Tag: LGBTQ West Virginia
This project is becoming a book.
Explore more of these journeys in Northern Lights, Northern Lives.
→ Pre-orders will be open again soon in the Visibility Shop.
-
Bloom Where You’re Planted: The Flower Daddy Cultivating Queer Joy in Appalachia
In a town with few protections for LGBTQ+ folks, florist and activist Jamie—aka The Flower Daddy—is helping queer Appalachia bloom with pride.
-
Queer and Appalachian: Exploring LGBTQ+ Life in West Virginia
What does it mean to be queer in West Virginia—a state often overlooked, misunderstood, or written off as too conservative for LGBTQ+ life to thrive? During a three-week road trip across the Mountain State, I met queer Appalachians who are deeply rooted in their land and culture, embracing pride in the complexities of their communities.…
-
Tending the Hearth: A Nonbinary Life Rooted in Appalachian Pride and Self-Actualization
In the quiet mountains of southern West Virginia, Dakota is building a life that defies easy categories. Nonbinary, deeply Appalachian, and fiercely rooted in community, they have carved out a space where gender diversity is not just endured, but celebrated – sometimes in quietly content solitude. Dakota’s story is about more than survival — it’s…
-
From Oil City to Charleston: A Kinkster’s Life in Gender, Geekdom, and Appalachia
What does it mean to be a queer kinkster, lifelong anime fan, and healthcare worker navigating gender expression in Appalachia? From Pokémon plushies to platform clogs, Sam (he/ze/they) shares his personal journey that stretches from Oil City, PA to Charleston, WV. His coming out stories stretch decades back, enveloping passions for nerdy interests and the…
-
Painting a Life: An Appalachian Artist’s Journey Toward Trans with no Boundaries
Sassa, a 43-year-old trans artist from Huntington, West Virginia, embraces his identity through art while actively participating in the local queer community. He focuses on personal acceptance regardless of specific assumptions and definitions of being trans. One of his notable projects, “100 Bad Ass Women,” deepened his understanding of himself and his journey towards embracing…
-
Embracing Androgyny and being a Woman, Carrie reflects on her work Treating Transgender Patients
Carrie, a nurse practitioner in Parkersburg, West Virginia, reflects on her journey providing gender-affirming hormone therapy and how it has shaped her views on gender. Despite growing up in an environment with limited LGBTQ+ understanding, Carrie has become a strong ally, empowering transgender individuals on their path to self-discovery and acceptance. Her work in a…
-
A Resilient Trans Experience Living Authentically through Homelessness and Family Estrangement
Daniel, a trans masc nonbinary person from the western edge of West Virginia, is passionate about music and art. He has navigated his trans identity through tumultuous challenges, including homelessness and family estrangement. Despite past struggles, he embraces his true self and seeks to inspire others to do the same.
-
Raised with Pride: How Theo Navigates his Journey Through Queerness, Disability, and Advocacy with Strong Support from Mom
Theo, a trans masculine nonbinary young adult from West Virginia, reflects on their journey of self-discovery and acceptance. Encountering confusion by conventional societal views on sexuality and gender, Theo found support through their mom’s all inclusive approach to the world. Despite struggles with mental and physical health, including POTS and EDS, they are now actively…
-
A Journey from Christian Roots as a Genderqueer, Black Lesbian in the Heart of Appalachia
Mack, a genderqueer lesbian of color from Southern West Virginia, embraces their Appalachian roots. Growing up in a loving Black American family influenced by Christianity, Mack was afraid to come out. Now in culinary school, they embrace cooking. music and exploring West Virginia’s beauty. They talk about the huge need for queer community and conversation…
-
Exploring Queer Artistic Visions through a Disabled Lens
Seren, a genderqueer artist in the northern tip of West Virginia, is passionate about history and working with their disabilities through artistic expression. They strive to give voice to the voiceless through alternative visual art.