Carolina08

There is a saying around here. The gay guys are in raleigh, the Lesbians in Durham, & the families in Chapel Hill. I've been here for going on 4 years now and am extremely active in the lgbt scene although mostly as non-profit board member. Though I myself am a lesbian I think I have enough close gay male friends to speak to their experiences a little.

First of Chapel Hill/Carrboro. This is the most liberal of the entire area. The town is small but its very progressive. We have had gay mayors, council members, and we passed non-discrimination in public schools in 1996. You can also register as domestic partners in both towns though the rest of the state won't recognize it. Take one walk down the street and you are bound to see guys or girls for that matter holding hands, cuddled up on a bunch, and generally being open about who they are with. The Carrboro side is even more progressive and this is where you will generally find most grad students. If you are in town check out the local lesbian owned bar/restaurant Spotted Dog. For the T's in LGBT Carrboro appears to be pretty welcoming. My partner and have regularly seen trans women working at local businesses and thats just the ones we can read. There is a non-discrimination ordinance on trans issues as well though. You won't find specific gay spots outside of the occasional special night at a bar, but everything is pretty well integrated. Imagine a town where you are just part of the community instead of having a special section of town, club, or bar that is gay. Now the down side of Chapel Hill & Carrboro is that its pretty small. You'll probably want to venture out into Raleigh or Durham for a social life thats not connected to the university. Just a note of interest. I study LGBT history & I have found references to Chapel Hill being quote the gayest place between DC & Atlanta dating back to the mid to early 60's.

Durham: This is likely the 2nd most liberal. Generally speaking the down town is pretty friendly but be careful at night. The city has problems with gangs and violence. Duke campus & 9th street are the places to see. The state Pride and gay & Lesbian film festival are held here every year and usually attract people from al over state along with Virginia & South Carolina. The city government from what I've seen is pretty friendly. We always see local politicians at Pride trying to garner the gay vote. Outside of that check out Steel Blue, which is one of the largest gay bars in the state and Drag bingo at the Durham armory.

Raleigh: This is the least progressive but its still pretty liberal compared to the rest of the state and downtown has an unofficial gay district. Places to see while you are in town: Check out West Martin St & West Hargett. Around this area you will find gay owned shops, the gay book store, 4 gay bars (2 are connected and turn into one late at night), and many other generally gay or gay friendly places. I suggest checking out the book shop first (White rabbit) and asking them what is going on that week or what you should check out. Also in Raleigh, the Crab Tree mall always has a plethora of gay boys looking to meet somebody (I know I got dragged along with guy friends a lot) & check out Glenwood Ave where it meets downtown for integrated gay friendly places. Other than that Raleigh hosts the Crape Myrtle Festival (a huge gay fundraiser usually with big name performers) & AIDS walk in Ride every year.

Generally speaking the area is friendly though some parts of the triangle are more than others. There are always events happening in addition to those I mentioned above you just have to get out there and look around to find the info. The state as a whole is generally moderate compared to the rest of the south. Democrats usually control both houses & the Governors seat. Because the state is pretty conservative don't expect them to pass pro-gay legislation, but they do put a stop to ant-gay measures. We are the only southern state to have defeated every anti-marriage bill that crosses congress floors though it is up again this year for the 5th consecutive year.

Hope this helps. It really is a great place to live if you are going to be in the South. I'm from Pennsylvania but I would be more than happy spending the rest of my life in Chapel Hill.

I would steer clear of Glen Lennox. A) It's not the nicest area and from what I'm told can get pretty loud. If you plan to bike remember Chapel Hill is an appropriate name. From Geln Lennox the hill to campus is pretty long & steep. Even in coming home downhill traffic on that road is dangerous. That said remember the bus system in Chapel Hill is nice & Free. If you want to have a bike on campus I suggest putting it on the rack on the front the buses and taking it with you.

Now as for Grad students in general, most live in Carrboro the more cultured and less rowdy side of town. There are plenty of Condos, Coops, Townhomes, & Apts here to rent. The town has an amazing music, food, & art scene all within walking distance which is why it is known as the Paris of the Piedmont. Remembering that buses are frequent and free try checking out the Villages in Carrboro for a cheaper apartment on the quite side. Want something a little nicer? Check out 56 Magnolia in Chapel Hill. Even nicer? Try Meadowmont or Southern Village. Other than that checkout Craigslist and other sites for housing in the area. There are many huge houses that have been divided up by grad students to afford the rent. Also you might check out apartments just across the border into Durham county. Chapel Hill actually spans 3 counties and Durham is only maybe 5 mins away from campus at points. Here you will find a lot more housing for your money but may have a small commute.

Break down:
Shared Apt / Condo or Coop: $250-350
Single Apt / Condo: $500-1050
Double Apt: $650-$1200
Student Family Housing: $825-930 (utilities included)
Single Grad Student Housing: around $2700 per semester

Where do the quiet graduate students live? If I decide to come to Chapel Hill I'd like to rent an apartment, and I was looking at Cosgrove Hill but it's a bit far away from campus as I'd like to be able to bike easily. Where can I find other apartments like it that are a bit closer to the campus and aren't more expensive? I also found Glen Lennox but am concerned that it might be noisy with a lot of parties. I'd like to live somewhere quiet and clean; it doesn't have to be brand new. Resources for finding apartments would be helpful as well.