Photo from the Asbury Park Sun: “A crowd dances on the beach during a “Sandblast” weekend event, a collection of parties and events held in Asbury Park geared toward the LGBT community.” 2013
Ocean Grove, Main Avenue. Blogfinger/Paul Goldfinger photo. Click to enlarge.
Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
In an article from the Asbury Park Sun, Jill Bartlett reports the result of rankings by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) which surveys cities across the country. OG came in second along with New Brunswick. Jersey City was first out of the eight cities that were ranked in New Jersey.
Asbury Park ranked low.
To see the details, click on this link: APS link
Ocean Grove has a substantial gay population, and many of them live full time in the Grove. Some of them own businesses here. Except for a few notable clashes with the Camp Meeting Association, most gays in town like living here. Some of them are active and have leadership positions in local organizations. Ocean Grove United has participated in town meetings with the OGCMA and other groups to form a united front in seeking aid for our demolished boardwalk.
I recently asked a gay Grover what the difference is between the gays in the Grove and those who live in Asbury Park. His reply was, “In Asbury they’re younger and have better parties.” But he didn’t say that he wanted to live there.
The OG gay community and Ocean Grove received some national publicity in relation to the Pavilion controversy in 2007. Last week the subject came up in a national magazine regarding FEMA’s denial of OG for disaster funds.
It’s good now to get some positive publicity about a relationship that is positive in a town that takes pride in its diversity.
AL JOLSON:
When I moved to the shore I considered buying both in AP and OG. I knew both towns had thriving gay communities. Deciding factor? I realized I could not walk my dog at night without fearing for my safety in AP. That was nine years ago, and I have no regrets about moving to OG.
If I were moving into the area today, I’d make the same decision, based on the same factor. AP has made strides, but still has a LONG way to go. 30 shootings this year…! Doesn’t matter if you are gay or straight, AP isn’t a safe place to live.
If the HRC index also included crime stats, OG would be #1 on the list for NJ!
The study looked at 291 cities (aka “municipalities”,) and the criteria calls for the largest cities in the country, state capitals, cities with major universities and some other criteria that Neptune could not meet. But there were some small towns including Rehoboth Beach in Delaware with only 1,373 citizens and OG that met special criteria for small towns. The study wanted to include places that were already on the way to providing a friendly environment for LGBT citizens. This was a selective study group.
Of the 291 cities, 25 were small towns including OG that were chosen partly because they had the highest proportion of LGBT individuals compared to other places. Such small municipalities did not need to meet the more stringent requirements of larger cities. Only 25% of the 291 municipalities scored over 70 (100 was the best), and OG scored 77. Asbury Park scored 59.
You can read the entire study if you wish by going to Asbury Park Sun piece where you can find your way to the entire study data.
I wonder why all of Neptune was not included. If it were, what would be the ranking?
Ocean Grove has a public relations problem in that outsiders tend to think that OG is synonymous with the Camp Meeting Association. 100 years ago or so that was true, but not long after the town was founded, individuals moved here who were secular and/or not part of the Methodist religious community that founded the town.
Now, the CMA is but one part of a diverse town. Obviously they are very important here, but Ocean Grove is far from being unidimensional.
It appears that the Human Rights Campaign has taken care to accurately figure out our town, and that is a good thing….and good for them!
Wow. So Jersey City is top ranked. When I lived there back in the 80’s & 90’s it was quite homophobic. Attacks on gays were common. Am glad to see that gentrification in Jersey City brought about positive change in this regard.