I will graduate from college in the fall with a Political Science
Degree.  I will be endorsed to teach government and U.S. Histoy(others
may follow).  I want to find a job that is near a good university for
further education.  My priorities(in order) are as follows:
1)An area with a high availability of high school social studies teaching jobs.
2)A large city, but not huge (LA, Chicago, NY)
3)Access to a school with superior graduate programs in Political
Science and/or Educational Administration that are relatively
affordable.
4)A gay friendly environment.  I just don't want to worry about
discrimination. The community doesn't have to be "active".  I just
need options.  I'm also young and single so night-life is a factor.
5)OK weather (although I am from Iowa so seasons are OK)
6)I like to travel so any international options would be good
Thanks
P.S.  I have been very impressed with past answers and will tip very
well if I'm satisfied.

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Clarification of Question by bjcoolguy-ga on 29 Jun 2004 14:43 PDT

A listing of good Education Grad schools pared with the cities that
meet my criteria of being gay friendly and mid-sized would be great if
the social studies teaching jobs availability is what is holding back
an answer.

Columbus, Ohio, seems like a possibility for most or all of these
factors.  (It's even fairly "international", in terms of having a
large multi-national population, plus a good airport from which to
connect to international flights.)  However, I don't know offhand
whether it has many social studies teaching jobs, or whether the Ohio
State graduate programs in the fields you mentioned are superior.

Maybe Atlanta, GA.  In the city it is not Redneck.  Air quality sucks, though.

Philadelphia is an excellent place. It is a "big city", but it totally
isn't. It has a much small city feel. It has you pretty much being
exactly in the middle of DC & NY, if you would ever need to hop
down/up to either one of those. And it is very gay friendly.

Here is another vote for Columbus, Ohio.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida meets all of your requirements as well.

I was going to say Cincinnati, but I'm going to have to agree with the
others, Columbus would be a great pick. I am kinda in the same
boat...poli sci, education, gay... University of Cincinnati is great
for education, however Ohio State is not to shabby. Columbus has a
better, more gay friendly atmosphere.
Good luck with whatever you decide!
david

New Orleans is a good choice.  Although the public school system sucks
in Orleans Parish (what you would call a "county" we call a "parish"),
the surrounding parishes aren't bad.  In the actual city of New
Orleans, "alternative lifestyles" are almost a way of life and very
much accepted.  There's definitely an international flair as well. 
Only bad thing is the weather.  It's HOT and HUMID during the summer
months, almost unbearably so.  But overall, an interesting and fun
place to live.....atleast for a little while.