Ever Felt Like The Only Rainbow Fish In Olympia's Rainy Pond?
I still remember my first day in Olympia—standing under that perpetual drizzle, clutching my coffee outside Burial Grounds, wondering if I'd made a terrible mistake moving here. The Capitol building loomed in the distance, seeming to ask: where exactly does a queer person fit in this small Washington town?
Finding My People Among The Evergreens
What I didn't realize then was that Olympia's queer community isn't always visible at first glance. It wasn't until I wandered into Cryptatropa Bar one Friday night and found myself surrounded by the most eclectic mix of queer folks that I finally exhaled. From the drag shows at Le Voyeur to the subtle solidarity at Orca Books, our community exists in these beautiful, unexpected pockets.
When The Rain Gets Heavy
- That overwhelming sense of isolation when you're too queer for mainstream spaces but haven't found your niche yet
- The dating app frustration when the same 15 profiles keep recycling
- Navigating the tension between Olympia's liberal politics and its small-town dynamics
Creating Your Own Evergreen Family
What saved me was actually showing up—consistently. Whether at Lacey's LGBT+ community center events or the solidarity circles at Evergreen State College. The friendships I've built didn't happen overnight, but gradually, like moss spreading across our beloved trees.
Remember, your queerness is never too much, too loud, or too complicated for this city. We've carved out spaces between the raindrops, and there's room for your story too.
How did you find your people in Olympia? Or are you still searching? Your journey matters to all of us navigating this beautifully weird little city together.