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Southern Voice | May 27, 2005
Pioneers outside the perimeter
Migrating north to Woodstock provides gay homeowners more square feet per dollar, but be prepared for a different level of acceptance.
Connie* and Reshell don't know any other gay men or lesbians within walking distance of their Woodstock home nestled in the upscale Towne Lake community. But they are at ease and do not hide their six-year devotion to each other from their heterosexual neighbors, they say.
Connie and Reshell happily share hello and goodbye kisses in their driveway just like their heterosexual neighbors do with their spouses. As long as they have each other, Connie and Reshell could be happy almost anywhere, even in an area where the U.S. census estimates that less than five percent of the county is gay, they say.
More gay couples are deciding to leave Georgia's capitol and gay Mecca as Atlanta real estate costs continue to rise and the availability of affordable, substantially sized homes decreases. Interstates 20, 75, 85 and 575 are transporting an increasing number of gay men and lesbians further outside the perimeter and closer to areas that, from a distance, can appear hostile.
Some homeowners may feel safer, more accepted and less likely to face confrontation about their sexual orientation within the confines of the I-285. But additional acreage, an extra bedroom, a nearby lake or just opening the kitchen window to allow fresh country air—instead of city smog—to waft through the halls is more alluring than the thick camaraderie that Atlanta's inner city gay residents enjoy.
It's apparent upon entering the tastefully decorated two-story house owned by Connie and Reshell that the couple's home is built on shared strong spiritual beliefs, solid professional goals, mutual respect and hearty senses of humor.
Three years ago, the couple migrated north primarily to have more room.
"Reshell wanted a big back yard for our dogs to run and play," Connie says.
As a real estate agent who assists clients buying and selling homes in metro Atlanta, Connie knows all too well about the lack of affordable acreage in Midtown and other in-town neighborhoods.
"You cannot find a home inside the perimeter, or even the Marietta area, in the price range we bought our house for with as much yard as we have," Connie says.
She adds that they chose their particular neighborhood for its convenient proximity to their friends in the surrounding areas and Lake Allatoona.
Living 15-plus miles outside the perimeter does present some drawbacks. Reshell admits she and Connie have considered renting their spacious split-level, three-bedroom home to move back to the city.
The couple's professions allow them to work the majority of time outside the office. Connie's real estate clientele stretches across north Georgia, and bank executive Reshell visits her clients in their own offices most days. So avoiding long commutes is not their first priority.
The women have been fortunate to discover friendly neighbors who happily bring their children over during visits and include the women's three dogs in pup-oriented festivities in neighbors' back yards. But not everyone in the community is so welcoming.
Reshell says she sometimes longs for the freedom to hold her partner's hand without worrying about any incidental onlookers witnessing same-sex affection for the first time. They have experienced discrimination in some of the local restaurants, but they both agree that once people get to know them, they don't encounter problems.
There's not much in the way of gay associations this far north of the city, but the couple is involved in Atlanta-based gay activities. Connie is the assistant coach for Gamma Alpha Psi, a women's team in the Hotlanta Softball League. Reshell pitches for the team.
With its mountainous surroundings and antiques fairs, Woodstock offers charming shops, historic homes and a respite from bustling city life. Both Connie and Reshell tout the growing area (Towne Lake is one of the largest residential developments in the state) as an ideal destination for business professionals regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Anyone seeking more square feet for the money should consider heading outside the perimeter, the women say. But Connie warns, "If you've got something to prove, stay inside the perimeter."
* Last names have been removed in the online version of this article for privacy.
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