Safe for gays/lesbians on AT

imported
#1

I’m planning an AT thru-hike and would like to learn how safe the AT is for “out” gays and lesbians. I’m concerned about my own safety and could use information and support. Thanks.

Lucie

#2

Im not sure how safe you would be in the woods discussing your homosexuality. Generally speaking, America does not embrace homosexuality very well. Now imagine being in the woods in the south discussing your lifestyle. There are a lot of 'good ‘ol boys’ along the trail who would probably treat you different. I would imagine your safety would be okay if you didnt openly discuss your lifestyle with strangers or made it the key topic of conversation. Im not sure why you need to let people know youre gay in the first place. I feel no need to tell people im straight while Im hiking. My suggestion is if you feel the need to be ‘out’ on the trail then dont hike it, or get ready for some problems. If you choose to find other things to discuss with people you meet along the trail, then things should be just fine. And Im sure you would find a core group of people you will be hiking along with for many months, if you feel comfortable discussing your lifestyle with them it may work… but I would feel them out first. Somone pushing their alternative lifestyle in your face is just as obnoxious as a freak shaking a bible at you. Good luck.

guru

#3

I think as a general rule hikers are probably more tolerant and less conservative than the population as a whole. In my experience (AT '99 and PCT '02), I met at least five or six out gays/lesbians and none had encountered any problems from the hiking community or the trail town residents. I think the tight-knit nature of the long distance hiking community is very supportive and as they embrace “hike your own hike” they learn to translate that into “live your own life or live and let live”. I found more diversity in sexual orientation than race and class. It is still mostly rich or upper middle class white males and females out there. You can look forward to quite a bit of variation in the folks you do meet- especially on the AT. The South is not at all like the movies or the stereotypes one pictures. I was picked up in the South by a world-renowned artist and multi-millionare in a Lexus SUV and the guy still wanted to ask the same old questions…“what do you EAT?”, “How far do you walk?”, etc. I do not feel there is a need for you to worry about your safety and whether a person chooses to remain private or vocal about their sexuality I am sure that will has no impact on the success of a thru-hike.

Cross Country

#4

I’d echo what Cross Country said. Not sure what trails Guru has hiked, but in the miles I put in on the AT and elsewhere I found hikers and those around hikers are as openminded and accepting as they come. The whole beauty of the trail is that everyone has to hike the same miles - rich or poor, male or female, white, black or other, and certainly gay or straight. To imply that you wouldn’t be safe seems a bit excessive.

Claiming someone is ‘pushing their views’ by being out is like saying a vegetarian is ‘pushing their views’ by not eating a burger in town. Believing that there is a similarity between a Christian proselytizing about the truth of the bible and a homosexual just living their life is plain ignorant.

I’ve met several gay and lesbian individuals and couples hiking, and none of them seemed to have any problems other than the ones everyone faces. Have a great time on your hike, Joel

P.S. With the negative tone of some recent threads, and the propensity of a few loudmouths to offer vulgar and innane comments, don’t be surprised if your post attracts some assinine responses. Keep in mind that these folks don’t actually set foot on a trail, so when you’re hiking they won’t be around to bother you.

Joel

#5

Well, Lucie I feel I have some expertise on this subject. Me and my partner Wrong Way Brown just completed 700 miles on the AT this year. Before we started we were worried about everything the snakes, the dark, hitch hiking, the snow, pooping in the woods…you name it we thought about it. And of course we were worried about harassment for our sexual orientation. We have always had good experiences throughout our lives, so we figured that would continue. And it did. We had a great experience and we were embraced by our hiking family. We, of course, didn’t advertise it but told people we became friends with. You will meet other gays/lesbians for sure out there. And you will meet a lot of open minded people. I believe whatever experience you envision that is what you will draw to you. We eventually got so comfortable we’d zip our sleeping bags together in shelters and if anyone had a problem they never said anything to us. I believe you are as safe as the next person out there, and you are definitely safer than living in a ciy. It’s a great opportunity and don’t let this fear or any other fears get in your way of experiencing something as amazing and wonderful as hiking the AT.

Dimple Rock

#6

As Joel said, it is unfortunate that so many nonhikers use this site. It is unlikely you will have any problems in this area.

Blue Jay

#7

Okay, let me clear some things up. My residence is in the south. I live in a medium-sized city with many homosexuals in it. I also work with several as well. I myself am fine with someone choosing this lifestyle. What Im commenting on is what I hear from other straight people. I know people who would try to preach at them, treat them differently, and refuse to talk with them due to their sexual orientation. This has mostly been where I live and not so much on the trail.

