Does Anyone Else Feel Like They're the Only Queer Person in Binghamton Sometimes?
Last winter, I found myself trudging through the snow on Court Street, rainbow beanie pulled down over my ears, wondering if I was truly the only queer person brave enough to battle the upstate chill that day. The wind whipped around me as I made my way to Strange Brew, desperate for both caffeine and perhaps a glimpse of another queer soul.
Finding My People in the Southern Tier
Moving to Binghamton three years ago was a massive adjustment after living in Brooklyn. The dating pool suddenly felt puddle-sized, and my Tinder radius kept expanding until I was practically matching with people in Pennsylvania!
The struggle to find community here is real. Between the university bubble and the scattered queer spots downtown, it can feel like we're all ships passing in the night.
What I've Learned About Queer Connection Here
- The Washing Board Laundromat hosts monthly queer mixers that changed everything for me
- Don't sleep on the LGBTQ+ groups at Binghamton University - many welcome community members too
- The Bundy Museum's film nights attract a wonderfully diverse crowd
- Sometimes you have to be the one to create the spaces you're seeking
I've found that Binghamton's queer community isn't absent - it's just quieter, more intimate, and sometimes hiding in plain sight. Those connections, when you find them, are incredibly meaningful precisely because they don't come as easily as they might in bigger cities.
You're not alone in feeling alone. I promise there are others looking up from their coffee cups at Strange Brew, wondering the same thing you are.
Let's Build Something Together
What spaces have you found in Binghamton that feel like home? Where do you go when you need to feel connected to community? Share below - you might just be the beacon someone else needs right now.