Gay State of the State: Alaska

Alaska has been in the news perhaps more in the past two years than in its entire fifty years as a state. I don't know about you, but I'd love to erase most of those headlines from memory. So forget everything you've heard recently about our biggest state, and replace it with the following: Alaska is not a bad place to be gay.

It's not bad, but it's no Massachusetts. Ironically, Alaska's LGBT momentum is on pace with the White House: a few gestures of progress, a lot of talk, no major achievements.

First things first: In 1998 Alaska became our first state to constitutionally ban gay marriage. No civil unions or domestic partnerships. Representing Alaska in the Senate are Mark Begich (D) who has a pretty awesome gay rights record, and Lisa Murkowski (R) who would totally suck, except that she voted for the hate crimes bill. They mostly cancel each other out. Alaska is one of six, sad, deprived states with not a single out elected official at any level of government.

State employees have non-discrimination protection, but that policy has yet to be extended to all gay Alaskans.

The good work that Begich did as Mayor of Anchorage -- non-discrimination policies, funding for LGBT organizations and events, speaking at Pride with his eight-year old son -- proclaimed the city's gay friendliness. That is, until Dan Sullivan took over last year and vetoed the employment and housing non-discrimination policy. Mayor Sullivan found "a lack of quantifiable evidence necessitating this ordinance" -- he just didn't think the gays of Anchorage needed any protection. That's awfully idealistic (or is idiotic the word I'm looking for?) of him -- considering he cited the great number in opposition to the measure as support for his decision. When Anchorage Assembly Chairwoman Debbie Ossiander failed to provide the single vote needed to override the veto, the Assembly promptly fired her. Kudos on that one.

Anchorage remains, at the very least, tolerant, and at the very best, somewhat embracing of the gay population. It seems that goes for most of the rest of the state. Alaska is 12th in the nation in number of lesbian couples. And, according to the Williams Institute, the gay population of Alaska is growing at an impressive rate. Gays are living happily in Barrow, AK, also known as the northern-most city of the US. There are GSA's throughout the state, GLSEN chapters, Pride parades. In the weird, but cool department, there is the Imperial Court.  Hedwig and the Angry Inch had a successful run at the Pier One Theatre in tony Homer, with Atz Lee Kilcher -- Jewel's brother -- playing the titular character.

Where Alaska (and the rest of the country) falls short is in the "non-traditional family" department. Lower courts have affirmed a few second-parent adoptions, but there is no legal recognition of non-biological parents in same-sex couples. Lambda Legal reports that the courts are generally accepting of gay and lesbian couples. I'd feel better about it if they'd put something on the state books recognizing LGBT families, second-parent adoptions and specifications of donor rights.

Alaska law allows "one who has exhibited special care and concern" for the incapacitated patient to make medical decisions on the patient’s behalf, but only after attempts to find no fewer than four "related" persons has failed. So you could be allowed to visit a sick partner, but only if your partner's father, sister, great-aunt and second cousin can't be located. Better get an advanced directive and better get it notarized.

There is someone from Wasilla who should be mentioned here, but it's not the former "you betcha" governor from the state of Next to Russia (my New Year's resolution is to never speak her name again). It's Ron Hamman, who, with much devotion to and interpretation of the Scripture, has concluded that the Antichrist will be a homosexual. (Cheers to Atlantis gay cruise for a perfectly placed ad on this site.) Alaska may be our newest state, but it's holding its own in the intolerant religious fervor department just fine.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have a sentimental love for Alaska -- my now wife and I took our first trip together as a couple there. It was full of wilderness adventure, sightseeing planes, spectacular wildlife, gorgeous landscapes and funny hotel rooms. We held hands there. I couldn't have felt anything other than safe and free at that time, at that place.

Any Alaskans out there care to weigh in?

Photo credit: Atlanta Seminole