Finding Your Queer Joy in Small-Town America
Have you ever felt like the only rainbow fish swimming in a sea of sameness? That's how my first year in Pasco felt—like I was constantly translating myself into a language the town understood.
My Pasco Journey
When I moved to Pasco three years ago for that engineering position at Hanford, I didn't expect to find much queer community in this corner of Washington. The Columbia Basin's wide-open spaces felt metaphorically vast too—so much distance between me and authentic connection. Those first few months, I'd drive to my apartment after work, scroll through dating apps seeing the same 12 profiles, and wonder if I'd made a terrible mistake.
The Small-Town Queer Struggle Is Real
Let's be honest about the challenges:
- Dating pools so small you could skip a stone across them
- The exhausting calculus of deciding when to come out to new friends
- Finding yourself the unofficial "ambassador" for all things queer
- Microaggressions from well-meaning folks who "just haven't met many gay people"
Creating Space When There Isn't One
What transformed everything was stopping waiting for community and starting to build it. The Tri-Cities has more of us than you'd think! I started a monthly meetup at Barley's Brew Hub, created a discrete Facebook group, and connected with the PFLAG chapter in Richland.
Remember: your authenticity is revolutionary in spaces not designed for you. Your presence makes it easier for the next person.
You Are Not Alone Here
What's your Pasco story? Drop it in the comments—finding each other happens one brave share at a time. Our visibility matters, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard.