Ever Felt Like the Only Rainbow in a Concrete Sky?
I remember my first winter in Troy, walking down River Street as snowflakes caught in my pink hair, wondering if I'd made a terrible mistake moving here. The Victorian architecture was gorgeous but could the city embrace someone who used they/them pronouns and wore combat boots with floral dresses?
Finding My Troy Queer Family
Three months later, I was sipping tea at Little Pecks, when someone complimented my pronoun pin. That conversation led to game nights, potlucks in Washington Park, and eventually finding my chosen family. Troy wasn't the queer desert I'd feared—the community was just tucked away like hidden gems.
The Upstate Queer Struggle Is Real
- Dating apps showing the same 10 people for months
- Explaining your identity repeatedly to well-meaning neighbors
- Finding safe spaces when they're not rainbow-flagged
- Winter isolation when community events hibernate
Creating Queer Joy in Troy
What transformed my experience was creating what I couldn't find. Started a tiny queer book club that now has 30+ members. We meet at different LGBTQ-friendly businesses, strengthening both our community and local economy. Your version might be different—maybe a hiking group, craft circle, or game night?
Remember, your queerness is a gift to this historic city. Those moments of loneliness? We've all felt them. That uncertainty when entering a new space? A universal queer experience.
What's your Troy story? Share below and let's build connections beyond this thread. Our community grows stronger with every voice.