Finding Your Rainbow in the Northern Plains
Have you ever felt like the only queer person for miles around? That's exactly how I felt when I moved to Minot three winters ago—my U-Haul barely made it through the snow, and I wondered if my heart would survive the isolation.
My Minot Story
The first few months in Minot were a blur of Prairie Chicken sightings and awkward conversations where I danced around pronouns. I remember sitting alone at Broadway Bean & Bagel, watching couples and friend groups, wondering where my people were. The Air Force base brought diversity, but finding queer community felt like searching for a specific snowflake in a blizzard.
We've All Been There
The struggles are real when you're queer in a small city:
- Dating apps show the same 12 people within a 50-mile radius
- Coming out repeatedly to new acquaintances
- Wondering if that rainbow magnet on your fridge is "too much" for visitors
- Finding safe spaces to just be yourself without explanation
Creating Your Own Magic
Here's what saved me: stop waiting for the perfect queer community to appear—build it. I started a tiny book club that now meets monthly at Books on Broadway. We're just six people, but we've become family.
Dakota OutRight in Bismarck has events worth the drive. The Pride celebrations each summer grow bigger every year. The Magic City Equality group might seem quiet online, but they're there when you need them.
You Are Not Alone
On my darkest winter day, when the temperature hit -30°F, a neighbor I barely knew knocked on my door with soup and a rainbow-knitted scarf. "We look out for each other here," she said. Minot has surprise allies around every corner.
What's your Minot story? Share below how you've found or created community here—your words might be the beacon someone else needs to find their way home.