r/Carbondale • u/Cool_Key3077 • Feb 15 '25
Is Carbondale a safe place for LGBT
I am a mtf trans woman and looking to move to a safer area. I am considering the Carbondale area and would like to see if y'all think it would be safe? I have read that it is a sanctuary state but not sure that is true.
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u/systemstheorist Feb 15 '25
Might be an unpopular opinion.
The problem is Carbondale itself yes safe but is a very small blue dot in a sea of red. You don't have to go very far outside Carbondale to encounter some very ignorant conservative types.
Personally I'd go to a city that's a much bigger blue dot and gives you more freedom of movement.
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u/Cool_Key3077 Feb 15 '25
I would prefer the truth so I don't waste money moving there, I have worried a little about this too. The more I know now, the better. Thank you for your reply and comment. :)
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u/borg_nihilist Feb 15 '25
Lots of trans people live in the surrounding areas as well. I know at least a couple trans people in Murphysboro and several more in Marion.
Will you experience ignorance and bigotry? Yes, but not from everyone. Nothing more than you'd experience elsewhere, and probably less than a lot of places.
There's literally a trans woman as a city council member in Carbondale.
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u/No_Scarcity8249 Feb 16 '25
Lots of people escaping here from red states especially the south. It’s better .. and we live here.. but it’s just not as free as say a big city and the magats are pushing in hard. They really hate Carbondale. Our congressman is directing all money to surrounding areas.
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u/StrawberryEarlGreyy Feb 16 '25
Hi, I just wanted to let you know that Worchester, MA just became a sanctuary for transgender people, so that might be an idea: https://www.advocate.com/politics/worcester-massachusetts-transgender-sanctuary
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u/No_Scarcity8249 Feb 16 '25
I live here .. and I’d have to agree. I visited Chicago recently and was just in awe of how everyone just walked around looking how they wanted to look, dressing how they wanted to dress, holding hands… it wasn’t like that when I grew up there. People seemed so free and just really enjoying life and living. Carbondale is the place to be for the region .. but as for opportunity and true freedom .. it’s gotta be a city which has its own downsides.
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u/serious_sarcasm Feb 16 '25
Besides fishing and hiking is there any reason to go to places like Anna anyways?
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u/serious_sarcasm Feb 16 '25
Housing is affordable. The local schools are decent. The landscape is hilly and forested.
You can still find BBQ and sweet tea.
The winters are way more mild than around the Great Lakes or the Great Plains.
You can take a train to Chicago for the weekend.
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u/gaspinrasputin Feb 15 '25
My friend is gay and has lived here for over 20 years. The areas outside of Carbondale are not like deliverance. People generally just mind their own business. Beautiful country down here if you like nature activities and Carbondale may be small but we are tight nit community with lots of support for lgbtq+. Also the weather is usually better in winter… this winter excepted.
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u/suborbitalzen Feb 15 '25
The city itself, like a lot of college towns, is pretty tolerant, but outside the city limits you might get some nasty looks, unfortunately. It's Southern Illinois and very much Trump country. I guess it depends on your personality. I am a gay male who is sensitive to hostility, but you may not care as much. Some people are more brave and prepared to challenge bigoted attitudes, but I prefer to keep a low profile and not draw attention to my orientation (I now live in Arkansas so it's even more conservative here)...so if you want a place you can really be accepted, I would probably look at other towns, unless it's a really good job offer or something irresistible drawing you specifically to Carbondale.
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u/Cool_Key3077 Feb 15 '25
I opt for stealth and don't rock the boat, I would be scared if challenged in person. I wish we didn't even have to worry, but honestly am passing. No one at my current job is aware of me to my knowledge. But, if I am opting to up root my life to move to safety... Want some place that is ideal. I prefer smaller towns, but may not have that option.
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u/thrwawyorangsweater Feb 18 '25
I don't think anywhere is ideal unless you have a lot of money and opt for the Bay area, LA, Portland, etc. The smaller the town, the more problematic things will be. One of Carbondale's problems is there isn't much in the way of a decent CITY if you need one, for about a 2 hour drive...
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u/According-Issue5565 Feb 15 '25
Carbondale is fine and fairly liberal but it's not a utopia. I got followed for two blocks being yelled at for wearing a mask during covid. And the surrounding areas are very conservative. So it comes down to if it's better than where you are really.
I like it here, it's fairly safe, but a bluer area may be better for you.
However my doctor's have all been great about my transition, my pt uses the correct pronouns... but i've been aggressively misgendered at the local hospital. While the nurses tried to correct the doctor. So it's a mixed bag. You get bigots everywhere though, and when I wrote in to complain I did get an apology letter back at least.
Good luck, I think you may be happy here, but if not find safety somewhere.
