Finding My Queer Haven in Fort Pierce: A Journey of Connection
Have you ever felt like a colorful fish swimming in a sea of gray? That was me when I first moved to Fort Pierce three years ago. The palm trees were welcoming, but I wondered if there was space for all of me here.
When Fort Pierce Became Home
I still remember that first sunset at Jetty Park, watching the sky burst into pinks and purples (nature's pride flag, I always say). I was alone then, questioning if I'd made the right choice moving to a smaller Florida coastal town as an out and proud queer person. Little did I know that Fort Pierce had its own beautiful queer tapestry waiting to be discovered.
The Invisible Dance We All Know
Finding community here wasn't without challenges:
- The subtle "is-this-person-safe-to-come-out-to" calculations we make daily
- Dating apps that seemed to show the same 10 people within a 50-mile radius
- The well-meaning but awkward "my cousin's friend is also gay!" conversations
- Navigating spaces that weren't explicitly unwelcoming, but weren't explicitly welcoming either
Creating Space When You Can't Find It
What changed everything was stopping the search and starting to build:
- I started a monthly queer book club at the local coffee shop (Moore's Sip & See now has a tiny rainbow flag at the counter!)
- Connected with the Treasure Coast PFLAG chapter that serves our area
- Learned that our local theater group is surprisingly full of LGBTQ+ folks and allies
- Started a small beach meetup that's grown to 30+ queer folks and allies
Sometimes creating community means being the person you needed when you first arrived. Your authenticity will attract your people.
You Are Not Alone Here
Being queer in Fort Pierce isn't always easy, but it is absolutely possible to thrive here. For every moment of isolation, there's potential for connection just waiting to happen.
What's your Fort Pierce story? Have you found your people or are you still searching? Share below – this thread is for building bridges between islands.