
i’m from florida (granted the more “blue” part) and am currently living in louisiana, and a lot of it is finding your own community. institutions aren’t going to say shit about you because (especially if it’s a public university) it’s not worth it. and once you acknowledge that and sort of “cut ties” with relying on these big institutions or corporations to fight for you and start building a community with people that actually do care and do fight the world seems a bit less bleak.
Like 2 yrs ago a 19 y/o gay kid was beaten half to death outside of a bar .5 miles off campus and my university said nothing I understand its more nuanced than that. I understand theres legal shit since its not our property and the kid wasnt a student. But not even an email? Not even a “heres some resources”? Nothing?
like i love my university but i know that if something happened relating to a hate crime directed at someone queer, the chances of them even acknowledging it is slim. and it’s not because they don’t care per se but more of a if they say something their funding might be jeopardized. i’ve found that living in not just a conservative state but a conservative region there IS community and love and pride, you just have to look a little harder than you’d expect