When Tom Bilcze retired and settled down with his husband in Mount Vernon, Ohio, in rural Knox County, he thought his LGBTQ+ advocacy would be winding down. He’d spent 20 years working organizing with fellow Lutherans around the U.S. to shift churches towards an open and affirming stance toward its LGBTQ+ congregants, and at his last job started a queer employee resource group.
Entering retirement, he was “kind of done” after so many years of advocacy work. But then he witnessed a vitriolic anti-LGBTQ+ local panel and knew he had to do something more. Inspired by a local cycling group that started a winter series to combat post-holiday doldrums, Bilcze launched a discussion series to bring together queer, rural Ohioans and support local LGBTQ-advocacy organization Knox County Pride Alliance.
“It really motivated them,” he said of the cycling group’s series. “It gave them a place [and] it gave them a voice.”
Bilcze’s advocacy instinct came back into high gear last November, when nearby faith-based college Mount Vernon Nazarene University invited what they called a motivational speaker: anti-LGBTQ+ activist Riley Gaines. Bilcze and eight others with Knox County Pride attended.
“It was an eye-opener,” he said. “It was not much of a motivational [speech], it was more like a combination of a pep rally and a political event.”
Bilcze said he wondered what to do and settled on doing what he did best — facilitating discussions. He had been regularly attending Knox County Pride meetings, but wanted to further explore queer rural life, its challenges and how community members can overcome them together. Despite a severe snowstorm, nine people, from a cross-section of ages and backgrounds, showed up at the first event, titled “Finding Your Place: Queer Life in Rural Ohio.”
Bilcze used a tool set called “Liberating Structures” to help “give everybody a voice no matter what” and come to a decision together — in this case, how they can become more visible and supported. The session began with each attendee reflecting on something, then two people reflecting on something with each other, then joining a small group, then reflecting as a whole.
They talked about the joy they experience, the challenges in a rural culture and the “isolation of queer people in rural communities,” Bilcze said. The goal was to discuss what might be complicated and how they might work to “uncomplicate” the issues.
“There’s this undertone of rejection and fear that drives too much how people are living,” Bilcze said. “People just are tired of feeling unwelcome.”
In addition to building community, Bilcze used the session to understand what Knox County Pride can do better as an organization. Surveys were sent out to participants at the end to provide feedback for future sessions and the organization as a whole.
“People here were pretty honest in their comments,” he said. “I think the group and the Board was strengthened by this session.”
Not only did survey results show a positive attitude, he said attendees stuck around at the end to talk more and help affirm each other’s identities.
Based on the feedback the organization received, Knox County Pride is also looking into hosting an over-50 discussion group and a youth group.
“The good news is, after this meeting, I think we’re going to see a lot of change,” Bilcze said. “That session took people from discomfort to comfort.”
Two more sessions are planned in February and March. The next session starts at 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 21 in First Congregational United Church of Christ in Mount Vernon. The focus is using storytelling to find one’s voice and advocate for oneself as well as other LGBTQ+ individuals. 🔥
IGNITE ACTION
- To learn more or sign up for future sessions, click here.
- To learn more about Knox County Pride Alliance, visit their website here.
Know an LGBTQ+ Ohio story we should cover? TELL US!
Submit a story!
