Finding Your Rainbow in Small-Town Wisconsin
Have you ever felt like you're the only queer person in a fifty-mile radius? That was me when I first moved to Eau Claire, walking through Carson Park wondering if I'd made a terrible mistake.
My Eau Claire Journey
Three winters ago, I traded Minneapolis for Eau Claire after landing a job at the university. The first week was terrifying. I remember sitting alone at The Joynt, scanning the room for any hint of queer community, feeling like a rainbow fish in a very straight pond. Then someone noticed my pronoun pin and introduced themselves—my first friend here and now chosen family.
When "Where's the Scene?" Becomes Your Daily Question
- Finding queer-friendly spaces without a guidebook
- Dating apps where the same 12 faces appear repeatedly
- Explaining your identity over and over to well-meaning locals
- Creating visibility while maintaining safety
Building Your Queer Oasis
Eau Claire has heart—you just need to know where to look. The Volume One events calendar became my bible. I started attending UW-EC Pride Alliance events even though I wasn't a student. I found community at SHIFT Cyclery's queer ride nights. Sometimes creating space means being the one to start it.
Remember: loneliness isn't the absence of people—it's the absence of connection. Your queer family exists here; they're just scattered like stars waiting to form a constellation.
What's your Eau Claire experience? Have you found your people yet? Share below—maybe your comment will be someone's first step toward finding home.