I'll admit not knowing much of anything about Detroit, but I'm not sure how Boston doesn't count as a relatively safe place for LGBT individuals.
I'm sure Boston is fine in reality for LGBT individuals, it's just not the first city that springs to mind in terms of progressiveness. It's more stereotypically lunkheaded.
It's fine. MA was the first state to legalize gay marriage, and most of the population lives in and around Boston.
Like most places, it depends were you are. Cambridge, Somerville or JP, no problem; but Southie and certain parts of Charlestown are not very evolved.
Southie has changed a LOT in the last couple years...
Really? Because it is one of the most liberal cities in the US.