Big Gay Memorial Day Picnic Comes Out of the Eklutna Closet For Their 40th Anniversary!

A tip of the hat to E. Ross at Bent Alaska for originally getting the word out on this.

Bent Alaska caught up today with an article in the April 8 edition of longtime gay rights journal, the Advocate, that lists Anchorage as "one of the top five emerging cities for gays and lesbians."

2006 POPULATION (ESTIMATED): 278,700

SAME-SEX COUPLES PER 1,000 HOUSEHOLDS: 7.54

RANK CHANGE FROM 2000 TO 2006: 74 to 54

Unlike the other destinations in our list, Anchorage is the largest and most well-known city in its state. Subarctic, profoundly remote, and teeming with wildlife like moose, bears, and whales, Alaska may not be for everyone. But Anchorage's spectacular parks and gardens, multiple recreational centers, half dozen or so major museums, and its restaurant scene supplied by fresh Alaskan seafood and fresh produce from the warmer Matanuska-Susitna (or "Mat-Su" ) Valley ensure that there are plenty of stimulating options to get you through the long, cold winters.

Culturally the city has a hip Pacific Northwest feel similar to Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, Canada. And downtown's 5th Avenue is a favorite neighborhood for gay men because of its proximity to three gay bars and the gay community center, while many lesbians live out near Airport Heights and West Anchorage.

It's surprising just how gay Anchorage is. For out-of-town guests there are two specifically LGBT B&Bs, plus a gay outdoor adventure tour company, Out in Alaska, which uses the city as a base for many of its trips. Mayor Mark Begich created a diversity initiative to help promote understanding of all Anchorage's minority groups--and there are many. "There are over 95 languages spoken in the Anchorage school district," explains Shelly Wozniak, 33, a publicist who lived in a Fairbanks cabin with no running water for nine years before moving to Anchorage with her partner Cady, 32, and their kids Iva, 14, and Cecilia, 11. "We don't live in a gayborhood," she says. "But my straight neighbors are fantastic people. We look out for each other and chat on the front lawns just like anybody else in America."

An adventurous soul who hikes, snowboards, and bikes with her kids on weekends, Wozniak deeply values the city's cultural offerings. "We have a unique international community here. We are Alaska's largest village--with representation from the 11 distinct Alaska native groups in the city." If that weren't enough, Anchorage has sizable Hmong, Pacific Islander, German, Russian, Asian, and Hispanic communities, each adding its own distinct flavor to the city. Add the fact that 91% of Anchorage's adults are high school graduates, some 65% have attended one to three years of college, and 11% hold advanced degrees, and you have a multicultural city with a dedication to diversity and education.

But what really counts here is the land. "No matter what's happening in my day, I walk out of my house and see the awe-inspiring Chugach Mountains and the beauty of Cook Inlet, and I know in my heart that life is really good," Wozniak emphasizes. "When you live here, you really gain a perspective on life and your place in it. I understand that there are wonders in this world that I cannot even begin to comprehend. The epic landscape really puts things in perspective."