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Pride in rural places
Jun. 14th, 2024 10:42 amLast night was my coworker's retirement party and I helped with setup. It was held at a farm in the middle of nowhere, no cell service even. The farmers have been great and I've checked traps there sometimes.
They fly a pride flag on their flagpole under the USA flag.
I am always a little wary going to a new farm for the first time and I went solo the first time a few years ago, filling in for my coworker checking traps. And when I got there and saw the pride flag, I was relieved. I've been back a lot but often there wasn't anyone at the farm and I think I talked to someone once.
They have a brewery and do pizzas and things and they have a beautiful patio, so it really was a good location for a party.
I got there early for setup and chatted with the owner and then the brewery manager introduced himself. I clocked him as possibly queer. We got all setup, party went great, everything awesome.
At the end of the party, when I was getting ready to leave, I decided to go and thank the owner for flying the pride flag and how it meant a lot to me. And so I did and the brewery manager (B) was standing there too. And it went very well, and she was so happy and looked at the reality of it as something she could do for other folks. She knew how rural the area was and how hard it could be and it was a lovely conversation.
I got ready to leave and B caught up with me and gave me a hug. And we talked about the flag and how he was local and fairly lonely and having a hard time. He said the owners of the farm were like family to him and understood him better than his own family and apparently there had been some issue and the pride flag had come down for a bit but went back up. He came off as younger than I expected, he had to be 21 since he was serving alcohol but he seemed very young to me. I asked what his plans were and he said he was planning to move away, but possibly to the nearest city and not to NYC or something. I explained a little of my experience with rural living and how hard but good it could be and how there's a lot of options no matter where he ends up. I think he mostly just wanted someone who would understand.
He had to go back to work and I was exhausted and driving home I realized I should have given him my phone number. But I'm glad we talked and it was a wonderful connection to make. I'll be checking traps up there until my coworker's replacement starts so if I see the farm owner when I go, I'm going to give her my phone number to give to B in case he wants to talk. I thought about emailing but I don't know who checks the email and didn't want to risk it.
Hopefully that was enough, a little bright spot.
They fly a pride flag on their flagpole under the USA flag.
I am always a little wary going to a new farm for the first time and I went solo the first time a few years ago, filling in for my coworker checking traps. And when I got there and saw the pride flag, I was relieved. I've been back a lot but often there wasn't anyone at the farm and I think I talked to someone once.
They have a brewery and do pizzas and things and they have a beautiful patio, so it really was a good location for a party.
I got there early for setup and chatted with the owner and then the brewery manager introduced himself. I clocked him as possibly queer. We got all setup, party went great, everything awesome.
At the end of the party, when I was getting ready to leave, I decided to go and thank the owner for flying the pride flag and how it meant a lot to me. And so I did and the brewery manager (B) was standing there too. And it went very well, and she was so happy and looked at the reality of it as something she could do for other folks. She knew how rural the area was and how hard it could be and it was a lovely conversation.
I got ready to leave and B caught up with me and gave me a hug. And we talked about the flag and how he was local and fairly lonely and having a hard time. He said the owners of the farm were like family to him and understood him better than his own family and apparently there had been some issue and the pride flag had come down for a bit but went back up. He came off as younger than I expected, he had to be 21 since he was serving alcohol but he seemed very young to me. I asked what his plans were and he said he was planning to move away, but possibly to the nearest city and not to NYC or something. I explained a little of my experience with rural living and how hard but good it could be and how there's a lot of options no matter where he ends up. I think he mostly just wanted someone who would understand.
He had to go back to work and I was exhausted and driving home I realized I should have given him my phone number. But I'm glad we talked and it was a wonderful connection to make. I'll be checking traps up there until my coworker's replacement starts so if I see the farm owner when I go, I'm going to give her my phone number to give to B in case he wants to talk. I thought about emailing but I don't know who checks the email and didn't want to risk it.
Hopefully that was enough, a little bright spot.
