It’s estimated that as many as 3.8 million LGBTQ+ people not only live in rural America, but for the most part, they actually prefer to live there, according the Movement Advancement Project. We’re not always trying to escape. For the first episode of season 2 of Life out Loud, LZ Granderson talks to NY Times best-selling author Chasten Buttigieg and West Side Story star Ariana DeBose about the joys and struggles of building a supportive community in a small town. Plus, GLAAD president Sarah Kate Ellis shares what she’s learned from the organization’s Southern Stories Initiative and how far we still have to go to see even more representation for queers outside big cities.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices