HeatherH

I usually post on the Europe board - haven't really posted on this board before, but have a question for Denver residents and/or visitors. I have a pretty good job offer based in Denver, but am a little iffy since I'm not really familiar with the city. Currently, I'm based close to Memphis, but would love to move away. The climate/living expenses for Denver (I have done research, I promise ) look great, but the question I have isn't really something that can be googled.

How conservative is Denver? I'm a Caucasian woman, but I frequently date men of other races, which isn't really a huge problem here in Memphis, but has caused some fairly surprising scenes. Is Denver likely to be more open to interracial relationships? I initially thought, this is the south, so it would probably be more liberal, but now am having second thoughts. Advice, anyone? Thanks!

HeatherH

Just to clarify: I thought that Denver would be more liberal than Memphis, since traditionally the south is more conservative - sorry, I really need to learn to preview and edit before posting

Coskier

HeatherH, I live in Denver Proper in an area call Park Hill, you would not get a second look. On our block alone there is a black woman/white man couple, a black woman/white man couple and a lesbian couple. Maybe in the suburbs it would be different but I doubt it.

elle

Hmmm, can't really comment on Denver, but just wanted to say that I don't think the attitude on inter-racial dating is necessarily a north-south thing.

We have an African-American friend who had been living in the Wilmington, Delaware area. She hated it and said that interracial dating seemed to be taboo around there. She was very comfortable in Philadelphia, however (which is north of Wilmington), as well as New York and New Orleans. She recently moved to Virginia Beach, which she feels is very open-minded.

So I think it depends on the individual city culture, rather than any geographic predisposition. That said, I would expect people in Denver to be fairly open-minded; other parts of Colorado less so. But I don't live there, I have only visited, so I'm far from an expert.

Best of luck.

milliebz

I am interracially married and living in the suburbs of Denver. It is not an issue.

atilla

Hi HeatherH, I don't have any advice to offer, just an observation. How sad it is that in the 21st Century, people STILL have not gotten over the racial barriers that should never have been put there in the first place.

Canada (where I am from) is very liberal, open minded and is more or less free of those attitudes. (Of course there is the odd jerk). It always shocks me when I read or hear of these problems still existing, that mentality just does not fly here.
Good Luck on your move if that is what you decide.

Rosemary1

Hi Heather!

Absolutely not a problem. Denver is a very diverse city and very accepting of just about anything.

Head west my friend!

Congrats on the job, btw!

J_Correa

I know several mixed race couples in the Denver area - it's never been an issue for them there.

lenleigh

It won't be an issue in Denver although I suppose you can come across someone anywhere that might stare. Big deal. I don't know a lot of interracial couples but I have a lot of gay friends here.

HeatherH

Thanks for the reassuring posts, everyone! Now that I know that won't be an issue (yes, I know I shouldn't care, but that isn't the kind of attitude/environment I want my child raised around), I can base my decision on the job and benefits. Really starting to look forward to moving, so it is probably going to be YES!!! Thanks again!

MaureenB

I totally agree that Denver's culture is inclusive, especially in older neighborhoods in the city. Park Hill being a great example of a diverse population. I have noticed an attitude in the southern 'burbs that I haven't liked-- several of my son's classmates are from those neighborhoods and I do think they are pretty close-minded there to races other than white. It bothers my son at high school, too. Our elementary and middle school near Lowry was so diverse and wonderful, that now he's in H.S. down south, it's a different world.

Lexma90

I'm a member of an inter-racial family living in the suburbs, and haven't ever experienced real discrimination. We're doing our part to make Denver more interracial! That being said, Denver is not an incredibly diverse place. If you look at census data, you'll see that the percentage of anything other than European caucasions is pretty low. So you may have a difficult time coming up with men of different races to date. I would agree, however, that in Denver, and even in the suburbs, you shouldn't experience any scenes. Even outside Denver, the rest of my family (I'm caucasion) doesn't get stares, though I'm sure there are some bars elsewhere in the state that my husband wouldn't want to step into.

HeatherH

LOL Lexma90 - I don't intentionally single out men of other races, it just seems to happen. I don't have a problem with it (obviously), but to be honest, race doesn't really even "register" with me - it's a non-issue as far as I am concerned, and just want to be sure I don't move somewhere where it would be an issue. Thanks again, to all!