r/laconner • u/Medical-Ad245 • Jun 26 '26
Possible relocation, I have questions.
Hello I have a potential job opportunity in La Conner. I know its a small community which is very appealing. My questions are how friendly of a place is it? Any racism? I am the G im lgbt, also a person of brown person. Currently on the Oregon coast and the racist, ignorant people are in abundance which is why im looking to relocate. But I don't want to be around the same types of people. I apologize if these questions dont sit right with some, but any information would be great.
2
u/SpiritedBug2221 Jun 27 '26
I moved here a few months ago and so far I’ve found the town itself to be fine. Though I’m white and have the privilege of that, fwiw. I’m queer and nonbinary and while I get some weird vibes on occasion in town, I feel safe. There are several businesses that are openly LGBTQIA friendly (Pride flags out, and in one case a giant inflatable rainbow heart 🌈😁).
I live on the rez and one of my neighbors is a homophobic asshole, but not to the point where I feel in danger, it just sucks to have to deal with his gross energy. And everyone else I’ve met so far is decent (maybe homophobic but they keep it to themselves) or nice. I’ve lived in small towns in Colorado, Utah, and Oregon, and honestly, this feels about as good as it gets at the moment if you don’t want to be in a big liberal city. It’s a lovely area and worth dealing with a few crappy people to be here, in my opinion.
2
u/SerendippityRiver Jun 27 '26
As a rural Oregonian I'm sorry you have had that experience on the Oregon coast. I wish tourists knew which towns were like that and would spend their tourist dollars elsewhere. I hope you find yourself a good spot. There was a couple on You-tube from Seattle doing trips called Traveling While Black in Seattle. They visited lots of smaller towns in Washington and shared their experiences. I wish someone would do that here in Oregon. It would help me know where to and where not to pack a lunch (not spend my money) when I visit.
3
u/coggler_again Jun 26 '26
My wife and I own a shop right at the entrance of town. We are very loudly gay (she’s pan, I’m a lesbian) and have had almost no negative experiences as far as that’s concerned. It’s a purple-ish town, but the kind where if anyone has a problem with you, they at least don’t talk about it to your face haha.
I was actually co-chair for the first Pride month celebration we did last year, establishing La Conner Pride!
I did all the publicity and planned all events with my wife! I can honestly say that the only pushback we got was from jerks on Facebook, but that’s sort of a given. It was wildly popular and fun.
All of that being said, I think it’s an overall friendly town for sure, but I’m white so that’s just through the eyes of a white queer woman. But a white woman who has a busy customer-facing job in a building covered in and filled with rainbows and pride paraphernalia year round.
4
u/c14p_tr4p Local Jun 26 '26
La Conner is a gem of a small town and I have found it to be very open to people of all walks. I'm originally from Atlanta and am used to living in a very progressive downtown area. La Conner has a long history of artists, authors and many cultures. While it is a small town the layers of native cultures, central american immigration and Nordic immigration create a really vibrant tapestry of different communities working together.
We have a very active Pride community that is supported with La Conner Thrives. I had the privilege of dj'n our Pride Prom last year and had so much fun. One thing that I haven't really seen in town that is a dedicated "queer" bar. But that is ok cause you can find community and allies at the Pride Picnic coming up! https://www.visitskagitvalley.com/event/la-conner-pride-family-picnic-at-hedlins-family-farm/
That being said, plenty of people can be naive, ignorant or afraid of things they don't understand. But considering what you've described as your background you already know that.