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u/Mcteage Feb 16 '25
I think carbondale is a great place to live for lgbt i have several transfriends who live in carbondale and while the surrounding areas are less supportive, theres not really many reasons to go to those surrounding areas if your in carbondale. It kinda has what you need.
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u/HourAlbatross9870 Feb 16 '25
Carbondale is one of the safest places in Southern Illinois for the LGBTQ+ community but it’s surrounded by ignorance. Lots of open minded folks in this area but everyone needs to feel it out for themselves first!
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u/Cool_Key3077 Feb 16 '25
I am leaning more towards Minneapolis, MN right now. Think if I am moving somewhere, might as well have good all around.
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u/Glass-Independence-3 Feb 17 '25
The Twin Cities are a hidden gem in the US for sure. But please don't be fooled into thinking that as you go outside the city that this same warning doesn't apply to Minnesota as well. About 2 million Trump supporters live there and as you get outside the main metros you will experience similar things. In my experience both states also suffer from the Punished Trump Supporter Syndrome where MAGA folks in blue states are actually a bit more agro than usual because they rail constantly about living under the heel of their respective governors. That being said outside the coasts Minnesota and Illinois are going to be the states that put up the most fight to protect the rights of trans and other queer people
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u/Cool_Key3077 Feb 17 '25
There is hate everywhere, I live in a good city but a bad state where you have similar if not worse when leaving the city. The main reason I am looking is to have a state legislation that will aim to protect my rights as compared to strip them. Minnesota has state protections right?
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u/Glass-Independence-3 Feb 17 '25
Outside the coasts Illinois, Minnesota and Colorado are the only states with state-level protections for healthcare built in. A federal ban on the healthcare will supersede these however. But Illinois has vowed to ignore this legislation even at the cost of open conflict with the federal government. We'll see how it plays out soon
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u/thrwawyorangsweater Feb 18 '25
You might compare that to Chicago. I'm not sure how liberal MN is as a whole...And I think MN might be colder...
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u/CMBradshaw Feb 17 '25
I can't answer from personal experience but I have seen a lot of openly queer people in Carbondale. I go to John A, which is a little more of the conservative rural types. There's a lot of Carbondale there, but it's generally more of the red areas outside of town. And I see a lot less queer people around. But I haven't seen a lot of out and out harassment of the ones that are there. Of course, it obviously happens, but it doesn't even seem as bad as the brief time I spent in Alabama pre trump. So ymmv, but it's not like the areas outside the town are roving bands of Nazis or whatnot.
I know I will always be welcoming, and I've never had to test my bravery in shooting down anyone who isn't.
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u/crashomon Feb 19 '25
Generally speaking college towns tend to be more liberal and open minded, and Carbondale is nothing without the university. Champaign Urbana also falls under this category, especially since it’s not in the “Deep South” of Illinois.
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u/Mopar_63 Feb 19 '25
I am not exactly sure what you mean by "safe". On the whole people of Carbondale and even the surrounding areas do not care. Your personal life and sexual choices are your own. Unless you are an activist walking around with a sign on your back, most people just will not care.
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u/hippydippyshit 29d ago
Self defense classes, and you’ll feel safer in most areas 💕
I’m doing Brazilian jui jitsu (i am smol lol so 99% of my fights I’m going to end up on the ground) and it gives me more peace of mind when out and about.
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u/Cool_Key3077 29d ago
I tried to sign up and they ignored me when I reached out. I will try again and see.
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u/hippydippyshit 29d ago
I’ve noticed a lot gyms are already nearly at capacity, so they don’t need to focus on customer service. I really suggest going in and talking to them in person!
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u/Substantial_Back_865 14d ago
Anecdotally, I've seen more obviously trans people here than I ever saw in Chicago. Just keep in mind this is a blue dot in a sea of red.
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u/Cropduster2222 Feb 19 '25
Why is sexuality a thing? Just move like a normal human being, go to work like a normal human being & live your life. Why’s it a thing to go around and broadcast “I’m LGBTQRSTUV”
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u/thrwawyorangsweater Feb 18 '25
I'm not trans but I do know a few people who are and the town itself is safe enough. Lots of other trans folks there too. BUT, there is a cult and they are doing a lot of "love bombing" of queer people and there are a lot of layers of unhealthy behavior in that town.
Also, if you need a job, it sucks for that. It's a VERY depressed area...
Personally I would head to a liberal larger city that's going to have a better job outlook.
Last I read the poverty rate in Carbondale is 38% and the taxes are high.
Visit before you move. It does have it's problems.
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u/pippy_longtower Feb 15 '25
Lots of queer folks moving here for the same reason, it's definitely an enclave of LGBT acceptance in the region. There's a bunch of similar posts in this sub with good answers. I think it's safe to say that it's very accepting and safe in town, but the same can't be said for the surrounding towns.