I'll be studying abroad in Richmond, starting in a week. I would like to take the opportunity to be a little more out since up be away from my parents. However, I'm concerned that Richmond won't be particularly friendly to gay people, because of all the horror stories I've heard about homophobia in the Southern US. If any of you have experiences from the area, I'd love to hear them.
I used to live there. It really isn't that bad. I don't think they have a big gay community or anything, but there isn't rampant homophobia or anything. The rural area surrounding Richmond is a little more conservative, but the city itself is surprisingly liberal. I'm sure you'll find lots of accepting people there.