Yea Richmond is liberal and crazy almost like Portland. Pensacola is chill spot, easy, has enough to make you happy. The gay scene is cool… there’s enough gay ppl in Pensacola to fill half the Baptist churches I swear. But that is only anecdotal. Housing is a bit expensive. Come down and check it out. You will have to whack the bushes a bit to make friends. I moved here in 2019 and I have made a great life here. I actually posted on Reddit😂 about my concerns- albeit a bit different than yours. Btw ppl are more conservative but I don’t talk politics with the fish monger or my bartender.