From Massachusetts to Indiana, Pride Stands Up Against Renewed Assault
How will you stand up for decency and neighborliness?
I spent most of my life in the closet. I didn’t come out until I was 36. And so living in this community, surrounded by right-wing Christian conservatives … I just wanted there to be some kind of organization, some kind of support for the LGBT community.
Alex Keen is 38 years old.
He’s spent his life in a charming little Indiana town just a dozen or so Interstate exits from my Ohio hometown. As an Ohioan born and bred, I probably shouldn't heap praise on Indiana — don’t tell anybody! — but Connersville is lovely, as celebrated for crisp peach cobbler and sugary sweet corn as for warm, generous people and a quaint downtown ripped straight from Norman Rockwell paintings.
But Alex, who is gay, just went into hiding.
When people ask why on earth we queer folks would want to live in small towns, Connersville (like pretty little towns everywhere) is one of the reasons. Not only can you grow amazing tomatoes, peppers, and melons in your own garden, but your neighbors will help out with a bit of rototilling, the schools are small and excellent, and life is laid back and way less expensive than in the city.
