Boone NC. What's the picture that comes to mind? Let me walk you through it. App State in full buzz. Students rushing about on their way to class. Some of them hanging out on Sanford Mall, relaxing on a blanket or in a hammock. King Street, crowded with tourists running in and out of Mast General or sitting on the bench next to the statue of Doc Watson getting a picture. Earth Fare. The Standard. The double decker Wendy's. Cookout. The Cottages. Highlands. Walmart. Sound familiar? You might be shaking your head and saying, "Yep. That's good old Boone-town." It sounds like the perfect place to be a college student and in many ways it is. It's a transitional place. You're here for a moment, on your way to somewhere else. For some of us though, it's home. And while it is home, it is not always to most welcoming place.

My name is Stephen. I am 27 years old, mixed and gay. I have lived here in the mountains for almost ten years now. I wouldn't be surprised if some of you recognized me. Backpack guy walking up HWY 105. Deli guy at ingles who always know about the Boars Head stuff. The loudmouth who is always saying "PREACH" to the queens at the SAGA Professional Drag Show. Maybe you don't. That's cool too. What I want to tell you about, is living queer in the mountains.

At App, you see a campus flowing with diversity. Student from all walks of life come to study here. It is celebrated. Take a walk through the Student Union. You'll be greeted with flags representing the various nationalities of students who attend. Along that same hallway, on your right, is a row of offices dedicated to the diverse population including the Women's Center, LGBT Center, and the Center for Diversity (to name only a few). It is a wonderful and comfortable place to be. Now step off campus. Feel the change? There are people, many of them still students, but the atmosphere is much different. It's almost like stepping onto a different planet.

Out here, diversity is hidden. There is no Women's Center, no Center for Diversity, and especially, no LGBT Center. Boone is happy to have such things here at ASU, so long as they stay there where the rest of Boone does not have to see. Even the Hospitality House, an oasis for those who have nowhere else to turn, a place that was once highly accessible close to downtown, has been pushed to the fringe. It is now located off Bamboo Road, where only one, limited bus route runs. It sends quite the message. Homelessness is something we want to help, as long as we don't have to see it.

Which brings me to my point. One of these things is not like the other. In Boone, you can walk down the street and be a woman. You can be a racial minority and there barely even a glance your way. Try being queer. Openly queer. I don't mean, blaring Britney and marching in a pride parade. I mean being a person with a small pride flag sticking out of your backpack while you're on your way back from ASU pride. "F@%%#t," they yell from their cars. "Take that $#^! somewhere else." It happens.

At ASU, there is the Henderson Springs LGBT Center. It is a safe space for any who wish to express themselves regardless of the sexuality or gender identity. There is SAGA, the Sexuality And Gender Alliance. A group dedicated to creating a healthy and environment all around campus for everyone.Even at Watauga High they have a Gay/Straight alliance. It's creation was met with a plethora of hostility and there is a regular call for it's dissolution under the guise of "protect the children." In town, the mere mention of an LGBT center is met with snide, derision, and even disgust. "We don't need that kind of mess here. Keep it at the college where it belongs." There are no safe spaces. No groups to go to for support. If you want to talk about it, do so at home or a friends apartment. There is no Pride night or LGBTQ+ night at any of the local businesses. It doesn't mean they aren't supportive, they just aren't open about it. Who can blame them?

It's 2016. LGBTQ+ people are no longer tucked away in a corner.We attained the right to marry just one year ago and the momentum isn't stopping. Though there are people that wish to stop us, we are fighting back. We're living, but we don't all live in New York, or L.A., or San Francisco. We live here. In the heart of the high country.

My name is Stephen. I am 27 years old, mixed and gay. I live here. In Boone, North Carolina and I'm not going anywhere.