Being Queer in Small-Town Texas: My McKinney Journey
Have you ever felt like you're living two lives in one body? That's how it felt when I first moved to McKinney—beautiful, charming McKinney with its historic downtown and friendly faces that didn't quite know what to make of me.
My McKinney Story
Three years ago, I arrived in this North Texas gem with my partner and our overly enthusiastic golden retriever. We fell in love with the neighborhoods, the small businesses, and even found an incredible coffee shop where the barista started making "our usual" after just two visits. But we also noticed the subtle double-takes, the quick glances when we held hands at Adriatica, the whispered conversations that stopped when we approached.
The Invisible Tightrope
Finding your place as a queer person here means walking a delicate balance:
- Making split-second decisions about when to be authentically yourself
- Searching for subtle rainbow flags or ally symbols before relaxing
- Experiencing that unique lonely-in-a-crowd feeling during community events
- Creating coded language with partners about when to "tone it down"
Creating Our Own McKinney Magic
But here's what I've learned: McKinney has beautiful pockets of acceptance and love if you know where to look. We've found community through:
- Local PFLAG meetings at the library
- Online groups specifically for LGBTQ+ folks in Collin County
- Building relationships with local business owners who proudly display their support
- Finding chosen family one authentic conversation at a time
You're not alone here. For every moment of isolation, there's a potential connection waiting, another queer person or ally hoping to find you too. What's your McKinney experience? Share below—let's build our community one story at a time.