Finding My Rainbow in the Texas Sky
Have you ever felt like you're the only queer person in your entire town? That was me three years ago, standing in the shadow of the refineries that define Texas City's skyline, wondering if I'd ever find my people in this industrial corner of the Gulf Coast.
When the Lone Star State Feels Extra Lonely
I moved to Texas City for work, excited about my new chemical engineering job but terrified about being visibly queer in a place where church marquees outnumber pride flags by about a thousand to zero. My first month here, I sat alone at Tequila's on 9th Avenue, watching straight couples line dance while I nursed my margarita and scrolled through dating apps with exactly three profiles within a 30-mile radius.
The Invisible Tightrope We Walk
- Code-switching between work-self and real-self becomes exhausting
- Finding safe spaces feels impossible when there's no dedicated queer venues
- Constantly gauging if new friends will accept your whole identity
- Dating pool smaller than a Texas puddle during drought season
Creating Ripples in Still Waters
What changed everything was starting small. I joined the community theater—turns out the arts attract our kind! I started a monthly "Queer Coffee" meetup at the local Starbucks, which grew from three people to fifteen. We may not have the glittering gay scene of Houston or Galveston, but we've built something authentic right here.
Remember, your queerness doesn't need permission or perfect conditions to bloom. Even in places like Texas City, there are others waiting to be found. You're not just surviving here—you're part of a beautiful, hidden constellation.
What's your experience being queer in a small Texas town? Share below—your story might be the lighthouse someone else needs right now.