Recently, I was hiking a stretch of the AT across the Smokies… and heard a group in a shelter one evening making fun of gay people in general. This was a mix of male/female population. I believe you will find this ignorance everywhere. Like I was saying earlier Lucie may be fine expressing her ‘openess’ with the core group of hikers on the AT, but I would be more reserved with it overall… as some locals may not be so inclined to accept it. And yes, in the south there are many a Lexus… that doesnt mean the south is rid of racism. No, its not like ‘Deliverance’… but its still present. The south is a huge mixture of beliefs, morals and ideas. And the 'good ‘ol boy’ sterotypical thinking is still alive and well… unfortunatly.

I do recall in Bill Bryson’s book ‘A Walk in the Woods’ an incident where a lesbian couple was making love somewhere off the AT in a meadow… this local quack happen to stumble upon them and shot them both. His defense was he was ridding the world of sin. This mindset is still prevelant reguardless of where you live. The fact is, there are sick people everywhere. This is why I was suggesting to be more reserved with being ‘out’.

I think Lucie will have a great time with her parner hiking the AT, and wish her best of luck. And no… Im not some moron who has never set foot on the trail. As far as Joel is concerned, not eating a burger and being homosexual are two different things. I do hope youre never a spokesperson for the homosexual community.

What I was saying was I feel that America as a whole is not tolerant of homosexuality and dont want it pushed upon them. Many still see it as a sinful and discusting lifestyle. Look at our history: We once classified it as a mental illness, we dont allow homosexual marrages, we dont want homosexuals to adopt, we make a HUGE deal when ellen comes ‘out’ on a sitcom… and make it a benchmark in American television.

Again Lucie I wish you the best of luck on the trail. Placing homosexuality on the side for just a moment. Hiking the At is a very tough yet highly rewarding experience. Im sure you will have a very good experience. If you have any questions about gear or places to stay along the trail, this is a great forum to find the answers. Best of luck.

guru

#8

I am as right wing as they come and I have a great time with my friends gay, straight, whatever. Does it really matter what your orientation is when taking a freakin’ hike ??

Don’t worry, be happy

Matt

#9

Lucie,
Please realize that the people who post these angry postings are not a representation of who you will encounter on the trail. Real hikers are generally really cool people. I have met all kinds of people on short section hikes and they are all very different but have one thing in common…they respect other hikers just because they are hikers. Please don’t let this upset you when all you did was ask a legitimate question. Enjoy your hike and leave this thread behind you.

grapejelly

#10

I’d like to thank those of you who shared real experiences and useful information. Unfortunately, I am saddened and sickened at the grim reminder that such intense hatred and homophobia are everywhere, including on this forum and most likely on the trail as well.

I am often perplexed when people talk about “lifestyle,” so I thought I’d share a few of the details of mine: I live in a rural community with my partner of nine years. I work at a small social service agency. My partner teaches college. My two young adult children are doing very well in their lives. My partner and I own our home. We pay taxes, mow the lawn, grow a vegetable garden, have two cats and a dog, and are very active in our local church. We go camping at a national park with my brother and his family and my partner’s neice and her family every summer. My “lifestyle” is quite ordinary and probably a bit boring to many of you. But it’s my life. Oh, and did I mention that I love hiking?

I’m still planning my thru-hike, but I am strongly reminded by the responses I’ve read how very important straight allies are in my life, and will be on the trail. For those of you with an accepting and open-hearted outlook, please know that I need you to help me stay safe and to include me in the AT hiking community. Lucie

Lucie

#11

Lucie-

I am almost sure I will be planning a thru-hike in 2004. You can hang with me. I am sure there will be an abundance of normal, cool people to befriend on the trail. Like with everything in life, you just have to avoid the jerks the best you can.

grapejelly

#12

When I was in my teens I had a bit of a problem with girls because I found the male body so indescribably unattractive that I could not imagine a girl would be interested in me. Fortunately, I got past that, but I’m pretty sure I’m a lesbian trapped in a male body. The only reason I never went for the whole gender change was that that strange appendage seemed to help attract women! Go figure.

Lucie, I hiked the PCT in ‘81, which as you might imagine was a somewhat less tolerant age. One of my fellow thru-hikers dropped off the trail for a few days, and when I saw him again in Belden and asked him where he’d been he mentioned he’d gone to SF to march in a gay pride parade. My response was, “Uh, okay. Whatever.” I expect other hikers’ responses to you will be about the same.

Pappy

#13

Hi Lucie,
Could you email me for an ‘offline’ exchange? I have some information that I’d rather not post. Thanks. Scott

Fogdweller

#14

It is really a testamnet to the wonderful country that we live in. The AT; it brings us all together, right and left wing, gay and straight, black and white, whatever you are you can find common ground in a common love for the glorious outdoors and a simple, life even if it is only for a short time or for a few miles.

Go USA and Go AT!!

Matt

#15

Sorry Matt, the AT is for those who follow the Straight and Narrow.

