Culture in Mendota Heights - Welcoming to LGBT Families?

I'm so sorry that we live in a society where this is something that you have to worry about! I've never lived in IGH, but I have family and friends there. I think it's just hit or miss with the burbs. Statistically speaking, your chances of being accepted are definitely higher in the city. But, this is (thankfully) Minnesota, so hopefully you'll find at least a couple neighbors that welcome you to the neighborhood and don't worry about the others. Congrats on your baby on the way!

I know nothing about Mendota Heights culture, but I wanted to point out that you will find welcoming and .... not so much.... people everywhere you go. If the house is perfect for you, go for it. My parents live in Stockholm, WI (population 91) and they have found the culture there much more welcoming to their gay and lesbian friends than it ever was in the city. Your next door neighbor might be a saint, or s/he may be the most bigoted person on the planet, no matter if you live next to Loring Park or in some out of the way place in the Appalachians.

I wish you all the best and hope the plans for your new house work out well!

Growing up I lived in both IGH and West St. Paul - both near Mendota Heights. Times have changed so, I can't say how accepting or not accepting the community is at this point. But I do agree with another poster - expecting respect and common courtesy is really not too much to ask. As far as the schools in that area - you are looking at St. Thomas Academy - all boys (and maybe Visitation - all girls) along with a nearby public school of Sibley HS. That being said - the Catholic private schools may not be as welcoming; however, maybe public school would be. I don't know much about Sibley HS. Researching that particular HS may be a good start to see what the culture is like there. Mendota Heights has always been more of a spread out (between houses), quiet, older community (from what I remember). You might not find as tight of a community but that doesn't mean you can't find other ways to do some social networking - try the schools, community centers, and depending on what your 8 yr old is into - some recreational programs. For me personally, that is where I've found more of a niche with friends not so much neighbors.

I've lived in nearby Eagan for almost 15 years after being unable to find a house in MH. I agree with the other posters that MH is a very small, fairly affluent community. Probably the two most important things to look at would be your immediate neighbors (is there someone you can ask about them or try to meet people?) and the school district/neighborhood elementary school. Those two things are likely to be more important than the community as a whole. You are still very close to St. Paul if you wanted to maintain connections to that community. Given the small size of MH, there is a smaller pool of people from which to make new connections. Good luck and congrats on the new baby.

Mendota Heights is a pretty affluent/closed community. And I don't necessarily mean anything bad by that. However, the market there is tight...When house goes on the market it sells pretty quickly. Also, very few people are really even aware the city is there and MH likes it that way. They have extremely affluent sub-markets (think SPA and Sunfish Lake) and that can lead to a feeling of isolation or have-and-have-not. I grew up in IGH (a neighbor) and currently live in Cherokee Hts (a MH neighbor in St. Paul).

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