Pride in a Small Town: A Musing on Visibility

Butterbean · 03-27-2010, 01:20 AM

Fabulous

Jess · 03-27-2010, 08:13 AM

Our little town won't host a pride. But we will have a "cornhole toss" at the fire dept down the street weekend after next. The girl and I can't wait to see what the hell that is.. LOL!

We are probably this areas version of the gay men in the big house. As far as pride events go, we'll have to travel to Roanoke or Winston-Salem or Greensboro to be around other queers. I'm sure we will hit a couple events this summer and who knows, if another couple of queers find themselves transplanted here we may one day have enough for a parade. Heh, our "town" is like two blocks, it would only take a couple car loads of queers to tilt the balance!

Thanks for your stories!

Medusa · 04-20-2010, 01:23 PM

I was wondering if anyone living in a small town has had trepidation about attending Pride events or parades.

I'm out at my job and in my town but I was wondering today if other people worry about bringing too much attention? Or jeopardizing their employment if they work for biggots?

SuperFemme · 04-20-2010, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Medusa

I was wondering if anyone living in a small town has had trepidation about attending Pride events or parades.

I'm out at my job and in my town but I was wondering today if other people worry about bringing too much attention? Or jeopardizing their employment if they work for biggots?

Since we moved here, hell yes.
I am not trepidatious about myself, but rather my youngest child.

He makes friends at school, they come for a sleep over and then someone figures out our familial structure. No more friend.

So I worry, because we've been told by other parents that we flaunt ourselves by attending school functions. They petitioned to have our son removed from his performing arts school.

So with great trepidation, we go anyhow. Because what lessons are we teaching if we don't?

Rockinonahigh · 04-20-2010, 02:10 PM

I dint live in a small town but me going to a pride hear wouldnt bother me any nor my son,who is grown,he works for a big company and they know about me being queer as heck and it never caused him any probs I know of.I ask him one about this subject and his reply was...I didnt care when I was a kid and shure dont now..go hve fun.Alas wed had a pride last year but didnt say a thing about it till the day before so I couldnt go cause I had commitments I couldnt change.
I would like to go to conway if my back was on a good streak but have to play it by ear cause because of the back issue I shouldnt drive that far alone incase it pops out while there.Be glad when they fix it...soon I hope.When and how do I get to conway if I can go.

Medusa · 04-18-2011, 08:54 AM

I realize this is an old thread but read this article this morning about how there are more suicides among youth in conservative areas. Thought it was poignant:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0..._n_850345.html

princessbelle · 04-18-2011, 09:07 AM

That is so sad Madusa. I've sat here thinking about this and it brings tears to my eyes. I live in a city, not that small, but in one that is not gay friendly at all. It is risky to even put a rainbow sticker on my car. This has always made me feel unsafe....but, geeze, what about these kids living here..

How do i, as a gay adult having to basically hide for risk of having my house burned down or worse....how do i reach out to these kids.

I wore purple that day it was all over the net and walked around the mall. Actually made eye contact with one young man and he smiled. I knew he knew. But, i pray that is not the extent of my "help" to these kids.

There isn't a gay "place" that anyone goes to aside from these tiny hole in the wall gay bars and you read about people being beat up on the way to their cars and such.

Since i'm a nurse, the opportunity has come up a couple of times that i've had seeminly young gay patients and tried to let them know i was here if they needed a friend...but it's never went past that.

I honestly wish there was some way i could reach out to these young kids and be there so they could just talk and be heard without calling so much attention to myself and my family that we are harmed.

K....just venting and thinking out loud. TY for bumping the thread.