One Way

#16

Thank you sysops for cleaning up this string, sad there are a**holes occasioanlly here…

Lucie, I think alot of people here got it right, the hiking community in general are an eccentric, and relatively good bunch. I am a straight male, but alot of my friends are homosexual or bisexual, and that is there decision in life. As their friend, i respect their choices, and support them, as that is oft the definition of friendship. We still go out, still raise hell, all the same.

If I see you on trail in '04, I will say hi to you as a fellow hiker. I will smile, say hi, probably wrinkle my nose if you smell bad as most do on trail :smiley: , and laugh. :lol

Take care and see you on trail, airferret

airferret

#17

The most famous hiking trail in the world, the Appalachian Trail, is also the most “social” trail. Whereas on many trails hikers barely speak to one another, on the A.T. you can find best friends for life. You will find hikers who span the spectrum politically, racially (tho most hikers are white for reasons I can’t understand), religiously, and in every other way–including the way they were born or wired to love.

I haven’t observed ANY putdowns of others on the Trail for their race, sexual orientation, religion, etc. Right after 9-11, there was a general feeling for a few days about Arabs, as there was throughout the nation, but that quickly subsided at least on the Trail. But in trail towns, among those not connected to the Trail in some way, I HAVE heard all the usual language that you’d expect bigots to utter. So, be a bit guarded when in town, I guess. And not just in the South.

Just finished an 8-year section hike going Rangeley>Baxter Peak this year. Among those I met and hiked with were a middle-aged gay male couple, a solo younger gay male and his straight sister, and I noticed but didn’t get to know a couple of others–a male and a female, each solo–who had discreet rainbow patches on their packs. All very cool folks, who were treated well by other very cool folks. The larger society could learn a lot from the Trail.

The rainbow patches seem to be a discreet way of letting gays find one another on the Trail without having to shout. Similar, I suppose, to many of us who put A.T. decals on our vehicles–to help like-minded persons find us even if just to say hello.

You will hear (and maybe experience) a lot more discourse about who is and who isn’t hiking the white blazes on your hike than you will anything else that could possibly divide people into “camps.” Savor it. The, uh, real world isn’t quite so open minded.

“Skyline”

#18

To whom it my concern, While I cannot compromise my beliefs( Iam A Devout Christian) I must say the trail is safe for you in Vermont. We ask only to be respectful and not do as some have chosen to do and take over areas for there own pleasure( Iam talking about NoN- Hikers who gather for open male sex in places like the Clarendon Gourge and White Rocks. And are rude, disrespectful and break the law concerning Lewd behavior on Federal and State land.)
Come on folks just think first and be courteous.No matter what you are doing. I am a memeber of the Community watch and I help hikers, as well as hike a few miles myself. I would protect The Respectful Gay Communty just as I would the Gay community. Let us all respect each other. Looking forward to helping ALL ANd I do mean ALL on the trail.
Ps. The Clarendon Shelter is clean and safe. Do not go to Gov. Clements. (Unsafe for all at times) See you on the trail. Piper

Marc Rogers(PIPER)

#19

Is there tollerence for those who are offended by the “In your Face homosexualit”? Why is only ok to be tollerent of liberal Ideas and Not of Concervitive ideas and values?

two left feet

#20

Two Feet Left:

IMO, simply existing on the planet and not willing to live a lie or double life is NOT “in your face.” Many “out” gays/lesbians simply clear the air about who they are and leave it go at that. A big non-issue.

Now, persons of ANY sexual orientation who constantly talk about their sex lives, desires, conquests, etc.–that’s not only “in your face” IMO but inappropriate and boring. If you’ve spent much time at all on the A.T., you know that this doesn’t go on very much, but when it does, it’s usually the younger, male heterosexual hikers who you hear it from.

Ditto public displays. Other than some innocent hand-holding and light kissing, I’ve NEVER witnessed anything more overt on the A.T. whether it be between members of the opposite sex or same sex, and it’s usually not the latter. What goes on inside tents or motel rooms in trail towns…I don’t know and it’s none of my business. Nor yours.

The gay folks I met on the Trail this summer in Maine, all five of 'em (three I got to know, two I only noticed in passing because of their rainbow patches), blended in well among their hiking buddies. It was generally understood that they were gay, but they didn’t make a big deal of it in conversations and definitely NOT in their actions. Too often, those on the Rabid Right think that unless gay people NEVER EVER let it be known they were born gay, or wired that way unconsciously from a very early age, that they are being “in your face.” I disagree.

To answer your question, "Is there tolerance for those who are offended by the ‘in your face homosexuality’ ", if you handle your views as discreetly as I’ve described for the gays above, you’d probably be tolerated fairly well on the Trail. If you need to make a political statement or hurl insults every time you see or hear about someone gay on the Trail, I’m betting you’ll be called to task sooner or later.

“Skyline”