America’s 10 worst anti-gay cities on Twitter…the results may surprise you!
A USA Pride flag. (Getty/ ISI photos/ Brad Smith)
An apartment-finding website has published research which examined how many homophobic tweets come from cities around the United States.
This list, produced by Abodo.com, is based on how many homophobic things are said per 100,000 tweets and doesn’t necessarily denote the majority opinions of people in the cities mentioned.
Nevertheless, here’s the countdown.
10. Corpus Christi, Texas
First up is the southern Texas city of Corpus Christi with 122 tweets per 100,000.
With a population of around half a million, it was founded by Spanish explorer Alonso Álvarez de Pineda in 1519.
It was also the setting for the 2001 blockbuster, Pearl Harbour, featuring Ben Affleck and Josh Harnett.
9. New Orleans, Louisana
The birthplace of jazz, comes in next with 127 tweets.
Located on the Mississippi river, the former French colony is described as being the “most unique” in the US.
The Fat Monday Luncheon, a private event for local gay men, was first held in New Orleans in 1949.
8. Oxnard, California
With 128 per 100,000 the city in Ventura comes in at number eight.
It was also the place where 15-year-old, Larry King was murdered for being gay in 2008.
At the time it was described as one of the most prominent gay killings since Matthew Sheppard in 2008.
7. Modesto, California
About 70 miles east of San Francisco, Modesto witnessed 133 tweets per 100,000.
In 2010, Modesto Pride allowed attendees to ‘Bash a Bigot’ and proactively tried to stop protesters hoisting anti gay signs.
the city takes its name from the Spanish for modest.
6. Bakersfield, California
With four more tweets per 100,000 is Bakersfield, California, on 137.
The city was famously represented by Roy Ashburn, the anti-gay Republican who came out in 2010.
The southern Californian city is about 110 miles north of Los Angeles.
5. Lincoln, Nebraska
Counting down the top five, Lincoln, has an average of 141 tweets per 100,000.
When the city passed a protection ordinance for LGBT people, the local Lutheran church said, “Sodom’s City Council Got It Wrong Too.”
In February, last year (2015) the cities largest gay nightclub, Karma, was destroyed in a fire.
4. Fontana, California
The northern Californian city had 155 tweets per 100,000.
The city is probably the least populated on the list, with around 11,000 residents.
Since it was founded in the early 1800s, it was known as the ‘friendly city’.
3. Riverside, California
Another city from the Golden State, Riverside makes the top three with 158 tweets per 100,000.
Part of the greater Los Angeles area, the HBO TV show, Enlightened, was set in the city.
In 2013, pastor of a local church, Matt Brown, implied he would use violence on clergy that performed same-sex weddings, by going “old Testament” on them.
2. Arlington, Texas
161 tweets gives Arlington the second place.
The city is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington suburban area and is where the Dallas Cowboys are based.
In 2013, anti gay crimes in the city reached a five year high according to the FBI.
1. Buffalo, New York
Close to the Canadian border, this New York city tops the table with 168 tweets per 100,000.
The city recorded record numbers at its pride celebrations in 2014 when over 20,000 took part.
In 2010, a women left her victim sporting an eye-patch after attacking her because she was a lesbian on New Year’s Eve.
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