The entire south is a hotbed of LGBT activity, and New Orleans is no exception. The entire city is covered in music clubs, jazz bars, Creole restaurants, and more. Everything is supposed to be bigger in the south and in this case, it’s definitely true, at least for the entertainment.
There are dozens of areas in New Orleans that cater to LGBT interests specifically, but the French Quarter is the most notable. A cursory glance at a map of the French Quarter will reveal over a dozen different gay bars and other venues just waiting to be explored.
The real-estate situation in New Orleans is very positive. The country is just recovering from an economic decline, so there are plenty of houses on the market at cut-rate prices that haven’t been claimed. If you’re moving from the North to the South, then the net worth of Southern homes is even cheaper than they appear due to the fluctuation in living costs. Be aware that once the country fully recovers, all of the gorgeous homes that are on sale will be snapped up by hungry investors!
As for where to live in New Orleans, the possibilities are endless. For renters, the French Quarter is always great. A spacious one bedroom, one bathroom apartment rental can run about $2,000. Remember that the French Quarter is its own cultural hub, which means that you might not even need a car!
New Orleans is also home to some great schools, so starting a family there is a good idea. Schools like the Audubon Charter School and Lusher Charter School offer several world languages, a challenging curriculum, and look great on transcripts. Another great thing about New Orleans is the eclectic mix of people. Children will surely benefit from the variety of influences and the complex local flavor.
New Orleans does have a weak point however; gay rights legislation is a little behind, but it’s still making progress. There are no laws specifically against gay sexuality or adoption. There are also a few laws in place for the protection of LGBT citizens. Employers, financiers, and educators are not allowed to discriminate based on sexuality by law, which affords a great deal of protection for LGBT teens and young adults. New Orleans is also one of the few southern states to have a hate crime law. This means that anyone convicted of a hate crime motivated by the victim’s sexuality suffers harsher penalties than other cases.
New Orleans has a variety of cultures, a great housing market, and a thriving gay nightlife. The gay scene in New Orleans is particularly accepting of African American members of the LGBT community. The legislation may not be up to speed with places like New York, but it’s slowly but surely getting there.