04-20-2010, 01:23 PM	#3
Medusa Mentally Delicious How Do You Identify?: Queer High Femme, thank you very much Preferred Pronoun?: Mme. Relationship Status: Married to JD. Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Atlanta Posts: 10,446 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 5,995 Thanked 42,686 Times in 7,831 Posts Rep Power: 10000025	I was wondering if anyone living in a small town has had trepidation about attending Pride events or parades. I'm out at my job and in my town but I was wondering today if other people worry about bringing too much attention? Or jeopardizing their employment if they work for biggots? __________________ . . . Buy ButchFemmePlanet Merch Here: https://teespring.com/stores/butchfemmeplanetcom-merch

04-18-2011, 08:54 AM	#6
Medusa Mentally Delicious How Do You Identify?: Queer High Femme, thank you very much Preferred Pronoun?: Mme. Relationship Status: Married to JD. Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Atlanta Posts: 10,446 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 5,995 Thanked 42,686 Times in 7,831 Posts Rep Power: 10000025	I realize this is an old thread but read this article this morning about how there are more suicides among youth in conservative areas. Thought it was poignant: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0..._n_850345.html __________________ . . . Buy ButchFemmePlanet Merch Here: https://teespring.com/stores/butchfemmeplanetcom-merch

04-18-2011, 09:07 AM	#7
princessbelle Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: femme Preferred Pronoun?: femme ones Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 6,100 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 29,380 Thanked 30,496 Times in 5,198 Posts Rep Power: 21474858	That is so sad Madusa. I've sat here thinking about this and it brings tears to my eyes. I live in a city, not that small, but in one that is not gay friendly at all. It is risky to even put a rainbow sticker on my car. This has always made me feel unsafe....but, geeze, what about these kids living here.. How do i, as a gay adult having to basically hide for risk of having my house burned down or worse....how do i reach out to these kids. I wore purple that day it was all over the net and walked around the mall. Actually made eye contact with one young man and he smiled. I knew he knew. But, i pray that is not the extent of my "help" to these kids. There isn't a gay "place" that anyone goes to aside from these tiny hole in the wall gay bars and you read about people being beat up on the way to their cars and such. Since i'm a nurse, the opportunity has come up a couple of times that i've had seeminly young gay patients and tried to let them know i was here if they needed a friend...but it's never went past that. I honestly wish there was some way i could reach out to these young kids and be there so they could just talk and be heard without calling so much attention to myself and my family that we are harmed. K....just venting and thinking out loud. TY for bumping the thread. __________________ ~ I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. ~ Maya Angelou

03-27-2010, 01:20 AM	#1
Butterbean Member How Do You Identify?: ---- Preferred Pronoun?: ---- Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: ----- Posts: 1,143 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,417 Thanked 2,215 Times in 771 Posts Rep Power: 17690475	Fabulous

03-27-2010, 08:13 AM	#2
Jess Timed Out - Permanent How Do You Identify?: decidedly indifferent Preferred Pronoun?: other Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Patrick Springs, VA Posts: 2,812 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,247 Thanked 5,700 Times in 1,682 Posts Rep Power: 0	Our little town won't host a pride. But we will have a "cornhole toss" at the fire dept down the street weekend after next. The girl and I can't wait to see what the hell that is.. LOL! We are probably this areas version of the gay men in the big house. As far as pride events go, we'll have to travel to Roanoke or Winston-Salem or Greensboro to be around other queers. I'm sure we will hit a couple events this summer and who knows, if another couple of queers find themselves transplanted here we may one day have enough for a parade. Heh, our "town" is like two blocks, it would only take a couple car loads of queers to tilt the balance! Thanks for your stories!

04-20-2010, 02:10 PM	#5
Rockinonahigh Senior Member How Do You Identify?: stone butch Preferred Pronoun?: makes no diffrence,I know who I am. Relationship Status: single,maybe looking if the right person comes along. Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: shreveport,Louisiana Posts: 4,907 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 4,682 Thanked 14,933 Times in 3,938 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	I dint live in a small town but me going to a pride hear wouldnt bother me any nor my son,who is grown,he works for a big company and they know about me being queer as heck and it never caused him any probs I know of.I ask him one about this subject and his reply was...I didnt care when I was a kid and shure dont now..go hve fun.Alas wed had a pride last year but didnt say a thing about it till the day before so I couldnt go cause I had commitments I couldnt change. I would like to go to conway if my back was on a good streak but have to play it by ear cause because of the back issue I shouldnt drive that far alone incase it pops out while there.Be glad when they fix it...soon I hope.When and how do I get to conway if I can go.