A neighborhood like Chicago’s Boystown is a fairly safe--even welcoming--urban space for gay youth. But, not all gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual and questioning teens are eager to flee the farm for life in the big city.
Mary Gray is a sociologist and associate professor Indiana University in Bloomington. She spent time with rural gay youth for her She documents their experiences in her book Out in the Country: Youth, Media and Queer Visibility in Rural America. Gray learned that city life doesn’t always equal easy life for gay teens. We spoke with her about her findings.