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LGBTQ LIFE

News

LGBTQ struggles, diversity overlooked, ignored in more conservative communities

REPORTING: JUSTIN PETER
WRITING: KIRSTYN GRAY

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Stroud

It can be a lonely, isolating feeling as an LGBTQ person. And in conservative areas, that feeling is amplified.

Yet even in conservative states like Alabama, there are organizations and individuals committed to creating a safer, more welcoming space for those who may be struggling with their sexuality, such as Druid City Pride.

Druid City Pride is a non-profit community organization in western Alabama that serves and advocates for any person that identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ).

Visibility is one of the biggest issues that Druid City Pride faces, according to organization director
Russell Howard.

“There is no outlet for LGBTQ teens to hang out and ask questions about their experiences in Tuscaloosa,” Howard said.

There is no outlet for LGBTQ teens to hang out and ask questions about their experiences in Tuscaloosa.”

Howard hopes to provide a center for young members of the LGBTQ community where they can go to feel safe, as well as receive additional
support from their peers.

Another organization that supports LGBTQ members is UA Safe Zone, a resource center at The U n i v e r s i t y of Alabama. It provides support through b u i l d i n g community and education. It provides crisis i n t e r v e n t i o n r e s o u r c e s for LGBTQ members of The University of Alabama and their allies.

While Druid City Pride helps all western Alabamians, UA’s Safe Zone is designed to help students.

Tripp Gustin, an Alabama native who grew up in Mobile as a gay man, is now a 29-year-old graphic designer living in Orange County, California.

“It’s not as bad as you would think. People tend to have an impression that being gay in Alabama is a living hell, but in Mobile, it’s very accepting, and I was out to everyone in my life, so I’ve never had any issues with it,” Gustin said.

On average, people in California are more comfortable being gay and are willing to express themselves more because they seldom deal with
homophobia and discrimination according to Gustin.

“The only thing [about being gay] is you just have to be cautious about what you do in public ... I don't worry as much about it in California because it’s more a part of the culture there,” Gustin said.

Joey Hilliard, a 15-year-old from Rushville, Ohio, identifies as gay and lives in a small rural town.

“There’s either people that c o m p l e t e l y reject you and think that you're disgusting and hate you for no reason,” Hilliard said, “and then there's people that accept you and know what you’re going through.

“In August, I got a boyfriend and [my parents] found out ... They were upset at first and then they accepted it, and it was very weird, but I felt like I was free and that a burden was taken off my shoulders,” Hilliard said.

Although Hilliard came out as gay to his mother, father, and younger brother, he has not come out to his other family members.

“It's hard being out of the closet with some of my family and not being out with the other because I want to tell them and I want them to know, but it feels like it's more of a risk to do that than to just stay silent about it,” Hilliard said, “It’s like I’m walking on eggshells all the time, but it's just hard to build up the courage.”

Hilliard is in a relationship with another 15-year-old boy who is closeted from his parents. Although Hilliard and his boyfriend are very expressive in school, they spend no time outside of school without other friends present, according to Hilliard.

“It’s like I still haven’t fully come out because he hasn’t,” Hilliard said.

Sheridan High School, Hilliard’s school, is a rural farming school. According to Hilliard, there are some students who are open and free about
who they are, but the majority of people at his school are non-accepting and closed minded. On average, Hiliard receives remarks about his sexuality three to four times a week. Hilliard tries not to take crude comments personally and tries to move forward when faced with hate.