the presence of UVa has had a big impact on the politics in Charlottesville. UVa has also changed a lot, from a preppy, privleged, white boys college to a large diverse mega university. The admission of women in 1970 had a huge impact on the University and eventually the town. Many of the people involved in shaping the liberal policies of Charlottesville came here to attend UVa and then decided to stay or they liked the town so much that they eventually returned to live and work here.
Cordially,
Kevin Cox
Kevin,
Thanks for your thoughtful response. My historical knowledge of Charlottesville and local politics is just above zip. You’ve piqued my interest.
Dan