LGBTQ+ Community Can Be Hard To Find in Rural Appalachia… But once you find it, it’s golden
I hear from many of my queer clients that it is hard to find people to spend time with in such a rural state. Even when surrounded by people, they still feel alone. As a queer woman, I deeply understand this sentiment.
Finding Community Can Be Difficult
West Virginia is, by nature, rural. There are no towns or cities big enough to be federally recognized as a “city.” Fewer people means fewer queer people. This translates to fewer opportunities for people with the same identities to exist and connect.
This is a challenge for us West Virginia queers because we are less likely to find other people with identities that align with ours who have similar interests and want to spend time together.
Even in the biggest cities out-of-state, I hear that people have trouble finding LGBTQ+ friendships. The limited number of people in the state of WV greatly impacts our ability to connect.
Sometimes Even Queer Spaces Don’t Feel Safe
This region is a challenging region to find LGBTQ+ community for oh so many reasons. Homophobia and transphobia are normalized, even in the most progressive areas in the state.
While many people are allies, queer themselves or open to the idea of queer folks existing around them, there is a strong thread of “traditionalism” that is commonplace here.
Almost every queer person I know here has been called a slur related to their identity at one point or another. This instills a fear in many of us that when we ultimately find a queer community, we cannot be ourselves out in public as a group for safety concerns.
Community Matters So Much
Being around people who understand you reduces isolation. Being around people who “get it,” whether you are discussing a topic related to being queer or you are just being a human around another human who has a related experience, can make you feel heard and seen. In turn, this improves mental health outcomes.
As a community, we can take off our masks together when in a safe space. This reduces burnout, increases contentment and makes us feel less alone.
I know I, personally, feel better when surrounded by friends who understand me.
Community Does Not Have To Look One Certain Way
You can find community in so many different ways. It might look like one close friend. It might look like a support group, a partner, a friend group or a group like our “Coffee Chats but Make it Queer.”
The Golden Part
Any sort of community can make people feel seen, heard and understood. This is the golden part: the joy of having people around you that make you feel comfortable, the joy of spending time with people who you don’t have to pretend to be someone else around, the joy of being exactly who you are without fear of danger or judgement.
If you are having trouble finding a queer community that works for you, we invite you to reach out to Mind Body Wellness today to get set up with a therapist or group that interests you.
