Finding My Rainbow in Small-Town Connecticut
Have you ever felt like a burst of color in a grayscale painting? That was me, stepping off the train in Danbury with my rainbow pin barely visible on my jacket lapel, wondering if I'd made a terrible mistake.
My Danbury Beginnings
Six years ago, I left the comfort of Brooklyn's queer bubbles for a job at Western Connecticut State University. My first week here, I wandered downtown alone, until I spotted a tiny pride flag in a café window. Inside, I found not just amazing coffee, but my first queer friend in town—the barista who now hosts our monthly book club.
When Being Yourself Feels Like Too Much
The struggle to find community here hit hard. Dating apps showed the same five profiles, and I'd drive 40 minutes just for a mediocre date. Some days, I'd code-switch so hard my throat hurt from changing my voice.
- Feeling invisible in everyday spaces
- The exhaustion of coming out repeatedly
- Finding love in limited dating pools
- Creating safe spaces where none existed
Blooming Where We're Planted
What changed everything wasn't leaving—it was staying and building. Our little queer community started meeting monthly at the lake. We created a discreet social media group that grew from 7 to nearly 200 members.
Remember: your queerness doesn't need big city validation. Sometimes revolution looks like holding hands at the Danbury Fair Mall, or starting a tiny pride event that grows each year.
You're never truly alone, even when it feels that way. Your story matters here too.