Moving abroad - LGBT scene

jaffacakesyum

Hey folks. Well I will most likely be moving abroad next year for a considerable amount of time. There are a few options for me and I'd just like to get peoples opinions who have been abroad on some of the best countries/cities in terms of LGBT rights, the 'scene', how easy/hard it is to meet people, differences to Ireland etc.

So my options include but are not limited to the UK, America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Germany, Sweden and Singapore...so as you can see I'm looking into lots of places!! Out of those my most viable options appear to be the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Singapore and Germany.

Anyone have any experience in the countries above or anywhere else? Preferably if you've lived there rather than a couple of weeks holidays where you hit the gay bar and scored that hot French chick or doirty Australian dude :pac:

brokenice

GERMANY GERMANY...AND NEED I SAY IT AGAIN....GERMANY!

jaffacakesyum

brokenice wrote: »

GERMANY GERMANY...AND NEED I SAY IT AGAIN....GERMANY!

Where in Germany have you been do you mind me asking and is there much of a scene? I would imagine homophobia isn't a huge problem there and most Germans are very accepting, and I know LGBT rights are decent enough over there.

annex

brokenice wrote: »

GERMANY GERMANY...AND NEED I SAY IT AGAIN....GERMANY!

It really depends on the city, I lived in Düsseldorf and didn't feel too comfortable being out but in Berlin, nobody cares.
Hamburg is supposed to be the gay capital of Germany, or it was a few years back.

brokenice

jaffacakesyum wrote: »

Where in Germany have you been do you mind me asking and is there much of a scene? I would imagine homophobia isn't a huge problem there and most Germans are very accepting, and I know LGBT rights are decent enough over there.

I lived in Berlin.....GO!

Rick_

I think I've been put off ever going to Belgium after a straight friend and his girlfriend went over to visit the girlfriends sister. People in the town they were in were incredibly rude to outsiders, and in a gay bar they went to with the sisters workmate (a Belgian girl) who was a lesbian, some guy was coming on to her and when she mentioned that she was a lesbian, the guy smashed a bottle over her head. Even the girlfriends sister said she hated being there as it was such a bad atmosphere but she was stuck there for work. I know the whole country isn't going to be like that, but when you hear horror stories of places it does influence your opinion of it as a whole.

OneArt

If you want a big LGBT scene, then Cologne is meant to be the San Francisco of Germany. Very pricey to live there though (although not Dublin expensive, I don't think!).

jaffacakesyum

Thanks for all the comments so far. I may have a job opportunity in Germany and I do love the people/culture there but the language barrier is a big disadvantage!!!

Does anyone have any experience with NZ/Aus? Or Canada?

brokenice

jaffacakesyum wrote: »

Thanks for all the comments so far. I may have a job opportunity in Germany and I do love the people/culture there but the language barrier is a big disadvantage!!!

Does anyone have any experience with NZ/Aus? Or Canada?

you'll pick it up and everybody speaks english anyway.

df1985

not singapore anyway....illegal there.

baby and crumble

Paddy C wrote: »

I think I've been put off ever going to Belgium after a straight friend and his girlfriend went over to visit the girlfriends sister. People in the town they were in were incredibly rude to outsiders, and in a gay bar they went to with the sisters workmate (a Belgian girl) who was a lesbian, some guy was coming on to her and when she mentioned that she was a lesbian, the guy smashed a bottle over her head. Even the girlfriends sister said she hated being there as it was such a bad atmosphere but she was stuck there for work. I know the whole country isn't going to be like that, but when you hear horror stories of places it does influence your opinion of it as a whole.

Off topic but Brussels has to be the most boring city I have ever been to. Hated it.

i_steal_sheep

baby and crumble wrote: »

Off topic but Brussels has to be the most boring city I have ever been to. Hated it.

I completely agree with this...

Conor30

brokenice wrote: »

I lived in Berlin.....GO!

There's quite a big difference between Berlin and Germany but I agree that Germany, on the whole, is a great place and generally relaxed about LGBT. Berlin has a vibrant gay scene.

Aard

jaffacakesyum wrote: »

Or Canada?

I can only speak about Vancouver, which would be very welcoming of the gays. I imagine the other big cities are similar in attitude. Vancouver has the best climate though.

Marie212

My friend is in Melbourne at the minute and says there's lesbians everywhere! :P

1ZRed

I'm hoping to move over to Australia for a few months early next year. Looking forward to the idea of it and the Aussie lads I have to say!