Why Queers In The Country Was The Vanlife Event We So Desperately Needed In 2022
Please note: this article is coming from the perspective of a queer, white, low/middle class female who, although is non-binary and pansexual, passes as a straight cis woman. There are other opinions shared in this article from different perspectives.
Cover image photo by Rachael Sabell
What Does The Phrase “The South” Conjure Up For You?
When you hear the phrase “The South” (when referring to the USA), what comes to mind for you? Is it rebel flags, sweet tea, Trump supporters, or older folks sitting out on their porches exchanging the newest gossip? All of those things exist in the south of the USA, and, while sweet tea and community porch gatherings are wonderful things, the hate and bigotry that can be found here are not. After traveling the world (like, a lot), I’ve learned that hate and bigotry sadly can exist anywhere and almost do exist everywhere. While the stereotypes of The South being a scary, racist, and conservative place are justified and valid, we can sometimes let those images erase the voices of the activists, Indigenous and Native folks, LGBTQ+ folks, vegans, POC, and marginalized people who also occupy The South.
A Queer Vegan Living In Rural North Carolina
I happen to be one of those people. As a queer vegan who lives off-grid in rural North Carolina, I sometimes forget that other like minded folks are all around me. Sometimes I just need an intentional reminder to seek out, listen to, connect with, and support those voices and people to the best of my abilities. Queers in the Country was just the place to do that!
So Many Queers, So Much Country
Queers in the Country was a van life meet up that took place in rural Kentucky on April 22nd through the 25th, 2022. Attendees stayed at The Stonehouse at Silver Creek in Richmond, Kentucky. This meet up was specifically carved out for LGBTQ+ folks and their allies. Before this event, I had never been to a van life meet up before, and besides hanging out with my queer friends, had never been to an intentionally queer event either. The combination of those two elements put together was like a sweet dream.
What Queers In The Country Was Really Like
When I arrived to the meet up space on Friday evening, I was greeted with friendly faces and open arms. I parked my van in a large open field and watch the sun sink down behind a bunch of queer folks who live in or travel often in their vehicles. 20+ vans, trucks, cars, RVs, and other vehicles filled the space.
The schedule for the event was filled with much-needed talks like Being an Interracial Couple on the Road, Marginalized Folks in the Outdoors, and The Trans/Non-binary Experience on the Road, and more. In addition to conversation circles, there was a presentation on financial awareness and a Leave No Trace training. It wasn’t all scheduled learning, meetings, and talks though.
There was space for laughter, fun, and queer joy when Lianna Carrera did a rockin’ stand up comedy performance and The Kentucky Fried Sisters put on a drag bingo brunch. There was also free time to mingle, chat, laugh, dance, connect with, and see the vehicle setups of other folks attending QITC. And for those of ya’ll who also reject the notion of other animals existing for our exploitation and consumption, you will be happy to know that plant-based food options were provided.
Intentional Safe Travel Spaces Are So Valuable
One of my other favorite activities that I participated in was a sunrise yoga practice facilitated by the yogi Becky Benelil. When I asked her what she got out of the Queers in the Country event, they shared that “At QITC, there were the most beautiful humans I got to meet, greet, and get to know. During the few days of this event I believe I have found something much closer to a ‘true belonging’ and unraveled some of what can be only be described as a feeling of loneliness. It has been replaced with exuberance and an inner knowing, and a reminder that there definitely are other truly wonderful and unique humans out there in the world. This is something I have been waiting a long time for.” I whole heartedly agreed with Becky’s sentiment.
What Participants Thought About The Event
To gain another perspective, I asked Kristin from Where The Road Forks how she felt about the event. Her response was vulnerable and full. She told me that “Queers in the Country was a life changing event for me. I came out less than a year ago and with this new journey new insecurities emerged making it difficult to navigate my queerness. I have done the best to try to educate myself on the community but I’m a firm believer that first hand accounts are the best way to learn more intimately.
QITC provided me the opportunity to hear others experience from non-binary folks to trans folks, interracial relationship experiences to what it’s like to walk into a binary locker room. The conversations were eye opening and helped me understand myself even deeper. I walked away from QITC with less insecurities, feeling more confident in who Kristin was and how I want to stand up for myself. On the last evening I found myself alone in my van crying happy tears. I feel like I finally arrived. Kristin was able to show up as herself and be loved for it. It was healing to say the least.”
The Birth Of Queers In The Country And The Beginning Of A More Inclusive And Understanding Future
This article would not be complete without highlighting the organizer of this life-changing event. When asked why they created QITC, Braidyn Browning said, “Queers in the Country is the end result of countless exclusionary experiences from other nomadic centric events. Those events, while needed, felt very much lacking in intentionality and safety, specifically for LGBTQ+ people. I have the honor of working exclusively with queer folks for a living and have witnessed first hand how quickly the rural queer community rallies around events like this. Our primary mission for this event and at the event venue is to create safety, foster inclusion for everyone and provide space (even just for a weekend) where everyone can be absolutely and wholly be themselves.”
I speak for myself and many others when I say that all of the hard work that Braidyn put into this event really paid off, and the effects of this event will be felt and remembered for years to come. In just one weekend it was incredible to see the emotional exhale of queer folks stepping into a safe space. So, where will you find me next year when all of the queers come back into town? I’ll be in a van, parked in a grassy green field, radiating with queer joy.
