Complex sentence: The city gained the reputation as one of the most active and growing gay communities in the Northeast; the rate of reported gay and lesbian relationships is 75% higher than the national average and Providence has been named among the "Best Lesbian Places to Live".
Split into simpler sentences: The city gained the reputation as one of the most active and growing homosexual communities in the Northeast. The rate of reported homosexual and lesbian relationships is 75% higher than the national average, and Providence has been named among the "Best Lesbian Places to Live".