Question for young gay men from poor-ish backgrounds?

I am curious what it is like to be young (say 18-26), poor, and gay in a smaller town in 2007. When I was a kid in the 1960s and 1970s, I moved to large cities, people wore cheap clothes (hippies), everyone was very trusting and let you stay at their houses for free when you traveled -- without expecting anything for it -- it was very fun, and very easy and cheap. Now, all the gay large cities are unaffordable, the gay clubs, in large cities anyway, are marketed to people who look and dress right, which takes money. lots. Plus you grew up with images of gay people who were just fine and dandy, like Will & Grace, Ellen, etc. What is it like for some of you today? As an older person I see "gay acceptance" more as a marketing tool and geared to one type of person -- a person with money, all their family and friends pleased as punch they are gay. What is it like really for some of you? I go to smaller towns and know it is not that great to be gay there, as far as I can tell. Thanks.