Finding Your Queer Family in Sarasota: More Possible Than You Think
Have you ever walked down Siesta Key Beach at sunset and wondered how many other queer folks were sharing that same golden moment with you? I certainly did when I first moved here—feeling both mesmerized by Florida's beauty and completely alone in my queerness.
My Sarasota Story
Three years ago, I arrived in Sarasota with two suitcases and zero connections. The palm trees were welcoming, but I questioned if I'd made a mistake leaving my queer community behind. Those first months, I'd wander through Selby Gardens or grab coffee downtown, scanning faces and wondering where my people were hiding.
The Invisible Struggle
Let's be honest about something many of us experience here:
- Dating apps showing the same 20 profiles within a 50-mile radius
- Well-intentioned straight friends saying "I'll introduce you to the only other gay person I know!"
- Feeling like you have to tone yourself down in certain spaces
- That constant mental calculation of when/where it's safe to hold hands
Finding Your Way Home
What changed everything for me was stopping the search for a replica of my previous community and instead:
- Showing up consistently at Project PRIDE events
- Joining the LGBTQ+ book club at Bookstore1
- Volunteering at ALSO Youth
- Creating the space I wished existed by hosting small gatherings
Remember: Queer community in smaller cities often exists in pockets rather than neighborhoods. It requires more intentionality but can feel even more precious when found.
You Are Not Alone Here
That feeling of being the "only one" is something we've all experienced, but I promise you—we are here, creating beautiful lives along this coastline, finding each other in expected and unexpected places.
What's your Sarasota queer experience been like? Share below—your story might be exactly what someone else needs to hear right now.