Ever Wondered What It's Like to Find Your Queer Self in Small-Town Ohio?
The first time I walked into Coffee Amici in downtown Findlay wearing my pride pin, my heart was racing. Would anyone stare? Would I be welcomed? Growing up queer in a city where cornfields outnumber pride flags wasn't in my life plan, yet here I was.
My Findlay Journey
Three years ago, I moved here for work, leaving behind my comfortable queer community in Columbus. Those first months were lonely. I'd wander around the Findlay Reservoir on weekends, missing the casual ease of being myself.
The Struggles We Share
Being queer in smaller communities comes with unique challenges:
- Dating pools smaller than the Riverside Park pond
- The eternal coming out process with new coworkers and neighbors
- Finding your people when there's no designated "gay bar"
- Balancing visibility with safety in uncertain spaces
Finding Your Way (I Promise It's Possible)
What saved me was realizing I wasn't as alone as I thought:
- Connect with Spectrum of Findlay's monthly meetups
- The University of Findlay has queer-friendly events open to the public
- Toledo's resources are just a short drive away
- Create what you can't find - my living room book club started with just three of us!
Remember, queerness has always existed in small towns - we're just part of a beautiful continuum of people who've carved out space for authenticity here.
How are you navigating queer life in your community? Your stories help others feel less alone in their journey too.