To think my DC would stick out like a sore thumb in the North East?

[Rainallnight]

We are a two mum family and we adopted our DC.

We are contemplating a move to the North East, where DP is from.

My major concern is that our DC wouldn’t be at school with any other kids from a same sex family and, because it’s more unusual, would be more likely to be made to feel different. I also worry about bullying.

Any thoughts from anyone in that part of the world? AIBU?

[quote Mojoj]@LowlyTheWorm Aberdeen's in a different country.[/quote]
A different country from what? The OP never specified which country.

As someone from the North East that's quite offensive. I couldn't care less what someone's sexual orientation is and my kids have been brought up knowing there are all types of people and families.

Incidentally my boss is a married gay man who has two adopted kids so there's atleast one other family in the entirety of the North East similar to yours.

I’m from the north east and was brought up by lesbian parents.

There was a bit of bullying but this was over 25 years ago.

I now work with parents and single sex parents aren’t uncommon at all.

I think you are extremely prejudiced and cheeky. Let's hope your children meet with folk who are not wherever you go.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

Are we less evolved up here or something?

Well, I suppose "up north", despite having more rain, there's less sun, so less chance of rainbows - which I'm lead to believe didn't come about before The Gays?

What a strange question.

Do gay people only live in the south?

@BobbinHood
I’m not sure how typical that is but suspect it might be less common in, say, a pit village in the middle of nowhere in County Durham.

😂 Had to laugh, that's exactly where my mum and her wife live!

f you’re moving to pit village with a population of 100 people you might be the only ss family but any regular town or city with a diverse demographic wont be an issue

My elderly mum lives in a pit village, a few years ago a gay couple moved in to the village pub to run it. What was worse, one is Spanish!

Initially there was a bit of gossip about them being, you know, whisper gay, but they all soon got over themselves and now they’re fully accepted members of the community.

@everythingcrossed

I'm amazed by all these people in the NE and elsewhere who know two or three same-sex couples - my children (now all secondary school age) were at an enormous, inner London primary - more than 600 children - and I don't think there were any .

You don’t think? 600 pupils is quite likely you really didn’t know but assumed the default mum dad.

Hebden's lovely. I know a couple of people from there (and yes, they're both in same sex relationships).

Really though, I don't know why you have this perception of the North East being homophobic. I'm in Yorkshire (perhaps not North East enough for you) and I think we're probably one of the least judgemental regions in that respect. I know plenty of same sex couples, some with children, some without. I don't know of anyone getting bullied for it.

This is nearly as bad as that thread asking what people who live outside London do with their kids on a weekend 😒

Is gayness less common the further north you go?

I've got gay friends all over the country.

Can't say the northern ones have talked about experiencing more prejudice than the southern ones?

I’m in a small town in the NE and can think of at least three families with same sex parents.

I live in the north east (Teesside to be exact). I personally know 6 families with this set up. Im in a heterosexual couple so not like I've met them through support groups or similar.

We aren't as knuckle dragging as the media would have you believe. Some of those I know had IVF, some are blended families where the mums met after kids were born. Some are a mixture of the two.

I now live near the Cotswolds. It's fucking weird.

How is it weird? It's normal for that area. Immigration has usually been to cities where there have been job opportunities and perhaps contacts/friends/relatives from the immigrant's home country. Different areas have different demographics which shift over time.

Diversity isn't just about skin colour. I could gather a group of people together from my mainly white village and they would have a very wide range of life experiences based on their country of birth, age, socio-economic background, health, disability, working life etc.

Hebden North East?

@StrawberryPot

Is the North East disproportionately homophobic?

^^ This

Quite!

I live in a small town near Brighton, and it's so liberal-minded here that the Guardian outsells all other newspapers put together. Despite that, a same-sex couple in my road have moved twice because they experienced homophobic harrassment from neighbours.

Your children are more likely to stand out because of their accents rather than their parents.

You said that your dp is from the north east, what does she think about it?

I don’t think it’s wrong to have concerns.

Hebden isn’t north east, no. But it is Not-London and therefore some might think they eat their young there.

@Waterfordaston

Hebden isn’t north east, no. But it is Not-London and therefore some might think they eat their young there.

Where did the OP say she was from London?

I think/hope times have changed across the UK.
Ask schools in the area you are hoping for, what the environment is like and how they would support your kids. Or look for parental support organisations that are involved in the region you want to move to.
Don't forget, you yourselves will be making friends with neighbours and community at the same time . Any move is a leap of faith but you can decide who you want to spend time with. Best of luck.

Aye no gays up north, we don’t even have running water. Avoid at all costs OP

I'm amazed the amount if people who know all the details of their children's parents lives. I have no idea who my childrens friends live with... the only time it seems to be discussed at school is if a child can't do something that weekend if they are at a non resident parents house further away.

@gamerchick

I don't know whether to laugh or be insulted. We're not backward here. and yes shock horror we have same sex families.

This!! I can assure you, OP, we are just normal people up here too, with a range of backgrounds and family set ups. You'll be fine.