Finding My Rainbow in DeSoto, Texas
Ever looked up at the vast Texas sky and wondered if there's space here for all of who you are? I sure did when I first moved to DeSoto three years ago.
My DeSoto Story
Picture this: me, with my blue hair and pride pins, walking into a local coffee shop on Hampton Road for the first time. The stares felt like spotlights, and I questioned if I'd ever belong here. But then the barista—with a tiny rainbow bracelet peeking from under her sleeve—gave me the warmest "welcome to the neighborhood" smile. That's when I knew there was community to be found, even if I had to look a little harder.
The Queer Texan Struggle
Finding connection here isn't always easy. Between:
- The well-meaning but awkward "Do you have a boyfriend?" questions from neighbors
- Dating apps where people are either 50 miles away or "just curious"
- The constant calculation of when to be authentic vs. when to protect yourself
Building Your Queer Oasis
I've learned that community doesn't always come ready-made. Sometimes we have to cultivate it:
- Check out the LGBTQ+ meetup groups that gather at BookBar on Pleasant Run
- Visit Dallas proper for events, then bring those connections back to DeSoto
- Be visible (when safe) – your existence might be someone else's permission to exist fully too
You Are Not Alone
The truth? Every time I felt isolated in DeSoto, someone would eventually appear and remind me that queerness blooms even in unexpected places. Your experience matters, and your story is part of what makes this community rich and real.
Share below: What's your experience being queer in suburban spaces? Let's create the map we wish we'd had when we started.