It is my hope and that of my colleagues that the new Dennis R Neill Equality Center will become an anchor for what will be a Gay Business District for Tulsa. We are more likely to see a gathering of forces within a Gay District - just like in other major cities. Not a Gay District to ghettoize our community, but to give us the strength of combined spirit.

When You Get Here, It's All About the People:

What is it about old houses and historic neighborhoods that tend to appeal to the GLBT Community across the country? Whatever it is, Tulsa is no exception. With a mission statement that describes Brady Heights as a “Diverse and Welcoming Neighborhood” the Brady Heights Historic District is a quiet liberal enclave that is being reclaimed as one of the gems of Tulsa. With the most concentrated group of GLBT homeowners and renters in the city, the Gay Brady Heights Neighborhood  has become a real walkable neighborhood where people chat from the sidewalk to the porch.

The century old neighborhood seems to have a special appeal to GLBT residents. For many it is the welcoming aspect of the Brady Heights Historic District that draws them to the neighborhood. For others it is the opportunity to afford a great historic and original home or apartment at a fraction of the price as other neighborhoods. And for many more it is the convenience and feeling they get from living in an urban area that reaches to the edges of Downtown Tulsa.

The real answer is as varied as the residents. People who live there tend to become part of a team who know that they are working together to restore and reclaim an amazing collection of homes and apartments. With tree lined sidewalks and affordable homes and apartments, the neighborhood has attracted a host of Gay and Lesbian “Urban Pioneers”.

Jonathan Brown, has lived in Brady Heights for over 3 years and enjoys the camaraderie of his GLBT and Straight neighbors. “I have yet to hear anything but appreciation from all of my neighbors for the restoration I am doing on my home - even the people who have bought the newly built homes in the neighborhood have come to chat about the character and style of the neighborhood and its historic homes.”

John & Paul love their walks through the neighborhood - “though sometimes we have trouble getting more than a few blocks. The neighbors all want to stop us to chat. And with 2 or 3 Gay households in every block, there are a lot of folks to chat with.”

Adorned with her PFLAG buttons, Judy takes her little puff of a dog for daily walks to her work at St. Jerome’s Church 3 days a week. “A walkable neighborhood makes it easy to meet and greet in the gayborhood. My gay son bought a house up here and I snuck in and bought the house next to him. The price was great and I am close to my family. The neighbors to chat with was just a bonus.”

The mix of straight and gay and lesbian and Hispanic and black and white and Asian and old and young and long time residents and new residents makes for the ultimate in diverse neighborhoods.

Howard and Terry raised 5 children in Brady Heights. “I met my best friend here over 20 years ago - one of the old time residents warned me that they were gay but once I got to know them - well………my kids call him Aunt Timmy. He helped raise them and he (with is boyfriend) were always there when we had a restoration project on the house.

To be sure, there are a lot of homes left to restore and a lot of new construction going on but with the Historic Preservation Zoning in the neighborhood, the residents say they are comfortable that the historic character of Brady Heights is safe. And with such a welcoming and diverse population, this liberal neighborhood has a great future.