Finding Your Rainbow in the Midwest: My Queer Journey in Dearborn
Have you ever felt like you're trying to find a unicorn in a parking lot? That's what being queer in Dearborn felt like when I first moved here from Chicago three years ago.
From Outsider to Community Builder
I remember walking through the Arab American National Museum, admiring the beautiful exhibits while simultaneously wondering if anyone around me could tell I was gay. Would they care? Later that week, I stumbled upon a small coffee shop near Michigan Avenue where the barista wore a tiny pride pin. We exchanged knowing glances, and just like that, I found my first queer friend in Dearborn.
When Being Yourself Feels Revolutionary
The challenges here are real, friends:
- Dating apps show the same 10 profiles on repeat (I've memorized everyone's bios!)
- Coming out repeatedly to new colleagues who assume you're straight
- Navigating cultural spaces where queerness isn't always openly discussed
- Finding places where you can fully express yourself without shrinking
Creating Space When None Exists
What's worked for me? Building community intentionally. Start small—I began with a monthly book club that grew into a vibrant friend group. Reach out to the LGBTQ+ organizations in Detroit and Ferndale. Attend events at UM-Dearborn which has a surprisingly active queer presence. Most importantly, be the visibility you needed when you first arrived.
Remember: your existence here matters. Every time you live authentically, you create more space for others to do the same. We're out here, finding each other like stars forming constellations across the Dearborn sky.
Drop a comment about your experience being queer in smaller Midwest communities. What's your story? What spaces have you created or found? Let's build this thread into a resource for everyone still searching.