Are you thinking about moving to California to raise your family? There are many welcoming cities in the state, although some of those same cities are fairly expensive. However, if you work with a gay or lesbian real estate agent, you can find a home that is in both an area of town where you feel safe to express yourself and fits your budget. Here are some of the state’s top cities for raising your children or for starting a family of your own.
Long Beach
Long Beach is a great city that is fairly laid back and relaxed. This atmosphere has made it a major draw, especially for those who have lived in Los Angeles and want to get out of that high-stress environment. While it’s still near enough to LA that you could commute to work there, the housing costs are lower. Long Beach has a large Pride festival every year and is one of the cities in California that has seen its LGBT population grow for the past several years.
Pasadena
Another city with a more relaxed atmosphere is Pasadena. With only a little over 135,000 people, Pasadena provides much less of a crowd than LA or San Francisco. It is very LGBT-friendly, though, and has had a number of openly gay elected officials and LGBT businesses. The city has a very thriving nightlife and social life for those over 40, too. If it seems like you live in an area that only caters to the young LGBT crowd, Pasadena may be a great place to check out.
San Jose
San Jose is a part of the Bay Area and is home to a good number of LGBT individuals. Price-wise, homes here are cheaper than in neighboring San Francisco, which is a major draw for some people. Many of the businesses based in San Jose are major LGBT rights supporters and tend to have a good number of out employees. San Jose State University is also a very supportive school and has an LGBT resource center.
San Diego
If the Bay Area isn’t for you, you might want to move south and try San Diego. It’s another very friendly city with a large number of gay residents. In fact, San Diego State University is recognized as a top university for LGBT students. The city also has a number of non-discrimination laws, making it one of the safest places for LGBT individuals.
