Finding Yourself in the Mountain State: My Journey as a Queer Person in West Virginia
Have you ever felt like you're both invisible and too visible at the same time? That's how I felt growing up queer in the hollers and hills of West Virginia.
My Appalachian Roots
I still remember the first time I realized I was different. I was sitting on my grandma's porch in Pocahontas County, watching fireflies dance against the backdrop of the Appalachians. That beauty surrounding me was constant, but inside, I was changing in ways I couldn't yet understand.
When I finally came out in Charleston at 19, I discovered pockets of acceptance I never expected in this state known more for coal than queerness.
The Reality of Rural Queer Life
Being queer in West Virginia comes with its unique challenges:
- Dating pools that feel as small as a mountain spring
- The exhausting calculations of when to be out and when to stay quiet
- Finding community when the nearest Pride event is hours away
- Navigating family dynamics deeply rooted in tradition
Carving Your Own Path
What I've learned along this country road:
- Online communities can be lifelines—I met my closest friends through a WV LGBTQ+ Facebook group
- Small, authentic connections matter more than big scenes
- Our resilience is our superpower—Appalachian queers know how to persevere
Remember: your identity doesn't need big city lights to be valid. There's something powerful about being queer where it's not always easy, about creating space where there wasn't one before.
You aren't walking these mountain paths alone. We're here, we're queer, and we're as much a part of these hills as the rhododendrons and rivers.
How are you creating community where you are? Share your story below—let's build connections stronger than these mountains.