Norwood Young America: Homophobia in the Heart of Minnesota

Minnesota tends to be a liberal state, sort of. It only repealed its sodomy law in 2001, and an attempt to do the same for fornication (sex outside of marriage) resulted in strengthening the law. 

Outside of Minneapolis, Rochester, and Duluth, you find a lot of "boys are boys and girls are girls, don't you know?" 

"Young America" is a very distinctive town name, and almost impossible to research online.  A search for photos reveals girls in swimsuits, Andy Hardy, a "God is my pilot" meme, and 19th century boys' adventure magazines.



Its history is difficult to research,also.  It was apparently founded as Farmington in 1856, shortly after Minnesota became a state, by 24-year old New Yorker James Slocum Jr. and his partner R. M. Kennedy (I assume that they were a gay couple).   This is not them, of course.

 Later Slocum wanted the name changed to Florence, but the German immigrants in town pushed for Teutenberg.  Finally, in 1863, they settled on Young America, apparently a common expression of the era. 

In order to get railroad rights. Slocum plotted a new town, Young America Station, in 1872.  Later the town elders changed it to Norwood, after one of Slocum's friends.

He had a lot of male friends, didn't he?  too bad it didn't last.

The towns merged in 1995.
Now it's "Norwood Young America" or NYA, "a growing community rooted in small town values."

Uh-oh, small town values are usually gender-polarized, heteronormative, and homophobic. "No gay people exist, but if they do, they  aren't welcome." 

In 2014, Minnesota House candidate Bob Frey ran on an "anti-sodomy" platform.

The main source of jobs is the Dile Corporation, which moved to Young America in 1973, and renamed itself the Young America Corporation in 1995 (not the NYA Corp?). It processes coupons, rebates, and other marketing discounts for companies all over the country.  For that reason, the town has over 20 zip codes.

There's also a dollhouse manufacturer, the Lazy Loon Lanes, a Harbor that's nowhere near a harbor, a quilting store, and a Hot Stuff Pizza.

One high school, Central High, for the combined towns (Future Farmers of America, but no Gay-Straight Alliance, naturally). 






Some beefcake with the wrestling and swim teams, but wouldn't you rather drive the 43 miles into Minneapolis?