Finding Your Rainbow in Riverton: My Journey as a Queer Person in Utah
Have you ever felt like the only splash of color in a monochrome landscape? That was me, three years ago, when I moved to Riverton with nothing but two suitcases and a heart full of uncertainty.
My Riverton Story
The first time I walked into a local coffee shop wearing my pride pin, I felt every eye turn to me. Not in hostility, but curiosity. Riverton wasn't what I expected. Behind its conservative reputation, I discovered pockets of acceptance and even celebration. The elderly woman who runs the bookstore near State Street became my unexpected ally, setting aside LGBTQ+ literature for me and eventually hosting our community's first queer book club.
When You're the "Only One"
Let's be real about the challenges:
- Dating apps that show the same 12 people within a 50-mile radius
- Well-meaning neighbors who keep trying to set you up with their "other gay friend"
- The exhausting dance of deciding when to come out in new social situations
- Finding yourself code-switching at work or school without even realizing it
Creating Your Queer Oasis
What saved me was stopping the search for a ready-made community and starting to build one instead. I began hosting monthly potlucks, created a discrete Facebook group that grew from 5 to 65 members, and established relationships with allies at local businesses. Your authentic life isn't waiting to be discovered—it's waiting to be created.
Remember, your experience is valid, your presence is revolutionary, and you are never truly alone, even in the quietest corners of Utah.
Drop a comment about your own small-town queer experience or DM me if you're nearby and need a friendly face. This thread is a doorway—I'm holding it open for you. ✨