Welcome Homo: Finding Queer in Rural Vermont

Arguments against equal rights for LGBTQ people often rely on the tired narrative that queerness is “unnatural.” In this presentation I will read excerpts of my senior thesis, a non-fiction creative writing piece focusing... [ view full abstract ]

Arguments against equal rights for LGBTQ people often rely on the tired narrative that queerness is “unnatural.” In this presentation I will read excerpts of my senior thesis, a non-fiction creative writing piece focusing on how this cultural narrative has shaped my life and the lives of queer people nationwide. The reading will touch on the cultural perception that LGBTQ identity is tied to metropolitan areas, which serves to further separate queer people and nature. The Radical Faeries are a group defying this stereotype by creating an intentional queer community in rural Vermont, providing a vision of how queer people can find home in natural areas. This piece serves as a summary of their community as well as a personal history of coming to terms with my identity as a rural queer Vermonter.