Life in rural communities for gay youth

Life in rural communities for gay youth
(Flickr/Kevin Wong)
Life in rural communities for gay youth
(Flickr/Kevin Wong)

Life in rural communities for gay youth

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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.