In many ways, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Alaskans are just like other Alaskans. We eat dinner and take out the trash, celebrate holidays and debate politics, laugh with our friends and sing along to our favorite songs. We work where you work, shop where you shop, fish where you fish, and live down the block. We go to the same schools, the same doctors, and the same movie theaters.

We’re also like you in our variations. There are LGBT Alaskans in every racial, ethnic and religious group, every career field and political party, every generation and every neighborhood. You may not know we are there, but we are.

Mostly we’re just like you. Except, we are attracted to others of our sex. We desire, fall in love with and may share our life with someone of the same sex. That makes us different.

So what? Why should anyone worry about who we love?

But they do worry. We live in a world where everyone is expected to desire and fall in love with someone of the opposite sex, and we don’t. Our love is natural to us, but many other people think it’s a problem. And that makes us seem very different.

Every post on Bent Alaska says something about Alaska and LGBT people: religion, family, politics, travel, entertainment, parades, organizations, schools, the media and lots more. Read through the stories and learn about our lives.

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Thanks for making Sept. 12 “LGBT Day” for Alaska’s bloggers!