City of Hampton Seeks to Lose "Old, Slow and Not Too Bright" Status

Back in May, 2010 I wrote about a Brookings Institute report that might be summarized as describing Hampton Roads region as "old, slow, and not too bright" given its aging population and net brain drain of college educated residents. While a few groups are disturbed by the Brookings Institute classification, far too many residents and city leaders seem to be just fine with the status quo where ignorance and bigotry - typically championed by local religious leaders who one can only assume want their congregations dumb and gullible. Surprisingly, to my knowledge my adopted home, the City of Hampton, is striving to be an exception. Hampton is revising and updating its comprehensive plan and one of the components is how to increase diversity and create a city where diversity is valued and an attractive destination/home for the so-called "creative class" will exist. How do I know? Because yours truly has been tapped to represent the LGBT community of the diversity committee portion of the larger task force. I look forward to educating city planners and others as to the talent and contributions that our community can bring to the city.

*

Hampton has some good things going for it - Hampton University has landed a Proton Therapy Institute which will provide world class and unique medical treatment; NASA Langley continues to bread innovative research; the city is located in the virtual center of the large number of historic sites in the region; and the City Council - particularly the mayor - seems to grasp that more of the same will not move the city to where it needs to be socially, culturally and economically. Based on comments on a story in today's Virginian Pilot that looks at the non-discrimination bills pending in the Virginia General Assembly that I addressed yesterday, there are still plenty of Pat Robertson loving, knuckle dragging Neanderthals in the region.

*

Does the City of Hampton have a long way to go in its endeavor? Most definitely, but at least the city leadership understands - unlike the Virginia State Bar, for example - that diversity means much more than simple a mix of black and white residents. I hope to use that recognition to educate other committee members and others as to why smart planners seek to attract LGBT residents and LGBT tourists.