Alaskan Acceptance? (Anchorage, Wasilla, Palmer: living in, to relocate, friendly)

[switch]

Hey there,

I have a cool opportunity to relocate with my job for 9 months to the Palmer/Wasilla area. The cities look beautiful with lots to do outside, and the residents look happy and friendly. My only hesitation is that I'm a gay woman who's been pretty spoiled from living in Portland, OR where gay life is as nearly accepted as straight life. I'd like to get some understanding of gay life in the Anchorage/Palmer/Wasilla areas. Are people pretty okay with it? Thanks.

[c.adam]

I'd say if you make an issue of it, then others will. Otherwise, Alaskan's tend not to get bothered about other people's ways, if it doesn't affect them.

[MidniteBreeze]

I've only lived in Alaska for short stints, but I would agree with C. Adam. Alaska attracts all kinds of diverse people with different lifestyles, backgrounds, beliefs, etc. so most tend to take on a "live and let live" attitude. I don't think your simply being gay is going to bother anyone so long as you're not shoving some kind of "agenda" down anyone's throat. I'd guess you'd have to be a little more discreet in Alaska than you would be in Portland, but I don't think anyone is going to hassle you.

[niceplacetovisit]

Very interesting comments on gay acceptance in Alaska. You should visit Anchorage and check out the gay ghetto.. Oh wait, there isnt one! The gay community is very closeted and is at nowhere near the acceptance level as say major cities on the West Coast.

[superstition]

A distant, tight-lipped respect is common up here. Acceptance (for anything deviating from the thin line considered "normal") is not. You didn't say how old you are or what you're going to be doing for work, and that can make a big difference. The younger, more liberal people won't give it a second thought, but as a whole the area is very, very conservative. Most people have enough tact that they wouldn't say anything in front of you, but only if they know--careless, ultra-conservative comments (and "jokes") are pretty rampant.