Finding My Rainbow in Parma: A Journey Through Queer Existence in Suburban Ohio
Have you ever felt like the only splash of color in a sea of beige? That was me, five years ago, when I first moved to Parma with nothing but two suitcases and a terrified cat named Bagel.
When Parma Became Home
I remember walking through Parmesan Village Shopping Center, feeling both invisible and hypervisible simultaneously. The elderly couple who owned the bookstore near my apartment became my first allies—they didn't bat an eye when I browsed the LGBTQ+ section or when my partner later joined me for their monthly poetry readings.
The Isolation We Don't Talk About
Let's be honest about suburban queer existence:
- Dating apps that show "no matches within 20 miles"
- The sideways glances at Polish Village Café when you're clearly on a same-sex date
- That internal calculation about when and how much of yourself to reveal to neighbors
- The exhausting drive to Cleveland for any semblance of community
Creating Your Pocket of Belonging
What saved me wasn't finding a massive queer community—it was building small, intentional connections:
- Start or join a book club at Parma Libraries
- Connect with the surprisingly active online groups for LGBTQ+ folks in Cleveland suburbs
- Befriend allies before expecting to find your queer family
- Create the space you wish existed (my monthly potluck started with just three people!)
Remember, belonging doesn't always look like rainbow parades. Sometimes it's just coffee with one person who truly sees you.
What's your suburban queer experience like? Share below—your story might be exactly what someone else needs to hear today.